Escape Lounges is officially coming to Brisbane

Brisbane Airport’s loungescape is gearing up for a much-needed rejuvenation in the back end of this year, with United Kingdom-based operator Escape Lounges confirming its Southern Hemisphere debut at the international terminal.

As exclusively revealed by Executive Traveller last month, Brisbane will be home to the first Escape Lounges haven outside the UK and the USA, with the company taking residence in the former Plaza Premium lounge on the mezzanine level, alongside the Air New Zealand hangout.

The Escape Lounges look is relaxed and contemporary.

The lounge is slated to open in late 2024 following a makeover of the space, bringing it into line with the relaxed and at times playful look Escape Lounges is known for.

However, it sounds like some elements of the old lounge will remain, such as the timber slats dividing the space into zones, with Escape Lounges confirming it will feature “references to canopy shade structures found in the Brisbane and Queensland architectural vernacular ”.

Works by contemporary Australian artists will also feature prominently, alongside an “elegant colour and material palette” and an impressive wall of glass affording views to the runway.

For context, here's what the Brisbane Plaza Premium Lounge currently looks like.

More than just a space to relax away from the wider departures area, it will also plate up locally-inspired menus spanning hot or cold options, alongside a curated mix of wines, beers, spirits, and barista-made coffee.

Nolan Hough, Chief Growth Officer at CAVU says the company is “thrilled to be continuing our relationship with Brisbane Airport with the opening of our first Escape Lounge in Australia,” suggesting yet more branded lounges are in the works.

Parent company Cavu enjoys an existing relationship with Brisbane Airport through the use of Cavu’s pre-booking platform for the airport’s car parks, and promotional artwork sighted on the Escape Lounges website show a mockup boarding pass stub for a flight from the firm’s base in Manchester (MAN) to Brisbane (BNE).

A typical example of the Escape Lounges styling.

Brisbane will be the 22nd pre-flight haven in the Escape Lounges network, which spans the UK and the USA.

As an independent or ‘common-use’ lounge, Escape Lounges can also be used by passengers on any airline on a pay-in basis.

Entry fees for Escape Lounges in the UK typically range from £40 to £55 for one adult when booked in advance online, and around £5 high on a walk-up basis at the airport; its US lounges also hover around the US$40 mark online or US$45 paid at the door.

Some Escape Lounges also provide complimentary access to American Express Platinum cardholders and Priority Pass members.

A typical example of the Escape Lounges styling.

It’s also likely that some airlines which lack their own lounge at Brisbane International – such as Fiji Airways, Korean Air and Vietjet – may provide their business class passengers and top-tier frequent flyers with a lounge pass.

As previously reported, Brisbane International’s other independent lounge – the Aspire, next to Gate 77 – recently shuttered its doors, though an airport spokesman assures Executive Traveller “we’ve had strong interest from operators eager to take over both sites.”

For now, the sole pay-per-entry option is the recently-reopened Emirates lounge, though it is a rather expensive choice, at USD$155 (~AUD$237) for non-Skywards members and USD$125 (~AUD$191) for Skywards members.

Additional reporting by Chris Ashton.