Escape Lounge—The Centurion Studio Partner at Phoenix International Airport (PHX) Terminal 3 was a letdown. The lounge is not big, and the food offerings are sad, especially during breakfast time when I was there. Here’s the review in detail.
Location
The Escape Lounge PHX is in Terminal 3 at Phoenix International Airport, also the terminal Hawaiian Airlines departs from. The lounge is located between the start of gates E and F.
Access
American Express Platinum Card and American Express Business Platinum Card offer complimentary access to the Escape Lounge PHX with up to two guests.
Please note that the Escape Lounge PHX is not a Hawaiian Airlines lounge. Therefore, you cannot access the lounge with your Hawaiian Airlines First Class boarding pass. Unfortunately, Hawaiian Airlines does not have a lounge at Phoenix airport. I am mentioning this here because I was flying out with Hawaiian Airlines first class, and the airline departed from Terminal 3, which is where the Escape Lounge PHX is.
Lounge Seats
There are quite a few seats, including barstools, inside the Escape Lounge PHX airport. But given its small size, it can get really crowded during busy times in Terminal 3.
Food
During breakfast, when I was at the Escape Lounge PHX early morning, the lounge only offered a cold Continental Breakfast. While the lounge opens at 4:30 am, some breakfast main items are not available until between 6:30 am and 7 am. Before that, you have all the cold pastry and bagels, cereal, to name a few.
Moreover, the main hot breakfast is also not impressive. Hard-boiled Eggs are packaged eggs, and the baked quiche did not come out until after 7 am. It wasn’t very pleasant.
Overall, the quality of food inside this Escape Lounge PHX is disappointing.
Drinks
There’s a full-service bar and an espresso machine. Non-alcoholic drinks are also available, free of charge.
Bathroom
There’s only one unisex bathroom inside the Escape Lounge PHX Terminal 3. While the toilet and sinks are clean, with nice-looking hand soap, the floor is dirty.
Shower Suites
None.
Nap Rooms
None
WiFi
The WiFi is “escape guest,” and it asks for your first and last name and email address. Furthermore, access to the WiFi is limited to three hours.
Amex Escape Lounge Vs. Centurion Lounge PHX
It is impossible to compare this Escape Lounge PHX to the Amex Centurion Lounge PHX. First of all, they are not in the same terminals, and you can always count on Centurion Lounge to offer much better food quality and lounge experience than the Escape Lounge PHX in Terminal 3. Therefore, if you have time before your flight, it’s worth going to the Amex Centurion Lounge PHX in Terminal 4.
Conclusion
Escape Lounge PHX—The Centurion Studio at Phoenix International Airport (PHX) Terminal 3 is a disappointment. When the lounge opened in the morning, breakfast was only a cold Continental Breakfast.
Unfortunately, Hawaiian Airlines leaves from Terminal 3, and it’s an early flight. Therefore, if you want a quick stay at the lounge to enjoy the bar and quiet seating areas away from the crowds in the public terminal, then it’s not a problem. However, if you want to enjoy the food and lounge amenities while waiting to depart with your Hawaiian Airlines flight, look somewhere else.
