The Guide to Oakland Airport Lounges

Relax with food, drinks and WiFi at the Oakland Airport Escape lounge.

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While flying can at times be stressful, visiting an airport lounge before your flight can be a relaxing experience, often offering visitors food, drinks, Wi-Fi and other amenities.

Flyers out of San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport have only one airport lounge to provide such respite. Below we’ll dive into all you need to know about Oakland airport's lounge.

About Oakland airport lounges

San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport is a roughly 30-minute drive east of San Francisco and offers flights from over a dozen airlines, including Southwest, Alaska, Hawaiian, Volaris and Delta.

Despite serving several major carriers, you might be surprised to learn it only has one airport lounge — the Escape Lounge OAK - The Centurion Studio Partner.

The Escape Lounge OAK hours and location

The Escape Lounge OAK is open every day from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Oakland Airport has two terminals, and the Escape Lounge OAK is in Terminal 1, across from Gate 9 and between Gates 8 and 8a. Both terminals at Oakland Airport are connected by a walkway, so if you’re flying out of Terminal 2, you can still easily access Terminal 1 and the Escape Lounge OAK.

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Who can access the Escape Lounge OAK?

The Escape Lounge OAK is open to all travelers, though the cost of entry depends on whether you pay in advance, pay at the lounge or if you have a premium American Express card.

American Express Platinum Card®
NerdWallet rating 

Below is an overview of how much it costs to enter the Escape Lounge at Oakland Airport:

Terms apply.

🤓Nerdy Tip

If you don’t have an eligible card for entry, we recommend paying for your visit in advance — both to save $5, and to ensure there will be space available when you get there.

The Escape Lounge OAK also offers AAA and military discounts, and children younger than 24 months receive free entry.

Pre-book your visit

To pre-book your visit to the Escape Lounge OAK, visit https://escapelounges.com/us/locations/oakland/ at least 24 hours before your flight and click “Book Now” at the top of the site.

The Escape Lounge OAK is easy to book in advance using the “Book Now” option on the website.

Amenities

Once you’re inside the Escape Lounge OAK, you can take advantage of the following amenities:

  • Premium Wi-Fi.

  • Complimentary food and drinks (including alcoholic beverages).

  • Charging ports at every seat.

  • Print, scan and copy services.

  • American Express Platinum Card® and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card holders have access to an exclusive menu of complimentary snacks, wine and liquors in addition to the full food and bar menu available to all guests.

Terms apply.

While the exact food and drink offerings may vary based on the day you visit, below is a sample menu at the Escape Lounge OAK.

Is it worth getting a premium American Express card to access the lounge?

Since American Express Platinum Card® and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card holders receive complimentary access to the Escape Lounge OAK, you may be wondering if it’s worth applying for any of those cards to access the Escape Lounge OAK.

Given the high annual fees of the American Express premium cards that get you complimentary access to the Escape Lounge OAK, we wouldn’t recommend applying for any of these cards solely for the complimentary lounge access.

That said, it may be worth applying for the cards if you frequently fly out of this airport and can take advantage of other benefits offered.

Terms apply,

Final thoughts on lounges at Oakland airport

While the Oakland airport has only one lounge, it is accessible to all passengers, and select American Express premium cardholders have complimentary access.

If you don’t qualify for free entry to the Escape Lounge OAK, we recommend reserving your spot at least 24 hours before your flight so you can take advantage of a lower price for your visit and reserve your spot.

Once inside the Escape Lounge OAK, you’ll have access to free food and drinks, premium Wi-Fi and charging ports at every seat, making the Escape Lounge OAK a great place to spend your time before your flight.

To view rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, see this page.


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Airport Lounge Cards from our Partners
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See more Airport Lounge cards