Priority Pass's £500m plan: reserved Escape lounge zones and 170+ fast-track lanes

News and analysis · Sources checked October 5, 2026.

Priority Pass says it will spend heavily to fix its biggest problem: members arriving at a full lounge. Owner Collinson announced a £500 million ($674 million) five-year plan on September 14. We have already looked at the new Priority Pass+ app. For travelers, three other parts matter more: dedicated member areas in UK Escape Lounges, a large rollout of bookable fast-track security, and a premium service called Priority Pass Private.

Dedicated space in UK Escape Lounges

The most practical change is already live. Priority Pass's announcement says members and LoungeKey cardholders now have dedicated areas in five UK Escape Lounges. Reception teams also give them priority entry when space opens up. Moodie Davitt describes this as a partnership with operator CAVU aimed at capacity problems.

Neither source names the five airports. Escape lounges in the Priority Pass network include Manchester Terminal 2, Manchester Terminal 3, Edinburgh and East Midlands, plus the Essence by Escape lounge at Stansted. We cannot yet say which five have member zones.

What it means for you: a reserved section should cut down on the "lounge full, members only" sign at peak times. It does not guarantee a seat. A zone can fill up too, and Priority Pass has not said how large these areas are.

Fast track at 170+ lanes

Priority Pass offers bookable fast-track security at 28 airports through its app today. The company says that will grow to more than 170 lanes across 150+ terminals and 130+ airports within 12 months.

That is a big jump, and the timing is ambitious. Priority Pass has not said whether any of it will be included in memberships, so check what you are charged before you book. It is most useful at airports where the lounge is often full: if you cannot be sure of a seat, a shorter security queue lets you arrive later.

Priority Pass Private is not new, but it is now a pillar

Coverage of the plan has described Priority Pass Private as a new tier. In fact, it launched in September 2025. It is a VIP service: meet-and-assist, private check-in, faster security and immigration, private lounges, a chauffeured airside transfer and boarding directly to the aircraft. It covered 76 airports in 30+ countries at launch, including London, Paris, Dubai, Zurich and Geneva.

It is not something you can buy as a card member. Priority Pass sells it by invitation only to banks, private banks and wealth managers, which offer it to their most valuable clients. No price has been disclosed. If your premium card does not mention it, you do not have it.

The rest of the plan

The investment is backed by a £350 million revolving credit facility. Priority Pass says its network now has more than 1,900 lounges and experiences, up 6.7% in a year, with more than 6 million visits a month. The app is getting AI recommendations, biometric login and the ability to share entitlements with supplementary cardholders.

Our view: the Escape zones are the most honest part of the plan, because they admit that capacity is the problem. We will judge the investment on whether members are turned away less often at busy UK airports next summer, not on network counts.

Related lounge guides

Escape Lounge (MAN T2) · Escape Lounge (MAN T3) · Escape Lounge (EDI) · Escape Lounge (EMA) · Essence by Escape Lounges (STN)