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Executive by Escape Lounge Now Open at Manchester Airport Terminal 2
The long-awaited Executive by Escape Lounge has now opened in Manchester Airport’s brand-new Terminal 2. It’s now the flagship lounge for passengers with a number of airlines, including Qatar and Virgin Atlantic and the terminal’s premium option, with chef-led dining, premium drinks, and floor-to-ceiling runway views.
The new 300-seat space is part of the Escape Lounges portfolio, which also includes Escape Lounges and Essence by Escape Lounges. You can also enter on a pay-to-enter basis online, starting at £57.99, which is a £16 premium compared to the Escape Lounge alternative in T2.
Dining will be across three areas. The main area is The Loom, which will have a hot buffet, daily carvery (the UK’s first in a lounge), made-to-order eggs at breakfast and seasonal hot dishes.
You can also try The Humm, which has salads, fruit, smoothies, and lighter options, and The Leaf and Loaf, which focuses on freshly baked breads, pastries, cheeses, and deli-style grazing. Throughout the lounge, there’s a focus on local products with plenty of local brands and suppliers used, such as Manchester Gin and cheese from Chorlton Cheesemongers.
A second dining concept, The Boll, is due to open later in 2026. The area will have restaurant-style table service and a chef-led seasonal menu. The experience will first be available to eligible airline guests before opening for pre-booking later in the year, starting at £82.99.
The lounge is open daily from 3:00 AM until 8:45 PM and is not open to lounge pass customers.
The lounge certainly looks like an upgrade over the 1903 lounge, and hopefully it will keep a premium feel without being too busy.
Up to 30% Off Iberia Short Haul Reward Flights
If you’re planning a European trip before the end of September, Iberia’s latest Avios sale is worth a look. You can now get 10-30% off selected short-haul redemptions.
The offer is valid on flights operated by Iberia, Iberia Express and Air Nostrum to or from Madrid from a range of destinations across Europe and North Africa. Bookings must be made by 23rd July for travel until 30th September 2026.
The offer is available in all cabins, but the discount for each destination is only available on selected dates, so there is very limited Business availability, similar to booking a Business redemption at the last minute.
Discounts include:
- 30% off: Almería, Valencia, Oviedo, Granada, Santiago de Compostela, Toulouse, Athens, Milan, Olbia, Rome and London.
- 20% off: Vienna, Tirana, Geneva, Prague, Hamburg, Munich, Alicante, San Sebastián, Bilbao, Paris, Corfu, Zagreb, Budapest, Venice, Bologna, Catania, Cagliari, Palermo, Casablanca, Tivat, Faro and Lisbon.
- 10% off: Jerez de la Frontera, Bordeaux, Marseille, Lyon, Santorini, Mykonos, Dubrovnik, Florence, Turin, Stockholm and Dakar.
It’s easy to transfer Avios over to Iberia from The British Airways Club as long as your accounts are linked.
If you’re happy to connect via Madrid, this is a great offer. Iberia redemptions are already often cheaper than British Airways alternatives. Just remember to compare the discounted Avios price with the cash fare before booking.
Norwegian Challenges British Airways Ahead of England vs Norway
Airline social media teams have been getting into the World Cup spirit. Norwegian Air has challenged British Airways to a bet ahead of the England vs Norway game on Saturday.
It all started with Norwegian posting a dare on Instagram on Wednesday, asking BA if they are ready to risk their logo:
It did take a while to reply, prompting Norwegian to ask, “Anyone heard from @british_airways while we slept?? 🥱”
BA did eventually reply, however, and the bet has been accepted!
It’s great to see them having fun! The post has been getting plenty of attention, with many airlines joining the conversation in the comments.
BA were very inventive with their reply.
Then Norwegian replied…
There’s also been plenty of other back-and-forth between the two airlines, including a coming-home video.
And the latest post confirming the deal is on!
Now all that’s left is to see which social media team ends up having to honour the bet.
