Dec 7, 2014, 12:30 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This is an archive of older posts, the active thread is Consolidated "United Club Access Questions" Thread
United operates United Clubs in the USA and many international locations -- see United Club and Other United Lounges for a detailed list.
UA's partners and the Star Alliance operates lounges in some of the same airports and many others. See the *A Lounge Finder and *A Lounge Access Policies . Additionally, some airports have "contract" lounges, admission is airport dependent.
United also operates International Global First Lounges and Arrival Lounges. These lounges have different access policy, see the linked threads for more.
To have access to the UCs, you will need to fit into one of the following
When BP/ticket is required, it can be either a paid or award ticket.
United Club T&Cs
Common questions
Children -- Are they counted as a guest?
Anyone with an individual ticket is counted as a guest. Lap children (below 2 years of age) are not counted as a guest. UC members can guest their dependent family at UCs (but this will not work at other *A lounges).
Is Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Puerto Rico (San Juan), .... international for UC access?
Yes
What about Domestic First Class?
Domestic First Class is not provided with UC access. Unless you qualify based on some other reason, there is no access for paid or award domestic FC.
Can my guest stay if I leave the lounge?
Strictly speaking, no. Guests only have access when the sponsor is in the lounge. You have "responsibility" for the guest when they are in the lounge. Realistically, however, there is usually no problem with leaving a guest behind.
Can access to the UC be further restricted?
UA reserves the right to limit access including the number of guests at times of crowding.
Can I bring food into the UC?
Strictly speaking no. There may be local health & safety codes against this.
Can I guest 3 co-workers by using multiple access methods? Such as 2 via UC membership and 1 as *G international?
No -- you cannot stack access methods.
Can I access the UC on arrival and no forward *A travel or if departing on a non-*A carrier?
Maybe if UC member or UA *G on international itinerary or arriving on UC operated Polaris cabin itinarary (Alsoyou qill need to able to access to the UC location)
Starting 18 Aug 2016: United Club Access (including members) Only w/ Same-Day BP
Partner lounges
Access / reviews for TK's IAD *A lounge
Consolidated "Access to Lufthansa Lounge at IAD" Thread [2014 forward]
Best IAD Lounge
Lufthansa Lounge Access in DTW/Detroit
Accessing the *A Lounge at LAX/TBIT as a UA flyer
United operates United Clubs in the USA and many international locations -- see United Club and Other United Lounges for a detailed list.
UA's partners and the Star Alliance operates lounges in some of the same airports and many others. See the *A Lounge Finder and *A Lounge Access Policies . Additionally, some airports have "contract" lounges, admission is airport dependent.
United also operates International Global First Lounges and Arrival Lounges. These lounges have different access policy, see the linked threads for more.
To have access to the UCs, you will need to fit into one of the following
- Be a UC member -- either directly purchased or combined with a credit card (such as Chase MP Club card)* UC members can have 2 guests or guest their spouse and dependent children under 21 years - Note at non-UA *A lounges UC members are allowed only 1 guest.
* The actual UC membership card @ UCs is generally not required if you have a UA BP -- since the UC membership is tied to the MP account
* Same day BP on ANY airline (arriving or departing)
* Spousal memberships are available as an extra cost option - Be traveling as *G member (see UA *G on domestic-only itinerary limitation) with departing *A BP showing your status while in any cabin* Can guest 1 traveler with a departing *A BP.
* UA *G cannot access domestic UCs unless traveling on a *A international itin (within 24 hours - can be different PNR)
* If non-UA *G but crediting to UA MP, you will need to present your non-UA *G card. There have been some reports of refused entry -- agents claiming you have to be crediting to the same program as you are requesting entry
- Be departing that airport in *A International Business or International First (with BP)* International First passengers can guest 1 traveler with a departing *A BP. No guests for International Business.
* UA has an expanded access policy that those traveling same day International Business or International First on UA operated flights can access UCs at any same day connecting airport
- Premium transcontinental non-stop (EWR-SFO/LAX & BOS-SFO) business class traveler* Limited to origin and destination airports of the premium transcontinental flight -- does not include connecting cities
* No guests - Have or purchase a UC one-time access pass* No guests
- Have Amtrak Select Plus or Select Executive status.* 1 guest
* Same day BP on ANY airline (arriving or departing)
When BP/ticket is required, it can be either a paid or award ticket.
United Club T&Cs
Common questions
Children -- Are they counted as a guest?
Anyone with an individual ticket is counted as a guest. Lap children (below 2 years of age) are not counted as a guest. UC members can guest their dependent family at UCs (but this will not work at other *A lounges).
Is Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Puerto Rico (San Juan), .... international for UC access?
Yes
Travel to or from Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, Guam and Mexico are considered international itineraries for the purposes of United Club access.
Domestic First Class is not provided with UC access. Unless you qualify based on some other reason, there is no access for paid or award domestic FC.
Can my guest stay if I leave the lounge?
Strictly speaking, no. Guests only have access when the sponsor is in the lounge. You have "responsibility" for the guest when they are in the lounge. Realistically, however, there is usually no problem with leaving a guest behind.
Can access to the UC be further restricted?
UA reserves the right to limit access including the number of guests at times of crowding.
Can I bring food into the UC?
Strictly speaking no. There may be local health & safety codes against this.
Can I guest 3 co-workers by using multiple access methods? Such as 2 via UC membership and 1 as *G international?
No -- you cannot stack access methods.
Can I access the UC on arrival and no forward *A travel or if departing on a non-*A carrier?
Maybe if UC member or UA *G on international itinerary or arriving on UC operated Polaris cabin itinarary (Alsoyou qill need to able to access to the UC location)
Starting 18 Aug 2016: United Club Access (including members) Only w/ Same-Day BP
Partner lounges
Access / reviews for TK's IAD *A lounge
Consolidated "Access to Lufthansa Lounge at IAD" Thread [2014 forward]
Best IAD Lounge
Lufthansa Lounge Access in DTW/Detroit
Accessing the *A Lounge at LAX/TBIT as a UA flyer
Consolidated "United Club Access Questions" Thread [ARCHIVE]
Jul 11, 2012, 2:46 am
#31
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 11
hey everyone,
I'm a total UA noob; haven't flown with UA in over a decade. I'm flying United First from HNL to IAH and United Business from IAH to BZE. I'm not a United frequent flyer member or anything. Would I still have access to the lounges at HNL and IAH?
Thanks!
I'm a total UA noob; haven't flown with UA in over a decade. I'm flying United First from HNL to IAH and United Business from IAH to BZE. I'm not a United frequent flyer member or anything. Would I still have access to the lounges at HNL and IAH?
Thanks!
Jul 11, 2012, 10:01 am
#32
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA, UA, DL, US
Posts: 7
Denied Lounge Access at IAD on MileagePlus Business Award Ticket
I flew my wife over to meet me in London last month. She doesn't fly much, so I wanted it to be a nice experience and booked her in BusinessFirst with an award and told her to spend her layover in the United Club at IAD on the way to LHR.
She was denied access. The lounge agent said that since she was flying on an award ticket she was not entitled to use the lounge. She got to have that nice feeling of embarrassment of being told you may not enter, and I got a healthy dose of "you were wrong" when she arrived.
So a few days ago I got around to entering a complaint on United.com. This is the response I got:
I think that's fair -- the lounge access was worth $50 ( a one time pass), so 15K miles is a great deal. But I'd rather it not have happened. I'll print out that email for any time we're using an award and expect lounge access.
The other lesson is that if you're in a dispute with an agent about the rules, it might be worth calling the customer care center right then and seeing if they can straighten things out.
She was denied access. The lounge agent said that since she was flying on an award ticket she was not entitled to use the lounge. She got to have that nice feeling of embarrassment of being told you may not enter, and I got a healthy dose of "you were wrong" when she arrived.
So a few days ago I got around to entering a complaint on United.com. This is the response I got:
Dear Mr. GrillingGreg,
Thank you for writing to inquire about access to the United Club at IAD enroute to LHR. You are exactly correct in that Mrs. GrillingGreg should have been admitted to the IAD United Club. I am so sorry this happened and understand how it could take some of the magic off the trip. As long as her next stop was an international destination, and it was, she was entitled to entry.
I telephoned the UA Club Customer Service Center (866) 822- 5827 to verify nothing had changed and the website was updated. If Mileage ticket holders were to be excluded, and why on earth would we do that, then the information would have been spelled out online. You are redeeming hard-earned awards and these are not 'free' tickets; they are prepaid, if you will.
Please know I have already forwarded your feedback to the UA Club manager at IAD for review. I am sure it was either an issue of training or an honest mistake. I am so sorry and hope you will forward out sincere apology to Mrs. GrillingGreg.
While I cannot undo the frustration you and she experienced, please accept a deposit of 15,000 redeemable goodwill miles to your account as a more tangible expression of our apologies. Miles should appear in your account within approximately 15 business days and we certainly hope they will come in handy so we can welcome you onboard United again soon.
Thank you for this opportunity to respond, Mr. GrillingGreg. We appreciate the loyalty and business you have given to United since August, 1987.
Thank you for writing to inquire about access to the United Club at IAD enroute to LHR. You are exactly correct in that Mrs. GrillingGreg should have been admitted to the IAD United Club. I am so sorry this happened and understand how it could take some of the magic off the trip. As long as her next stop was an international destination, and it was, she was entitled to entry.
I telephoned the UA Club Customer Service Center (866) 822- 5827 to verify nothing had changed and the website was updated. If Mileage ticket holders were to be excluded, and why on earth would we do that, then the information would have been spelled out online. You are redeeming hard-earned awards and these are not 'free' tickets; they are prepaid, if you will.
Please know I have already forwarded your feedback to the UA Club manager at IAD for review. I am sure it was either an issue of training or an honest mistake. I am so sorry and hope you will forward out sincere apology to Mrs. GrillingGreg.
While I cannot undo the frustration you and she experienced, please accept a deposit of 15,000 redeemable goodwill miles to your account as a more tangible expression of our apologies. Miles should appear in your account within approximately 15 business days and we certainly hope they will come in handy so we can welcome you onboard United again soon.
Thank you for this opportunity to respond, Mr. GrillingGreg. We appreciate the loyalty and business you have given to United since August, 1987.
The other lesson is that if you're in a dispute with an agent about the rules, it might be worth calling the customer care center right then and seeing if they can straighten things out.
Jul 11, 2012, 10:06 am
#33
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: UA lifetime gold, 1.8MM; Marriott lifetime Titanium
Posts: 494
I would not have been pleased at all if they tried to deny me on a biz award. IAD is sometimes quite bad, but considering you even get arrivals access in LHR on a biz award, their stance is just offensive.
Jul 11, 2012, 10:12 am
#34
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lahaina, HI & Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,403
Which Club
Was this the Club at C-7 or C-17? From my experience (YMMV), C-17 staff and far more knowledgeable.
Jul 11, 2012, 10:39 am
#36
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 229
While it must have been a frustrating and experience at the time, I personally thought the reply that you received was thoughtful and she did everything she did to correct the problem. In the past, when I have complained, I have only received form letters that hardly addressed this issue. I enjoyed the fact that she verified that the rules were the same, contacted the UA Club manager at IAD and also deposited 15K miles into your account.
While what happened was wrong, this agent went out of her way to correct it. I'm impressed by her response and would be more then willing to accept 15K in lieu of going to a United Club any day.
While what happened was wrong, this agent went out of her way to correct it. I'm impressed by her response and would be more then willing to accept 15K in lieu of going to a United Club any day.
Jul 11, 2012, 10:40 am
#37
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: USA
Programs: UA 1K/*G, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy BS, Hertz & Avis Pres
Posts: 653
Jul 11, 2012, 10:57 am
#38
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: PBI
Programs: DL Plat, B6 Mosaic
Posts: 427
Jul 12, 2012, 9:34 am
#39
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA, UA, DL, US
Posts: 7
One would think that if she had gone to the Global First Lounge they'd have told her to go to another lounge, not that she wasn't eligible for lounge access.
And while she's not a frequent traveller, she is a lawyer and is extremely precise in listening to people's wording.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Jul 12, 2012 at 11:18 am Reason: merge
Jul 12, 2012, 10:02 am
#40
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: Kettle
Posts: 23
I have had a global services phone rep very adamantly tell me that an upgrade using a SWU from economy to business first on an international flight does not get you into the club. She told me that was not a "paid ticket."
She was wrong, right?
She was wrong, right?
Jul 12, 2012, 10:19 am
#41
Join Date: May 2006
Location: MYF/CMA/SAN/YYZ/YKF
Programs: COdbaUA 1K MM, AA EXP, Bonbon Gold, GHA Titanium, Hertz PC, NEXUS and GE
Posts: 5,839
Incorrect. It depends entirely on the airport and level of PP membership.
hey everyone,
I'm a total UA noob; haven't flown with UA in over a decade. I'm flying United First from HNL to IAH and United Business from IAH to BZE. I'm not a United frequent flyer member or anything. Would I still have access to the lounges at HNL and IAH?
Thanks!
I'm a total UA noob; haven't flown with UA in over a decade. I'm flying United First from HNL to IAH and United Business from IAH to BZE. I'm not a United frequent flyer member or anything. Would I still have access to the lounges at HNL and IAH?
Thanks!
She was completely wrong.
Jul 12, 2012, 2:00 pm
#42
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: CHA/TYS
Programs: The Mac Daddy of Heimlich County (and low-ball status)
Posts: 2,868
Question about the Credit Card "one time" passes:
Are we able to use those at two locations on day-of-travel? I have two layovers of roughly 2 and 3 hours, each, at ORD and SFO and they state one-time instead of one day or all day. Any experience in having the lovely agents allow us to hang on to these at ORD and give them up at SFO?
Are we able to use those at two locations on day-of-travel? I have two layovers of roughly 2 and 3 hours, each, at ORD and SFO and they state one-time instead of one day or all day. Any experience in having the lovely agents allow us to hang on to these at ORD and give them up at SFO?
Jul 15, 2012, 6:06 pm
#43
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: RDU
Programs: UA 1MM & *A Gold
Posts: 193
Interesting quirk for RCC access when downgraded from First/Business to Economy
So let's say you were booked to fly X-Y-LHR in Biz class (SWU) and due to weather, you had to go X-Z-LHR, and in coach for Z-LHR as business class was fully booked. Ordinarily, an international economy class ticket only gets you a laugh at an RCC, even as a 1K. But if you present your electronic boarding pass for the biz class international flight (note, this is in airport Z, not airport Y, but on the same day), the little machine will beep, the light will go green, and you can waltz right in the RCC.
Nice (and posted from the RCC in city Z)
Nice (and posted from the RCC in city Z)
Jul 15, 2012, 6:20 pm
#44
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
1K/*G always gets free access to RCC for international flights, regardless of class.
Jul 15, 2012, 6:28 pm
#45
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,854
1Ks on International itins have system wide UC access. (as ryan182 already posted)