United Domestic lounge access
Dec 4, 2013, 4:54 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Australia
Programs: QF Gold, NZ *G, TK Elite *G
Posts: 186
United Domestic lounge access
Hi,
Planning flights to fill in the dots of an upcoming USA trip, and came across this:
"Access to United Red Carpet Clubs, US Airways Clubs and US Airways Envoy Lounges in the USA is only available when presenting a boarding pass in conjunction with international travel"
https://airnz.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2776
Am i reading this right? So, if i book say a standalone LAX-LAS flight on UA i am not entitled to lounge access?
Isn't that a breach of Star policies?
Planning flights to fill in the dots of an upcoming USA trip, and came across this:
"Access to United Red Carpet Clubs, US Airways Clubs and US Airways Envoy Lounges in the USA is only available when presenting a boarding pass in conjunction with international travel"
https://airnz.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2776
Am i reading this right? So, if i book say a standalone LAX-LAS flight on UA i am not entitled to lounge access?
Isn't that a breach of Star policies?
Dec 4, 2013, 5:32 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: SYD
Programs: Too many golds, no plat: OZ*G, AC*G, NZ*G, VA Gold, QF Gold, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 5,350
Hmmm, not sure what that's doing on the Airpoints site.
Unless there has been a *very* recent rule change, no this does not apply to you if you are still Star Gold on NZ, as your profile suggests. That rule applies only to United and US Airways's *own* elites who, unbelievably enough, have to purchase Club membership if they want to access UA's crappy lounges on purely domestic itineraries, while all foreign *G cardholders get in for free.
This is a key reason why my Air Canada gold status was so useful to me when I spent most of the last five years living in the US
Unless there has been a *very* recent rule change, no this does not apply to you if you are still Star Gold on NZ, as your profile suggests. That rule applies only to United and US Airways's *own* elites who, unbelievably enough, have to purchase Club membership if they want to access UA's crappy lounges on purely domestic itineraries, while all foreign *G cardholders get in for free.
This is a key reason why my Air Canada gold status was so useful to me when I spent most of the last five years living in the US
Dec 4, 2013, 5:37 am
#3
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: SYD
Programs: Too many golds, no plat: OZ*G, AC*G, NZ*G, VA Gold, QF Gold, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 5,350
Here are the official lounge access rules on the Star Alliance website:
Note that the final restriction applies only to UA and US elites. Some very sloppy copy/pasting on the part of Airpoints. 
Star Alliance Gold Customers Travelling in Any Class:
- Customers have access to any Star Alliance member carriers' owned lounges with the Star Alliance Gold logo at the entrance.
- Customer must present proof of Star Alliance Gold level status via a valid frequent flyer program Star Alliance Gold level card or other valid indication of Star Alliance Gold level status
- Customer must also present a boarding pass for travel on a Star Alliance flight departing from the local airport
- Customer is entitled to one guest
- United and US Airways Star Alliance Gold customers may only access the United Clubs and US Airways Clubs within the U.S. when travelling in conjunction with a Star Alliance international flight.
Dec 4, 2013, 5:41 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NZ
Programs: NZ Gold, BA Gold, QF Silver, IHG Platinum Elite Ambassador, Accor Diamond
Posts: 1,048
Hi,
Planning flights to fill in the dots of an upcoming USA trip, and came across this:
"Access to United Red Carpet Clubs, US Airways Clubs and US Airways Envoy Lounges in the USA is only available when presenting a boarding pass in conjunction with international travel"
https://airnz.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2776
Am i reading this right? So, if i book say a standalone LAX-LAS flight on UA i am not entitled to lounge access?
Isn't that a breach of Star policies?
Planning flights to fill in the dots of an upcoming USA trip, and came across this:
"Access to United Red Carpet Clubs, US Airways Clubs and US Airways Envoy Lounges in the USA is only available when presenting a boarding pass in conjunction with international travel"
https://airnz.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2776
Am i reading this right? So, if i book say a standalone LAX-LAS flight on UA i am not entitled to lounge access?
Isn't that a breach of Star policies?
United Mileage Plus members with the equivalent of *G status (Premier Gold and above) do NOT get access to United Club lounges as of right on domestic flights. The can JOIN United Club for a fee (discounted for those with higher status), and get access, although I'm unsure why anyone would bother, given it is US$400 for a Premier 1K to sustain membership with the discount.
So it isn't a breach of Star policies, because the airlines are offering parallel access to other *A FFPs.
Of course you are fine getting access if you are connecting onto an international flight, even on separate tickets. I found this flying PDX-SFO on UA, with a separate ticket on NZ SFO-AKL, I was happily granted access to the PDX UA lounge after showing evidence of the NZ ticket (and my bag had been tagged all the way through, which NZ wont reciprocate with separate tickets).
Dec 4, 2013, 5:45 am
#5
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: NZ*G ELT, VA-G
Posts: 3,598
NZ website has been saying that for at least the last decade. Apparently these people have difficulties understanding *A rules.
When I first achieved NZ*G status years ago I had believed that and never bothered to go to the UA lounges. I later found out about the truth in this forum, so good that you asked.
So just to clarify, with your NZ*G, you will have access to all UA and US lounges regardless if you have an international connection. The restriction only applies to UA/US*G.
When I first achieved NZ*G status years ago I had believed that and never bothered to go to the UA lounges. I later found out about the truth in this forum, so good that you asked.
So just to clarify, with your NZ*G, you will have access to all UA and US lounges regardless if you have an international connection. The restriction only applies to UA/US*G.
Dec 4, 2013, 5:48 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NZ
Programs: NZ Gold, BA Gold, QF Silver, IHG Platinum Elite Ambassador, Accor Diamond
Posts: 1,048
I was refused access in a UA lounge on a US domestic sector with Gold status going on a domestic leg, so took it to be as I said, and was asked last time if I had an international connection.
So apologies, I'm wrong - although you ought to print out the Star rules to show the lounge dragon.
I spent 5 minutes arguing with a lounge dragon at EWR when going on an international flight, because her machine couldn't read my NZ card, and to be confusing I was crediting the flight to BD.
TBH you're not missing much, at any of them. So good luck, but don't worry if you get refused.
So apologies, I'm wrong - although you ought to print out the Star rules to show the lounge dragon.
I spent 5 minutes arguing with a lounge dragon at EWR when going on an international flight, because her machine couldn't read my NZ card, and to be confusing I was crediting the flight to BD.
TBH you're not missing much, at any of them. So good luck, but don't worry if you get refused.
Dec 4, 2013, 5:53 am
#7
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: NZ*G ELT, VA-G
Posts: 3,598
I was refused access in a UA lounge on a US domestic sector with Gold status going on a domestic leg, so took it to be as I said, and was asked last time if I had an international connection.
So apologies, I'm wrong - although you ought to print out the Star rules to show the lounge dragon.
I spent 5 minutes arguing with a lounge dragon at EWR when going on an international flight, because her machine couldn't read my NZ card, and to be confusing I was crediting the flight to BD.
TBH you're not missing much, at any of them. So good luck, but don't worry if you get refused.
So apologies, I'm wrong - although you ought to print out the Star rules to show the lounge dragon.
I spent 5 minutes arguing with a lounge dragon at EWR when going on an international flight, because her machine couldn't read my NZ card, and to be confusing I was crediting the flight to BD.
TBH you're not missing much, at any of them. So good luck, but don't worry if you get refused.
Dec 4, 2013, 6:41 am
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Always best to look at the website for the carrier whose lounge you intend to use. UA makes it clear that a *G (non-UA/US) has lounge access on *A flight. NZ has shorted its own customers.
Worth remembering that it is NZ which reimburses UA for Club use by its *G's, so maybe it has an incentive to make the process less transperent.
Worth remembering that it is NZ which reimburses UA for Club use by its *G's, so maybe it has an incentive to make the process less transperent.
Dec 4, 2013, 8:20 am
#10
formerly kiwi_norway
Join Date: May 2011
Location: London, UK
Programs: A3*G, NZ*S, Avis PC
Posts: 390
This is interesting. I'd always taken the rules as no *G gets access to US lounges on domestic only tickets. Nice to have it clarified. Looking forward to my next argument with a UA lounge receptionist. :-)
That said, as others mention, if you don't gain access to a UA or US lounge, you really aren't missing out on anything (anything) exciting, at all.
That said, as others mention, if you don't gain access to a UA or US lounge, you really aren't missing out on anything (anything) exciting, at all.
Dec 4, 2013, 9:22 am
#11
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SJC
Programs: NZ*G, QF NB, UA 1K, AA ExecPlat, IHG PlatAmb, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, ZE1 PC
Posts: 2,636
On the odd occasion I've had a slight quibble (crediting to UA, using NZ to enter) I've changed the FFP to NZ, then changed it back - no problem and no confusion around entry.
Dec 4, 2013, 12:08 pm
#12
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SYD
Programs: QF LTG, VASG, NZ*S, OZD, IHG SpireAMB, HHD
Posts: 1,421
I've never had a problem at UA or US lounges on many domestic flights. The only time I had a bit of a disagreement with them was when I tried to take both my wife and young daughter in (which is never a problem at most *A lounges). US was a definite no, whereas UA reluctantly said yes.
In terms of lounges, they are rubbish, but can be a pleasant refuge from the terminal outside.
In terms of lounges, they are rubbish, but can be a pleasant refuge from the terminal outside.
Dec 4, 2013, 1:26 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: south of WAS DC
Posts: 10,131
I've never had a problem at UA or US lounges on many domestic flights. The only time I had a bit of a disagreement with them was when I tried to take both my wife and young daughter in (which is never a problem at most *A lounges). US was a definite no, whereas UA reluctantly said yes.
In terms of lounges, they are rubbish, but can be a pleasant refuge from the terminal outside.
In terms of lounges, they are rubbish, but can be a pleasant refuge from the terminal outside.
Dec 4, 2013, 2:36 pm
#14
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: SYD
Programs: Too many golds, no plat: OZ*G, AC*G, NZ*G, VA Gold, QF Gold, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 5,350
True that the lounges aren't up to much, but they are useful for:
1) Somewhere semi-comfortable to sit, with power points
2) Free G&Ts (the free wine is undrinkable, the free beer is the type that gives American beer a bad name) and soft drinks
3) Free wifi
4) Most importantly: easy access to agents to deal with rebooking / changes / seat allocations etc.
I never really had any problem getting in with my AC or NZ *G cards.
It is bizarre, isn't it. So much about the UA set up is based on the assumption that almost nobody actually pays for domestic first class. The only exception is the p.s flights between JFK and the west coast, where for the past few years you have been allowed lounge access with business class (or first, when it existed) ticket.
1) Somewhere semi-comfortable to sit, with power points
2) Free G&Ts (the free wine is undrinkable, the free beer is the type that gives American beer a bad name) and soft drinks
3) Free wifi
4) Most importantly: easy access to agents to deal with rebooking / changes / seat allocations etc.
I never really had any problem getting in with my AC or NZ *G cards.
It is bizarre, isn't it. So much about the UA set up is based on the assumption that almost nobody actually pays for domestic first class. The only exception is the p.s flights between JFK and the west coast, where for the past few years you have been allowed lounge access with business class (or first, when it existed) ticket.