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]
Feb 4, 2017, 9:52 am
#2581
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,018
Thanks. Did not know that could be a possibility.....it would definitely be a surprise if access is granted with an AA flight connecting to a Star International flight.
Feb 4, 2017, 11:30 am
#2582
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: CLE (mostly)
Programs: UA Plat, Hyatt Explorist, Mlife Gold, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 823
Traveling with my elderly parents and 2 children under 12. I have a UC membership via chase club card. I assume based on this statement
"UC members can have 2 guests or guest their dependent family members" that only my kids OR my parents will be admitted free? I have some UA one day passes I can use for the other two so it is not a big deal buy was wondering what experiences other have had. FWIW it will DFW and we are flying AA not UA.
"UC members can have 2 guests or guest their dependent family members" that only my kids OR my parents will be admitted free? I have some UA one day passes I can use for the other two so it is not a big deal buy was wondering what experiences other have had. FWIW it will DFW and we are flying AA not UA.
FWIW, the DFW UC is temporarily on 'the island' of E terminal... Pretty inconveniently located for any flights that aren't departing from the E terminal (UA, AC, DL, and NK). Depending on your layover, it may not be worth the 30 minute walk + tram each way between your AA gate(s) to and the UC.
Feb 4, 2017, 11:31 am
#2583
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
Traveling with my elderly parents and 2 children under 12. I have a UC membership via chase club card. I assume based on this statement
"UC members can have 2 guests or guest their dependent family members" that only my kids OR my parents will be admitted free? I have some UA one day passes I can use for the other two so it is not a big deal buy was wondering what experiences other have had. FWIW it will DFW and we are flying AA not UA.
"UC members can have 2 guests or guest their dependent family members" that only my kids OR my parents will be admitted free? I have some UA one day passes I can use for the other two so it is not a big deal buy was wondering what experiences other have had. FWIW it will DFW and we are flying AA not UA.
Agree this is a corner case -- be interested if the computer cat aches the issue or just OKs.
Feb 4, 2017, 12:21 pm
#2584
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,998
Given UA specifically called out "dependent family members" vs. "kiddo's under age XX", curious why "not both"/"either or" is an official policy.
Feb 4, 2017, 2:30 pm
#2585
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
Interesting. If it says "UC members can have 2 guests or guest their dependent family members", assuming the elderly parents are dependent on OP, why would it not include both the parents and the kids?
Given UA specifically called out "dependent family members" vs. "kiddo's under age XX", curious why "not both"/"either or" is an official policy.
Given UA specifically called out "dependent family members" vs. "kiddo's under age XX", curious why "not both"/"either or" is an official policy.
But more specific to UA, UA states
United Club members may bring their spouse and dependent children under 21, or up to two guests, into any United Club location.
Feb 4, 2017, 5:19 pm
#2586
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,998
...But more specific to UA, UA states which specifics it is dependent children under 21 and states the "either or."
Reading the rules WineCountryUA linked to, it is very clear... spouse and dependent children under 21, or up to two guests. (Nowhere does it state "dependent family members", which I think was where I got confused on the previous posts.)
Thanks WineCountryUA for the extra effort.
Feb 4, 2017, 8:20 pm
#2587
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: PHL, EWR
Programs: UA Gold; AA; Amtrak Select Plus;HH Diamond;Hyatt Disc;Hertz PC; Total Wine Grand Reserve!
Posts: 2,401
Access United Club with *G through Copa - need to have Copa # on boarding pass?
So my S.O. tried to access one of the United Clubs in EWR the other day, using the *A Gold status he had though the status match with Copa. He's a UA 1k and was on a domestic UA flight. The agent would have only let him if he was willing to be issued a new boarding pass with his Copa FF # on it. Was the agent correct? Should he have been allowed to enter with his Copa *A gold status but retaining his UA MP # on his boarding pass?
In the end, rather than going through all that trouble, I just brought him in as my guest, but he was hoping to get in the same way next week when he flies on his own.
Thanks for any input!
In the end, rather than going through all that trouble, I just brought him in as my guest, but he was hoping to get in the same way next week when he flies on his own.
Thanks for any input!
Feb 4, 2017, 8:32 pm
#2588
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,023
So my S.O. tried to access one of the United Clubs in EWR the other day, using the *A Gold status he had though the status match with Copa. He's a UA 1k and was on a domestic UA flight. The agent would have only let him if he was willing to be issued a new boarding pass with his Copa FF # on it. Was the agent correct? Should he have been allowed to enter with his Copa *A gold status but retaining his UA MP # on his boarding pass?
In the end, rather than going through all that trouble, I just brought him in as my guest, but he was hoping to get in the same way next week when he flies on his own.
Thanks for any input!
In the end, rather than going through all that trouble, I just brought him in as my guest, but he was hoping to get in the same way next week when he flies on his own.
Thanks for any input!
Feb 4, 2017, 8:35 pm
#2589
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,455
He's a UA 1k and was on a domestic UA flight. The agent would have only let him if he was willing to be issued a new boarding pass with his Copa FF # on it. Was the agent correct? Should he have been allowed to enter with his Copa *A gold status but retaining his UA MP # on his boarding pass?
A valid Star Alliance Gold membership card and a same-day boarding pass for travel on a flight operated by a Star Alliance member airline and departing from the same airport
Why am I not surprised this happened at EWR?
Feb 6, 2017, 10:10 am
#2590
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: PHL, EWR
Programs: UA Gold; AA; Amtrak Select Plus;HH Diamond;Hyatt Disc;Hertz PC; Total Wine Grand Reserve!
Posts: 2,401
Last edited by rittenhousesq; Feb 6, 2017 at 11:24 am
Feb 7, 2017, 2:14 pm
#2591
Join Date: Aug 2016
Programs: United
Posts: 27
Club Access Question
I'm platinum with United flying to TPE on Friday from SFO in E+.
Can I get access to the club? The way I read the website the answer is yes but it isn't exactly straightforward.
I'm traveling with Wife and 3 year old daughter. Any chances for them to enter?
Can I get access to the club? The way I read the website the answer is yes but it isn't exactly straightforward.
I'm traveling with Wife and 3 year old daughter. Any chances for them to enter?
Feb 7, 2017, 2:21 pm
#2592
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
The wiki of this thread may help make the situation clearer.
Feb 9, 2017, 12:16 pm
#2593
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
It seems to happen occasionally. My brother ran into a similar issue at a YYZ MLL when he presented an AC BP with an AC FF# and a Copa Star Gold card. To be honest I don't blame the agents who enforce it, people doing this are technically gaming the system but until there's a written rule prohibiting it, the agents should allow it to happen.
Feb 9, 2017, 2:23 pm
#2594
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
It seems to happen occasionally. My brother ran into a similar issue at a YYZ MLL when he presented an AC BP with an AC FF# and a Copa Star Gold card. To be honest I don't blame the agents who enforce it, people doing this are technically gaming the system but until there's a written rule prohibiting it, the agents should allow it to happen.
As someone who's done this, it's a written benefit. If you want to change the FF number on my boarding pass so that I can get into the lounge, then change it back right in front of me to give me back my original boarding pass, then I make the agent do it right in front of me (and hold up the line behind me as well).
There's nothing that says I have to be crediting my miles to Copa (if that's what I'm using to gain admittance).
I always explain it to an agent that I'm sure there are more pressing issues to assist, but I'm more than willing to get in front of the line (as a Premier Member, I usually skip all the general members waiting at a CSR) and make them give me two boarding passes. But 99% I've been told, "Don't worry about it, they'll let you in".
Feb 19, 2017, 9:23 am
#2595
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SFO South Bay
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 3,052
Club access at Savannah / Hilton Head Airport
I have been flying to SAV for years, but never noticed there is a small contract lounge that accepts United Club cards! very small but nice furniture and a decent coffee machine. Just a heads up for those who did not know this.