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]
Sep 11, 2017, 12:15 am
#2851
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,392
If *G in Y, then you need a departing boarding pass.
*wording is "same-day" as the international flight.
Sep 11, 2017, 10:52 pm
#2852
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: Continental OnePass
Posts: 856
My wife if flying FRA-DEN in J on LH, connecting to a domestic flight on UA (in Y).
Am I right in thinking she won't be able to use the United Club in DEN, since the access policy says "Customers may only access a United Club location at the departure airport for their business class flight."?
Am I right in thinking she won't be able to use the United Club in DEN, since the access policy says "Customers may only access a United Club location at the departure airport for their business class flight."?
Sep 11, 2017, 11:01 pm
#2853
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,392
My wife if flying FRA-DEN in J on LH, connecting to a domestic flight on UA (in Y).
Am I right in thinking she won't be able to use the United Club in DEN, since the access policy says "Customers may only access a United Club location at the departure airport for their business class flight."?
Am I right in thinking she won't be able to use the United Club in DEN, since the access policy says "Customers may only access a United Club location at the departure airport for their business class flight."?
Sep 13, 2017, 7:31 pm
#2854
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 770
No club access when on international first class?
Sorry I'm at the airport so search is diffixult. I'm on a UA award ticket from Frankfurt to tampa in LH first. I got off LH in IAD and was told no club access. Is that truly the case? Didn't feel like arguing since it's only an hour wait but just wanna know
Sep 13, 2017, 7:37 pm
#2855
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,374
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...ge/access.aspx
First class on a Star Alliance™ member airline: Customers may only access a United Club location at the departure airport for their first class flight.
Sep 13, 2017, 7:38 pm
#2856
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,769
Note if you had arrived UA premium cabin flightt, UA has a special rule for its arriving premium cabin passengers and you would have had UC access.
As a LH arrival passenger, you might try the LH lounge at IAD and they may allow you access to their lounge.
Sep 13, 2017, 7:39 pm
#2857
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 770
Seems weird. But after experiencing LH FCT and FC on the 748 it's all downhill from here lol
Star Alliance rules for access to departure lounges is based on your departure flight. As you are departing on a domestic flight and apparent do not have *G status, then no access.
Note if you had arrived UA premium cabin flightt, UA has a special rule for its arriving premium cabin passengers and your would have had UC access.
Note if you had arrived UA premium cabin flightt, UA has a special rule for its arriving premium cabin passengers and your would have had UC access.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Sep 13, 2017 at 7:42 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Sep 13, 2017, 8:12 pm
#2858
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058
Sep 13, 2017, 10:11 pm
#2859
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,000
Sep 14, 2017, 4:47 am
#2860
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 770
im literally flying on the most expensive ticket (greater than $10k one way) in the highest possible class of service on all flights and don't have access to a lounge from the carrier that I purchased the ticket for. If that doesn't strike you as weird then I don't know what to say
Last edited by omaralt; Sep 14, 2017 at 5:14 am
Sep 14, 2017, 6:40 am
#2861
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott/SPG/Hilton Gold, PreCheck + Clear
Posts: 2,306
im literally flying on the most expensive ticket (greater than $10k one way) in the highest possible class of service on all flights and don't have access to a lounge from the carrier that I purchased the ticket for. If that doesn't strike you as weird then I don't know what to say
Here's a more recent survey of how the US market for airline lounges is unique.
Sep 14, 2017, 6:50 am
#2862
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 770
US domestic lounge access rules are bizarre. It's a quirk of history.
Here's a more recent survey of how the US market for airline lounges is unique.
Here's a more recent survey of how the US market for airline lounges is unique.
Sep 14, 2017, 8:34 am
#2863
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,416
The LH lounge, which is much nicer but a bit of a hike, would have let you in.
Sep 14, 2017, 8:36 am
#2864
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 770
ya i know they're nothing special but still seems idiotic. i wanted to try out the TK lounge in B terminal (i've heard great things about it and they are part of priority pass) but was too far from my D gate
Sep 14, 2017, 8:58 am
#2865
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,416
It's not UA's rule, it's a *A rule. Alliance wide. *A lounges are departure lounges.
Many carriers offer broader access if you're flying long-haul premium cabin on their metal. If you had been flying UA metal TATL (in J or F), you could have gotten in.
Many carriers offer broader access if you're flying long-haul premium cabin on their metal. If you had been flying UA metal TATL (in J or F), you could have gotten in.