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]
Oct 8, 2017, 5:25 pm
#2881
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: BOS
Programs: UA 1K/1MM, DL PM/1MM, Marriott Amb/LT Titanium, HHonors Diamond, Priority Club Platinum, Hyatt Disc
Posts: 522
I know that which is why I was prepared with all my cards and info, but for just having to enter info manually, the two agents had a really hard time doing it. Good thing there wasn't a line because it took at least 10 min for them to deal with what to do because I didn't have a United BP that they could just scan.
Oct 8, 2017, 6:00 pm
#2882
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
Interesting. I can add a data point: JetBlue boarding passes scan without issue.
Oct 8, 2017, 6:37 pm
#2883
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
Oct 8, 2017, 10:11 pm
#2884
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: SFO/SJC/OAK
Programs: OZ Diamond (*G), KQ Asante Gold (ST+), Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,511
Oct 8, 2017, 10:45 pm
#2885
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
Ah, I don't have a membership, but with a one-time pass, they're able to scan the JetBlue BP.
Do the UC cards not have something to scan or swipe?
Do the UC cards not have something to scan or swipe?
Oct 9, 2017, 1:17 am
#2886
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: HNL
Programs: AS MVPG, Global Entry
Posts: 771
Really appreciate the time & help!
Oct 9, 2017, 6:58 am
#2887
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,344
-RM
Oct 10, 2017, 12:41 am
#2888
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: United Gold, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, National Executive
Posts: 29
I had an odd quirk two weeks ago -- As a Premier Gold I was flying from YOW -> EWR -> DEN and was denied access to the "pop-up" United club in EWR.
My EWR->DEN BP did not scan properly to allow access (even though it had INTL and my *G status on it) and they even reprinted my YOW->EWR BP and it did not scan properly. I've never had any issues accessing UCs as Premier Gold on international tickets (I accessed the one in SAN successfully on my outward journey, and had accessed one in EWR a few months ago when transiting there from GLA).
I wrote to United Customer Support about this incident and they cited that I did not have access, oddly, with the following response:
"The Ottawa,Canada/Newark, New Jersey flight is considered an international flight; however, you were ticketed to travel with United Airlines (in Economy class). In order to gain access to the United Club, travel must be with a Star Alliance partner airline. You were traveling with United so this particular flight would not qualify for entry into the United Club."
My EWR->DEN BP did not scan properly to allow access (even though it had INTL and my *G status on it) and they even reprinted my YOW->EWR BP and it did not scan properly. I've never had any issues accessing UCs as Premier Gold on international tickets (I accessed the one in SAN successfully on my outward journey, and had accessed one in EWR a few months ago when transiting there from GLA).
I wrote to United Customer Support about this incident and they cited that I did not have access, oddly, with the following response:
"The Ottawa,Canada/Newark, New Jersey flight is considered an international flight; however, you were ticketed to travel with United Airlines (in Economy class). In order to gain access to the United Club, travel must be with a Star Alliance partner airline. You were traveling with United so this particular flight would not qualify for entry into the United Club."
Oct 14, 2017, 7:20 pm
#2889
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: 42.1% in PDX , 49.9% in PVG & 8% in the air somewhere
Programs: Marriott Ambassador Elite, UA 1K, AS MVP GLD 75K, DL Pt
Posts: 1,086
1K and United Club Access:
Just made 1K, almost always do AS domestic and UA for the international segment. From what I understand now should be able to have complimentary access to UA Clubs even if not at my departure location on UA international or if I'm flying UA domestic, but should get it anywhere as long as the same day? Seems there are few club agents that deny me and claim no access is permitted, but then I got my boarding pass reprinted and got access, others often get this problem, and how do you convince the stubborn club agent
Also, do I get also access to Star Alliance as well ?
Just made 1K, almost always do AS domestic and UA for the international segment. From what I understand now should be able to have complimentary access to UA Clubs even if not at my departure location on UA international or if I'm flying UA domestic, but should get it anywhere as long as the same day? Seems there are few club agents that deny me and claim no access is permitted, but then I got my boarding pass reprinted and got access, others often get this problem, and how do you convince the stubborn club agent
Also, do I get also access to Star Alliance as well ?
Oct 14, 2017, 7:42 pm
#2890
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,428
If you are 1K UA you are Star Gold, which means you will get access to United Club and other Star clubs, and sometimes even contract lounges if on UA or Star Int'l ticket. This includes US domestic segments, if on AS, not so much.
Oct 14, 2017, 8:17 pm
#2891
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
Just made 1K, almost always do AS domestic and UA for the international segment. From what I understand now should be able to have complimentary access to UA Clubs even if not at my departure location on UA international or if I'm flying UA domestic, but should get it anywhere as long as the same day? Seems there are few club agents that deny me and claim no access is permitted
Oct 14, 2017, 8:19 pm
#2892
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: 42.1% in PDX , 49.9% in PVG & 8% in the air somewhere
Programs: Marriott Ambassador Elite, UA 1K, AS MVP GLD 75K, DL Pt
Posts: 1,086
AS PDX--> SFO
UA SFO --> PVG
UA PVG --> LAX
AS LAX --> PDX
I know at SFO and at PVG I have UA and CA Lounge access.
The question is at PDX and LAX do I have UA Lounge Access. Also could I use the AC lounge? I know the AC lounge which is in the same departure area at AS denied me last time, while UA allowed me, and this time the UA Lounge in LAX denied me initially.
Also say if I do AC from PDX/YVR/PVG/YVR/PVG, I assume I have both AC and UA Lounge access as well? Flights are always the same day but not necessarily on the carrier at that airport.
Thanks for the newbie answers
Oct 14, 2017, 8:23 pm
#2893
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
The only UC would by at PDX, and yes you would have access. You would have AC MLL access for all departing *A flights.
Oct 14, 2017, 11:34 pm
#2894
formerly 1984SW
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,058
I'm flying NRT-LAX on a UA code-share (NH metal) in J and connecting to a domestic UAX flight. I'm not *G nor do I have a MP Club card or membership. Will I have access to the UC in LAX, based on the inbound UA flight number, or does it need to be inbound UA metal?
Oct 14, 2017, 11:43 pm
#2895
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
Must be UA operated.