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 1, 2016, 1:12 pm
#1966
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: SAN
Posts: 487
New Club access policy, or bad luck?
I seem to only run into this problem at SFO, but I usually keep my UA FF# on my boarding pass, and present a screenshot of another *A carrier for the lounge access on domestic flights. Run into no problems at any other US airport, but SFO seems preetty set on having the mileage program that grants your lounge access on your BP. This seems to have started fairly recently, unless I'm just drawing bad lounge agents?
Feb 1, 2016, 1:18 pm
#1967
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,019
If you have *A Gold by earning being Gold or above in MP, you should not be getting access with a wholly domestic itinerary. If you're flying from SFO to LHR via EWR, yes, you need to show your MP credentials to get in at SFO.
"SFO seems preetty set on having the mileage program that grants your lounge access on your BP" - I should hope so.
"SFO seems preetty set on having the mileage program that grants your lounge access on your BP" - I should hope so.
Feb 1, 2016, 1:27 pm
#1968
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 9,677
I seem to only run into this problem at SFO, but I usually keep my UA FF# on my boarding pass, and present a screenshot of another *A carrier for the lounge access on domestic flights. Run into no problems at any other US airport, but SFO seems preetty set on having the mileage program that grants your lounge access on your BP. This seems to have started fairly recently, unless I'm just drawing bad lounge agents?
It could be that they are being lazy bc they have to type it in, as opposed to scanning a BP or swiping a card.
Try e-mailing UA customer service for clarification, then printing out the answer and showing it to the agents.
If you have *A Gold by earning being Gold or above in MP, you should not be getting access with a wholly domestic itinerary. If you're flying from SFO to LHR via EWR, yes, you need to show your MP credentials to get in at SFO.
"SFO seems preetty set on having the mileage program that grants your lounge access on your BP" - I should hope so.
"SFO seems preetty set on having the mileage program that grants your lounge access on your BP" - I should hope so.
Feb 1, 2016, 1:32 pm
#1969
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: TPA
Programs: UA Global Services 3MM, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 2,927
I seem to only run into this problem at SFO, but I usually keep my UA FF# on my boarding pass, and present a screenshot of another *A carrier for the lounge access on domestic flights. Run into no problems at any other US airport, but SFO seems preetty set on having the mileage program that grants your lounge access on your BP. This seems to have started fairly recently, unless I'm just drawing bad lounge agents?
Feb 1, 2016, 1:33 pm
#1970
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: SAN
Posts: 487
If you have *A Gold by earning being Gold or above in MP, you should not be getting access with a wholly domestic itinerary. If you're flying from SFO to LHR via EWR, yes, you need to show your MP credentials to get in at SFO.
"SFO seems preetty set on having the mileage program that grants your lounge access on your BP" - I should hope so.
"SFO seems preetty set on having the mileage program that grants your lounge access on your BP" - I should hope so.
Don't need to have it on your BP. What rule are they quoting?
It could be that they are being lazy bc they have to type it in, as opposed to scanning a BP or swiping a card.
Try e-mailing UA customer service for clarification, then printing out the answer and showing it to the agents.
The OP is not using their MP status to get into the lounge on a domestic itin.
It could be that they are being lazy bc they have to type it in, as opposed to scanning a BP or swiping a card.
Try e-mailing UA customer service for clarification, then printing out the answer and showing it to the agents.
The OP is not using their MP status to get into the lounge on a domestic itin.
Good idea on asking customer service! Never had this problem before. Other airports just type it in for me. Maybe SFO is so busy they just make their own rules up.
Feb 1, 2016, 1:35 pm
#1971
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: SAN
Posts: 487
But, like I posted earlier I can somewhat understand them being afraid of "fakes," but if they input it they'll see it goes through in their system sooo.....
Feb 1, 2016, 1:39 pm
#1972
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: TPA
Programs: UA Global Services 3MM, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 2,927
I actually don't.... although it is Copa's program due to the match a few months back and I'm not sure that they issue cards? Maybe it wouldn't hurt to throw some miles their way so they can issue me a card.
But, like I posted earlier I can somewhat understand them being afraid of "fakes," but if they input it they'll see it goes through in their system sooo.....
But, like I posted earlier I can somewhat understand them being afraid of "fakes," but if they input it they'll see it goes through in their system sooo.....
Feb 1, 2016, 1:41 pm
#1973
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: SAN
Posts: 487
{S}aw that you're a GS member? Does the lounge policy for domestic itinerary apply to you guys too?
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Feb 1, 2016 at 11:46 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Feb 1, 2016, 1:49 pm
#1974
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: TPA
Programs: UA Global Services 3MM, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 2,927
Feb 1, 2016, 5:27 pm
#1975
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058
Wait so you're crediting your flights to UA MP but you're using another program status to get into the UC?
Count me in the camp that feels this is a bit of a cheat.
Count me in the camp that feels this is a bit of a cheat.
Feb 1, 2016, 6:46 pm
#1977
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: 66,850
You will need to present your boarding pass for a Star Alliance flight departing from the local airport. If your boarding pass does not carry the Star Alliance Gold indicator, you will need also to show your valid Star Alliance Gold card.
Feb 1, 2016, 7:12 pm
#1978
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 134
yes BUT
It is BP or *G card, but no screen shots.
It is BP or *G card, but no screen shots.
Virtual cards are usually ok. Screenshots are sketchy.
I had a LH agent ask me to interact with the UA app to prove that my card was valid and I didn't just take a screenshot.
Feb 4, 2016, 1:13 pm
#1979
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 4
Lax
I have a bunch of day passes I was going to use some at lax but reading about the construction and denial of day passes, I am now hesitant. We will be there at 5:30 am on a Saturday...would we be allowed in or should I use them at another airport? How bad is construction in lax lounge? Thanks
Feb 4, 2016, 1:28 pm
#1980
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,019
I have a bunch of day passes I was going to use some at lax but reading about the construction and denial of day passes, I am now hesitant. We will be there at 5:30 am on a Saturday...would we be allowed in or should I use them at another airport? How bad is construction in lax lounge? Thanks
Construction is mostly at night and hidden behind walls and above the concourse. It's really not noticeable.