Dulles United Clubs - Why bother 4-6pm...
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
Posts: 4,599
Dulles United Clubs - Why bother 4-6pm...
Relatively new to the Dulles thing being from the legacy CO side, but have had several international connections there over the last year and have to say...
What a mess at those clubs during the peak int'l arrival / departure times. Today each club had lines 10 deep trying to get in (arrived in C, connected in D so walked by each).
I went in D simply to use the bathroom and ask an agent a question. And that's it. There was no room to do anything else with seats taken.
Is this a new thing post merger, or has it always been tolerated like this? I'm okay with the spartan terminal as long as there's a club seat, but my last trips through Dulles it was better to find an empty gate area to go work.
What a mess at those clubs during the peak int'l arrival / departure times. Today each club had lines 10 deep trying to get in (arrived in C, connected in D so walked by each).
I went in D simply to use the bathroom and ask an agent a question. And that's it. There was no room to do anything else with seats taken.
Is this a new thing post merger, or has it always been tolerated like this? I'm okay with the spartan terminal as long as there's a club seat, but my last trips through Dulles it was better to find an empty gate area to go work.
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,604
Relatively new to the Dulles thing being from the legacy CO side, but have had several international connections there over the last year and have to say...
What a mess at those clubs during the peak int'l arrival / departure times. Today each club had lines 10 deep trying to get in (arrived in C, connected in D so walked by each).
I went in D simply to use the bathroom and ask an agent a question. And that's it. There was no room to do anything else with seats taken.
Is this a new thing post merger, or has it always been tolerated like this? I'm okay with the spartan terminal as long as there's a club seat, but my last trips through Dulles it was better to find an empty gate area to go work.
What a mess at those clubs during the peak int'l arrival / departure times. Today each club had lines 10 deep trying to get in (arrived in C, connected in D so walked by each).
I went in D simply to use the bathroom and ask an agent a question. And that's it. There was no room to do anything else with seats taken.
Is this a new thing post merger, or has it always been tolerated like this? I'm okay with the spartan terminal as long as there's a club seat, but my last trips through Dulles it was better to find an empty gate area to go work.
There's always the LH club in Terminal B. Or the AC in the same terminal, which is small, but rarely crowded, and the club attendants are very nice.
#3
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: RDU
Programs: UA 1MM & *A Gold
Posts: 193
Not worth it
I've never found the United Club @ IAD to be worth it. No food. No decent beers. No real service of any kind. Better to take people movers to D and have dinner and a good beer (or two) at Gordon Biersch, then walk to your gate in C or D.
#4
Join Date: May 2003
Location: RDU, NC, USA
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton something
Posts: 841
I've been going through those clubs at IAD for 10+ years, and it's always packed during the afternoon rush. Once the inbound ex-Europe flights empty it gets busy and stays that way until the IAD->Europe flights start to board...
so I guess "always tolerated" is the answer. But I agree that the LH lounge over in B is far far nicer, and at least the few times I've wandered over there it's been much less crowded.
so I guess "always tolerated" is the answer. But I agree that the LH lounge over in B is far far nicer, and at least the few times I've wandered over there it's been much less crowded.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
Posts: 4,599
But to the others, yes Lufthansa lounge is a great oasis...but a tough schlep for an hour visit.
#6
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: In the gate area on a flight delay
Programs: UA Million Miler, Hyatt Platinum, Starwood Gold, Marriott Silver, Motel 6 Tin
Posts: 1,093
I now spend as little time in C/D (and A, for that matter) as possible, especially when I'm with my wife. We didn't even bother going to the UC in March on our way to CDG.
The stark contrast between the B Terminal and C/D is testimony to what United thinks of its IAD customers.
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: United Mileage Plus Premier Executive, AmericanAdvantage Gold
Posts: 180
Relatively new to the Dulles thing being from the legacy CO side, but have had several international connections there over the last year and have to say...
What a mess at those clubs during the peak int'l arrival / departure times. Today each club had lines 10 deep trying to get in (arrived in C, connected in D so walked by each).
I went in D simply to use the bathroom and ask an agent a question. And that's it. There was no room to do anything else with seats taken.
Is this a new thing post merger, or has it always been tolerated like this? I'm okay with the spartan terminal as long as there's a club seat, but my last trips through Dulles it was better to find an empty gate area to go work.
What a mess at those clubs during the peak int'l arrival / departure times. Today each club had lines 10 deep trying to get in (arrived in C, connected in D so walked by each).
I went in D simply to use the bathroom and ask an agent a question. And that's it. There was no room to do anything else with seats taken.
Is this a new thing post merger, or has it always been tolerated like this? I'm okay with the spartan terminal as long as there's a club seat, but my last trips through Dulles it was better to find an empty gate area to go work.
#8
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Washington D.C.
Programs: UA Platinum, Marriott Platinum,
Posts: 116
Good old United RCC at IAD - they do tacky so well!
Ahhhh, the United Red Carpet Club at IAD...what experiences I've had there! It's my home airport, so sadly I end up there a lot. I am now a wrapped cheese cube connoisser.
But my favorite part of the place is the fact that the cleaning staff seems to love to use the handicapped stall in the women's restroom to conduct their personal phone conversations - loudly. This has been the case the last three flights I've taken out of IAD and have seen (or rather heard) this each time.
Perhaps its the best cell signal in the place?
But my favorite part of the place is the fact that the cleaning staff seems to love to use the handicapped stall in the women's restroom to conduct their personal phone conversations - loudly. This has been the case the last three flights I've taken out of IAD and have seen (or rather heard) this each time.
Perhaps its the best cell signal in the place?
#10
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Programs: AA EXP(4mm), DL Gold, UA Gold (1mm), HH Diamond, Bonvoy Amb(l/t Titanium). Former EA/PA elite
Posts: 994
IMHO, the entire UA operation at IAD is a mess. What a dump! I had not been through IAD since 2001/2002 after giving up on UA before. Ended up at IAD late last year....and the only thing that had changed was the addition of the train. The rest was the same....exactly!!
The UC's are really the pits at IAD. If you have an AC membership, hustle over to A/B and hang out there. As someone else mentioned, it's small and quiet with plenty of seats available. As far as the LH lounge goes, I have not been....but I don't doubt that it is much nicer than the UC's.
As far as EWR goes, it's 10 times more pleasant than IAD. EWR was the poor hub relation when it was only CO. Now IAD must really be the weak link in the entire UA system.
The UC's are really the pits at IAD. If you have an AC membership, hustle over to A/B and hang out there. As someone else mentioned, it's small and quiet with plenty of seats available. As far as the LH lounge goes, I have not been....but I don't doubt that it is much nicer than the UC's.
As far as EWR goes, it's 10 times more pleasant than IAD. EWR was the poor hub relation when it was only CO. Now IAD must really be the weak link in the entire UA system.
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,604
^^ Very well said. UA thinks that all we deserve is new carpet and paint every few years in what is the worst terminals in a US international airport. When I'm there, I remind myself that it could be worse, I could be at MIA terminal G.
#12
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA MM 1K, AA MM Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 3,236
I guess it's still better than no UC at all - at the UAEX gates at the end of A Terminal. What a zoo, especially when there are flight delays. It would be nice to have a club near that part of the terminal.
#13
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Pikes Peak COS
Programs: 3 Month Delta Plat, UA PP 2.4mm, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, HH Lifetime Diamond, National EE
Posts: 426
I have thought the same thing about the lounges in EWR. Between 3-7 pm it is an awful experience there with surley agents, poor food, impossible to get a drink at the bar, and almost not seating. UClubs are not worth anything. Will they build anymore International FC Lounges in EWR or IAH?
#14
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NYC and SFO
Programs: UA 1MM (former 1K, Delta Platinum))
Posts: 1,244
The wireless internet is so pathetic in various United clubs in my experience, an iPad data plan is looking like a better use of the same money. I've failed to connect (on modern equipment that connects everywhere else) in the time I had before my flight, and even when I do eventually, who needs the frustration?
Following the FoodSaver model of crappy products supported by stellar customer service, you'd think that an incredible pipe to the internet would be the one thing the clubs would get right.
Following the FoodSaver model of crappy products supported by stellar customer service, you'd think that an incredible pipe to the internet would be the one thing the clubs would get right.
#15
Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: United
Posts: 256
It was a nice calm oasis - although of course I was the only one in there for the first 20 minutes, and the entire terminal was a barren oasis that time of morning. I had to turn on and warm up the espresso machine myself even. The only unfortunate thing was the downstairs showers didn't open until 9 am, when I had to leave.
Seems like a possibility for even an hour connection as long as you're not going through D. I arrived in A and departed in C, and the lounge is right next to the aerotrain that runs to the middle of C.