Jul 25, 2014, 8:21 pm
Last edit by: seanp7
related thread: Consolidated connection time/logistics at LHR
Comparative Review of Five Different Star Alliance Lounges at Heathrow T2
United Club Hours 5:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. daily (as of October 2023) (standard UC access policies0
Global First Class GS / VIP lounge (newly open May 2022) (GS and at time 1K Polaris customers -- based on space)
Arrival Lounge Hours 6:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (open as of June 13, 2022)
Archive thread: LHR Terminal 2 United Club, GS Lounge (was GFL) & Arrivals Lounge Discussion[Archive]
Comparative Review of Five Different Star Alliance Lounges at Heathrow T2
United Club Hours 5:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. daily (as of October 2023) (standard UC access policies0
Arrival Lounge Hours 6:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (open as of June 13, 2022)
The arrivals lounge at London Heathrow, located immediately after immigration and customs, is a shared space with shower suites, breakfast items and more. This lounge is exclusively available for United Polaris business class travelers.
Eligible travelers must be flying on a same-day ticket arriving before noon and cannot bring guests. Additionally, United Club memberships and one-time passes don’t grant access to this lounge.
LHR Terminal 2 UA UC (open), GS Lounge (open) & Arrivals Lounge (now open)
Nov 28, 2022, 2:00 pm
#961
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: 66,856
Also same day UA Polaris passenger if arriving or departing on *A flight
Access to the GS area at LHR is probably a special set of rules as 1Ks Polaris also have access, but would not presume the same rules as UCs.
Nov 28, 2022, 4:01 pm
#962
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,317
You will arrive in the same terminal as UA -- just in section A which is the local terminal where you will go through security (just follow the signs to connecting flights). Once you clear security you will come out into the A part of terminal 2. All UA flights arrive and depart from the B part -- which is a good 10-15 minute walk underground to the remote terminal. There are not many shops in the B section -- all of the shopping and most of the food is in the A part -- but the UA club is out in B - so if you have access I would recommend going out to B for your flight and enjoy what is probably the best UA club in the system
Nov 28, 2022, 8:17 pm
#963
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,345
Flat out denied entry into the UA UC today at LHR around 1045am. There was a person standing out front telling everyone it's full and to head to AC or SQ lounges. I probably could have played the 1K status card but decided not to. He said it was overflowing due to the delayed LHR-SFO flight (which went out 3+ hours late and then diverted to EWR). Really bummed I didn't get into the lounge as it's been pre-Covid since I've been in there. Plus as a 1K in Polaris I could have had access to the "GS side". Oh well, next time.
bmwe92fan is mostly correct. I'll spell it out in more detail for you.
IAD-LHR you can use any lounge in IAD (LH/TK/UA). Since you don't specify if you're flying Polaris then I'll leave out the Polaris lounge but it's available to you if you're flying business.
LHR-Germany you can technically only use the LH lounge. I believe that *A lounge access at connecting airports only applies if you're connecting to a *A carrier. EuroWings (EW) is not a *A carrier and lounge access to UA *G is only available via a special deal with LH. The good thing is EW will depart from Terminal 2A which is where you find the LH lounge. You will be able to use the Senator section in the back.
Germany-LHR-IAD grants you access in Germany (assuming there's an LH lounge) as well as any *A lounge in LHR. As most others would say, try for the UA UC lounge if they'll let you in. I think my bad luck this morning is a one-off and not the norm.
-RM
IAD-LHR you can use any lounge in IAD (LH/TK/UA). Since you don't specify if you're flying Polaris then I'll leave out the Polaris lounge but it's available to you if you're flying business.
LHR-Germany you can technically only use the LH lounge. I believe that *A lounge access at connecting airports only applies if you're connecting to a *A carrier. EuroWings (EW) is not a *A carrier and lounge access to UA *G is only available via a special deal with LH. The good thing is EW will depart from Terminal 2A which is where you find the LH lounge. You will be able to use the Senator section in the back.
Germany-LHR-IAD grants you access in Germany (assuming there's an LH lounge) as well as any *A lounge in LHR. As most others would say, try for the UA UC lounge if they'll let you in. I think my bad luck this morning is a one-off and not the norm.
-RM
Last edited by RobOnLI; Nov 29, 2022 at 6:16 am Reason: Grammar
Dec 7, 2022, 5:00 am
#964
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 6,324
Dec 9, 2022, 12:55 am
#965
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,344
I might get a fully refundable ticket, check-in, go to the lounge for a few hours, then cancel ! This is part of my "do daft things" season!
Dec 9, 2022, 9:20 am
#966
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Central New Jersey
Posts: 1,213
Recently, I have been to only the GS side. Since it's been so long since I have been to the main UC (pre-pandemic), can someone remind me if there is anything that is better on that side (seating, food, etc.).
Dec 9, 2022, 9:29 am
#967
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NYC, LON
Programs: *
Posts: 2,773
Food tends to be warmer in main club. When quiet on 'GS side' the food stays in open long and cools down. Also occasionally there may be more food selection, like scones and pastries, on main club side.
Dec 9, 2022, 9:52 am
#968
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,024
Dec 11, 2022, 1:27 pm
#969
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,546
on a 4 hour morning LHR connection UA to LX in J, is it a better choice to enter the UK to shower at the arrivals lounge OR to shower at one of the T2B lounges?
assuming T2B is the better choice for the shower, is this the flow as follows:
arrive T2B, walk to T2A for flight connections & security, walk T2A to T2B for lounge, walk T2B to T2A for LX departure?
which T2B lounge (AC, UA, SQ) is the best choice for a pleasant shower? main thing I want to avoid is a shower suite without a toilet.
entering the UK has the compelling advantage on not having to walk two roundtrips between T2B & T2A and it doesn't require any additional security screening (security screening at flight connections center or for LHR origination flights is a wash). downside is entering the UK, which I assume is not so unpleasant with J fastrack & a US passport machine-readable.
assuming T2B is the better choice for the shower, is this the flow as follows:
arrive T2B, walk to T2A for flight connections & security, walk T2A to T2B for lounge, walk T2B to T2A for LX departure?
which T2B lounge (AC, UA, SQ) is the best choice for a pleasant shower? main thing I want to avoid is a shower suite without a toilet.
entering the UK has the compelling advantage on not having to walk two roundtrips between T2B & T2A and it doesn't require any additional security screening (security screening at flight connections center or for LHR origination flights is a wash). downside is entering the UK, which I assume is not so unpleasant with J fastrack & a US passport machine-readable.
Last edited by Colin; Dec 11, 2022 at 1:33 pm
Dec 11, 2022, 3:33 pm
#970
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 6,324
on a 4 hour morning LHR connection UA to LX in J, is it a better choice to enter the UK to shower at the arrivals lounge OR to shower at one of the T2B lounges?
assuming T2B is the better choice for the shower, is this the flow as follows:
arrive T2B, walk to T2A for flight connections & security, walk T2A to T2B for lounge, walk T2B to T2A for LX departure?
which T2B lounge (AC, UA, SQ) is the best choice for a pleasant shower? main thing I want to avoid is a shower suite without a toilet.
entering the UK has the compelling advantage on not having to walk two roundtrips between T2B & T2A and it doesn't require any additional security screening (security screening at flight connections center or for LHR origination flights is a wash). downside is entering the UK, which I assume is not so unpleasant with J fastrack & a US passport machine-readable.
assuming T2B is the better choice for the shower, is this the flow as follows:
arrive T2B, walk to T2A for flight connections & security, walk T2A to T2B for lounge, walk T2B to T2A for LX departure?
which T2B lounge (AC, UA, SQ) is the best choice for a pleasant shower? main thing I want to avoid is a shower suite without a toilet.
entering the UK has the compelling advantage on not having to walk two roundtrips between T2B & T2A and it doesn't require any additional security screening (security screening at flight connections center or for LHR origination flights is a wash). downside is entering the UK, which I assume is not so unpleasant with J fastrack & a US passport machine-readable.
Dec 11, 2022, 6:11 pm
#971
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,317
OP don’t forget LH has a lounge in T2A….
Dec 11, 2022, 7:53 pm
#972
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NYC, LON
Programs: *
Posts: 2,773
on a 4 hour morning LHR connection UA to LX in J, is it a better choice to enter the UK to shower at the arrivals lounge OR to shower at one of the T2B lounges?
assuming T2B is the better choice for the shower, is this the flow as follows:
arrive T2B, walk to T2A for flight connections & security, walk T2A to T2B for lounge, walk T2B to T2A for LX departure?
which T2B lounge (AC, UA, SQ) is the best choice for a pleasant shower? main thing I want to avoid is a shower suite without a toilet.
entering the UK has the compelling advantage on not having to walk two roundtrips between T2B & T2A and it doesn't require any additional security screening (security screening at flight connections center or for LHR origination flights is a wash). downside is entering the UK, which I assume is not so unpleasant with J fastrack & a US passport machine-readable.
assuming T2B is the better choice for the shower, is this the flow as follows:
arrive T2B, walk to T2A for flight connections & security, walk T2A to T2B for lounge, walk T2B to T2A for LX departure?
which T2B lounge (AC, UA, SQ) is the best choice for a pleasant shower? main thing I want to avoid is a shower suite without a toilet.
entering the UK has the compelling advantage on not having to walk two roundtrips between T2B & T2A and it doesn't require any additional security screening (security screening at flight connections center or for LHR origination flights is a wash). downside is entering the UK, which I assume is not so unpleasant with J fastrack & a US passport machine-readable.
Dec 12, 2022, 5:20 am
#973
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,159
on a 4 hour morning LHR connection UA to LX in J, is it a better choice to enter the UK to shower at the arrivals lounge OR to shower at one of the T2B lounges?
assuming T2B is the better choice for the shower, is this the flow as follows:
arrive T2B, walk to T2A for flight connections & security, walk T2A to T2B for lounge, walk T2B to T2A for LX departure?
which T2B lounge (AC, UA, SQ) is the best choice for a pleasant shower? main thing I want to avoid is a shower suite without a toilet.
entering the UK has the compelling advantage on not having to walk two roundtrips between T2B & T2A and it doesn't require any additional security screening (security screening at flight connections center or for LHR origination flights is a wash). downside is entering the UK, which I assume is not so unpleasant with J fastrack & a US passport machine-readable.
assuming T2B is the better choice for the shower, is this the flow as follows:
arrive T2B, walk to T2A for flight connections & security, walk T2A to T2B for lounge, walk T2B to T2A for LX departure?
which T2B lounge (AC, UA, SQ) is the best choice for a pleasant shower? main thing I want to avoid is a shower suite without a toilet.
entering the UK has the compelling advantage on not having to walk two roundtrips between T2B & T2A and it doesn't require any additional security screening (security screening at flight connections center or for LHR origination flights is a wash). downside is entering the UK, which I assume is not so unpleasant with J fastrack & a US passport machine-readable.
- It does close at 2PM, and I think they stop access at 1PM, though you should confirm both.
- If you are travelling during Peak Holiday (Dec 23-26 and/or Dec 28-31), the UK Border Force (Immigration) has planned to strike. On those dates, it would be much better to stay airside.
Dec 12, 2022, 6:57 am
#974
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: IAH & CMH
Programs: UA GS, UA MM, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Uber Platinum :)
Posts: 773
LHR Terminal 2 UA UC (open), GS Lounge (open) & Arrivals Lounge (now open)
Agree with ani90 above, I would exit into the UK and use the arrival lounge. Couple of caveats:
- It does close at 2PM, and I think they stop access at 1PM, though you should confirm both.
- If you are travelling during Peak Holiday (Dec 23-26 and/or Dec 28-31), the UK Border Force (Immigration) has planned to strike. On those dates, it would be much better to stay airside.
United Lounge closed due to no hot water…
ramp is finally complete:
Photo taken from SilverKris lounge due to United Club being closed
Dec 12, 2022, 8:35 am
#975
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 71
Agree with ani90 above, I would exit into the UK and use the arrival lounge. Couple of caveats:
- It does close at 2PM, and I think they stop access at 1PM, though you should confirm both.
- If you are travelling during Peak Holiday (Dec 23-26 and/or Dec 28-31), the UK Border Force (Immigration) has planned to strike. On those dates, it would be much better to stay airside.
Yes…your best bet is to stay airside. That’s where my money is. Things at LHR can go sideways faster than…well, faster than I could get this reply deleted by the FT police if I got political. Stay airside!
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 12, 2022 at 1:46 pm Reason: repaired quote