RTWSTARALLIANCE

I did not realize it would be airside so close to the UA domestic gates. Visited the "new" UA Club at SFO couple weeks ago. Very disappointed with windowless environment and same old offerings.

Was in DFW last week arriving late and was able to have a small dinner at the Amex lounge before heading to the GH DFW. The Amex lounges are much welcomed anywhere by me.

Billiken

Given the easy walking distance to the int'l gates and the dismal offerings in the United Clubs, IMO, the new lounge will be crowded most of the time.

mherdeg

I had a lot of trouble trying to find a quiet place to hold a short phone meeting in any of the several IAH United Clubs — the cubicles are adjacent to seating areas and I felt like I was disturbing someone by talking on the phone, even when I picked an empty bank of cubicles.

Other locations have better meeting spaces. BOS has a great walled-off area. My gold standard here is the LH Senator lounges and FCLs at FRA, which have small rooms with doors you can use for calls.

haddon90

is the food/drink free? if so, i could see a lot of people that don't have the black or plat card paying the $50 if it's light years better than the UC.

mre5765

Food and drink are free and excellent. Comparable to any restaurant you will find within an airport. Food is self serve, drink is from a bartender. But worth $50? Maybe if arriving on a long haul and in need of a shower; $50 is much less than a hotel, and much more convenient. You are better off just getting a platinum card, IMHO. Wait for another 100K mile offer and get one.

The cubes are there for making calls. If people in seating areas don't like it, they can move elsewhere, or leave the lounge. Had a long layover at LAX, and used the CO-era UC instead of the pmUA-era UC (because I thought, erroneously that that the pmUA UC at LAX didn't have cubes ... just the desks in the bull pen ... realized on a later visit that there are some cubs) and it was a similar situation. Worked out just fine.

1k-all-the-way

Agree. And SMI/J and company will be pleased that their Coke and cracker budget can be cutback with fewer club goers. That's how they compete!

WineCountryUA

This is a temporary club until the "new" T3E UC is constructed.

flyer0123

I am flying to LHR by BA tomorrow. Can I access the Amex lounge as the BA flights are from different terminal? (I have the Amex Plat)

If yes, is there a way to walk from Amex lounge to the BA gate or do I have to clear security again?

west_end_NYC

The inclusion of complimentary access to the Centurion Lounges coupled with the diminished quality of UCs was the main reason I decided to recently reinstate my Amex Plat card. Looking forward to visiting the new LGA location when I fly out next week.

meducate

It's very nice! The folks in the LGA UC told me that a lot of folks check in there and then wander over to the Centurion Lounge. It is just down the hall (when you use the upstairs door to the left of the desk where the agents sit.

tom911

Although you can walk from the international terminal to the domestic terminals, what you can't do is connect in the secure area between UA (domestic or international) and BA, so you would need to clear security separately for both BA and UA. You can walk from UA international over to UA domestic in the secure area if you enter from that side. BA and UA are on separate international piers.

One poster above says the TSA will let you in any terminal with a boarding pass. You'll need to try that out and see if it works. Haven't tried that myself.

Any mention of the timetable to connect T2 and T3? I thought that was something 10 years out. Can't see AA flyers wanting to clear security twice just to use the AMEX lounge.

haddon90

if on a long layover, it may be worth it. i've been stuck at LAX for a long time before and ended up spending <$50 at the bar/restaurant i was at. so $50 for this might not be bad if you are somewhere for 3 or more hours.

Kacee

TSA doesn't operate the passenger check-points at SFO. Passenger and baggage screening is provided by Covenant Aviation Security pursuant to contract with the federal government.

kirkwoodj

I don't show my boarding pass to TSA, just place it (my phone) face down on the scanner. They only see my ID. Don't think it matters to TSA which airline/terminal as long as I have a valid BP and go through security measures. Think that was the point.

steveman518

Pictures! (though it is a BA blog...)
http://travelskills.com/2014/11/05/f...on-lounge-sfo/