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Consolidated "United Club Access Questions" Thread

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Old Jan 4, 2015, 2:25 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
United operates its own United Clubs worldwide; for a detailed list, see this FT thread: United Club and Other United Lounges.
Official lounge access policy on UA's website: Club access policy
Older archived FT thread: Consolidated "United Club Access Questions" Thread [ARCHIVE]
For UA partner and Star Alliance lounges, reference the *A website: *A Lounge Finder and *A Lounge Access Policies. Note that some airports have "contract" lounges with varying access rules. Also see Non-UA Lounge Access Rules for United Club members?
United also operates Polaris Lounges and Arrival Lounges and previously operated International Global First Lounges (respective FT threads linked).
GS2021 newsresent GS status extended to Jan2022, domestic UC access, additional PP

To have access to the UCs, you will need to fit into one of the following:
  • UC member with same-day UA, *A, or contracted partner BP* 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)
    * Since 1 Nov 2019, a same-day BP on a UA, *A, or contracted partner flight is required for entry
    * Actual UC membership card is generally not required at UCs if presenting a UA BP with member's UA FF# as the UC membership is tied to the MP account
  • UA *G member with international *A BP, for any class of travel, showing status
    * 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 - some agents use same calendar day) - can be different PNR
  • non-UA *G member with same-day *A BP for a flight departing from the same airport, showing status
    * Can guest 1 traveler with a departing *A BP from same airport.
    * 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
  • passenger with same-day *A BP for international travel in business or first class, departing same airport
    * International First passengers can guest 1 traveler with a departing *A BP
    * No guests for International Business.
  • 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 GS status with a same day BP (UA/partner carrier)
    • No guests
  • Have or purchase a UC one-time access pass with same day BP
    * No guests
  • Have Amtrak Select Plus or Select Executive status.
    * 1 guest and/or dependent childern under 21
    * Same day BP on ANY airline (arriving or departing)
  • Active U.S. military personnelActive duty military members with a valid military ID, boarding pass for travel within 24 hours on a United- or United Express-operated flight and one of the following:
    Dressed in uniform
    Leave orders
    Rest and recuperation papers
    Access is subject to United Club seating availability.
    Allowed Guest -- Family members with gate passes or traveling on the same flight as the military member
  • Air Canada Maple Leaf™ Club membership with a departing *A BP from that airportMaple Leaf Club North America members can access United Club locations in the U.S. only. no Guest.
    Maple Leaf Club Worldwide members can access all United Club locations. 1 guest.

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.
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.
Why no United Lounge access with UA domestic first class tickets?

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 itinerary (Also you will need to able to access to the UC location)
As of 1 Nov 2019 - all will be required to will need to provide a same-day boarding pass for travel on United, Star Alliance™ or a contracted partner for entry into all United Club location. Other airline BPs will not qualify
Club member/one-time pass access changes Nov 1, 2019 (same day BP on UA or partner)

Partner lounges
USA Lounges with UA *G / UC membership Access When Flying Domestic
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 "Polaris Lounge Access Questions" Thread
Non-UA Lounge Access Rules for United Club members?
The United Club Meet-Up Thread
Print Wikipost

Consolidated "United Club Access Questions" Thread

   
Old Mar 27, 2023, 4:43 pm
  #61  
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Originally Posted by swgsword
Never try to scan the card by itself -- it will freeze the system and most experienced agents will know this. I typically go up to them and ask "Could you manually enter my *G number for entry please?" Only if needed -- clarify that I do not want it associated with my reservation. There's no "automatic" way to get in this way to my knowledge without the agent manually entering the card number in.
A MileagePlus or *G number alone does not provide entry - it is only one component. Proof of an arrival or departure on UA or a departure on a *G carrier is also required for entrance if the FFN is not associated with the qualifying flight.
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Old Mar 27, 2023, 6:55 pm
  #62  
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SF / Berlin
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 75
Hi all, apologies if this is answered elsewhere but I confused on this point. As a United Premier Platinum elite, do I receive any lounge access when travelling in Economy on a transatlantic United-operated flight? Does it make a difference if the lounge is a "Star Alliance" lounge versus a "United Club"? And if it includes United Club, would that extend to access to a club in the US after arriving from a transatlantic segment in Economy, before a domestic connection?

Thanks in advance!!
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Old Mar 27, 2023, 7:00 pm
  #63  
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Originally Posted by dap891
Hi all, apologies if this is answered elsewhere but I confused on this point. As a United Premier Platinum elite, do I receive any lounge access when travelling in Economy on a transatlantic United-operated flight? Does it make a difference if the lounge is a "Star Alliance" lounge versus a "United Club"? And if it includes United Club, would that extend to access to a club in the US after arriving from a transatlantic segment in Economy, before a domestic connection?

Thanks in advance!!
Yes, access at UC allowed all points of an international trip with UA *G status on UA flight. Access at other *A lounges allowed on departure.
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Old Mar 27, 2023, 7:00 pm
  #64  
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Join Date: Jun 2007
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Originally Posted by dap891
Hi all, apologies if this is answered elsewhere but I confused on this point. As a United Premier Platinum elite, do I receive any lounge access when travelling in Economy on a transatlantic United-operated flight? Does it make a difference if the lounge is a "Star Alliance" lounge versus a "United Club"? And if it includes United Club, would that extend to access to a club in the US after arriving from a transatlantic segment in Economy, before a domestic connection?
Yes, yes, yes -- UA Plat is also *G
UC access on a international travel includes all connecting segments, including domestic segments
The one potential no, arrival at a destination, no partner access (departure only) but yes for UCs if you arrive airside, such as domestic leg.
And no access at UC on a purely domestic itin (but yes to a partner lounge if one exists.

Who said the rules are complicated.
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Old Mar 27, 2023, 7:13 pm
  #65  
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SF / Berlin
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 75
Originally Posted by WineCountryUA
Yes, yes, yes -- UA Plat is also *G
UC access on a international travel includes all connecting segments, including domestic segments
The one potential no, arrival at a destination, no partner access (departure only) but yes for UCs if you arrive airside, such as domestic leg.
And no access at UC on a purely domestic itin (but yes to a partner lounge if one exists.

Who said the rules are complicated.
Thank you! Yes I'm pretty experienced with FFPs and this one hurts my head..

To add one more joker: my international arrival (in this case, BER>EWR) will be on a different ticket to my domestic departure (EWR>DEN). Is that going to ruin my chances of getting into the UC at EWR?
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Old Mar 27, 2023, 7:17 pm
  #66  
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Originally Posted by dap891
Thank you! Yes I'm pretty experienced with FFPs and this one hurts my head..

To add one more joker: my international arrival (in this case, BER>EWR) will be on a different ticket to my domestic departure (EWR>DEN). Is that going to ruin my chances of getting into the UC at EWR?
No. It might conceivably be a problem at DEN (but shouldn’t, really). At EWR, as *G from UA, you get UC access based upon an international arrival at EWR, regardless of your onward flight.
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Old Mar 30, 2023, 7:57 am
  #67  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Originally Posted by jsloan
No. It might conceivably be a problem at DEN (but shouldn’t, really). At EWR, as *G from UA, you get UC access based upon an international arrival at EWR, regardless of your onward flight.
I would expect it to matter (and t best require manual intervention) in DEN because there will be no INTL entitlement coded on the BP/PNR since it's a separate res -- the automated admittance relies on seeing both that airport [e.g. DEN] as the origin or destination + an associated entitlement. If OP scans the EWR-DEN BP criteria 1 will be met but not criteria 2; if OP scans he BER-EWR BP criteria 2 is met but not criteria 1.

At the full-service club location if there's not a line 3/4 of the way down the concourse, a empathetic agent can fix (probably) fix things with a bit of explanation -- at the "go" location there is no agent and the auto gate will summarily reject OP (incidentally, it seems the misunderstanding of domestic F granting access is common enough that the gates are programmed with a specific "Sorry, no access with domestic first class ticket, scan guest pass?" that I saw several people in front of me get turned away by yesterday.
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Old Mar 30, 2023, 10:49 am
  #68  
 
Join Date: May 2017
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After reading some of the usual blog entries on United Club access, I'm confident my plan will work. But I wanted more knowledgeable folks to confirm.

Party of 3 will land at IAH via ANA J, with a 3 hour stop in Houston before continuing to ATL on United PE. I have Star Alliance Gold, and I have 2 United Club passes. This should be sufficient to get all 3 people into a United lounge?
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Old Mar 30, 2023, 11:36 am
  #69  
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
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Originally Posted by ne0ven0m
After reading some of the usual blog entries on United Club access, I'm confident my plan will work. But I wanted more knowledgeable folks to confirm.

Party of 3 will land at IAH via ANA J, with a 3 hour stop in Houston before continuing to ATL on United PE. I have Star Alliance Gold, and I have 2 United Club passes. This should be sufficient to get all 3 people into a United lounge?
*G gets one guest at the UC (international arrival on *A flight), so you'll have to burn 1 UC pass for the 3rd person.
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Old Mar 30, 2023, 12:41 pm
  #70  
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Originally Posted by VRFast
*G gets one guest at the UC (international arrival on *A flight), so you'll have to burn 1 UC pass for the 3rd person.
International arrival on *A flight does not confer UA Club access unless passenger is UA*G. However, *G on other programs would get access based on their departing UA flight.
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Old Mar 31, 2023, 9:23 pm
  #71  
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: USA - Seattle area
Programs: DL Platinum, "alum" of high status with UA but not any more
Posts: 531
Upcoming itinerary . . . booked in Polaris class using Mileage Plus miles (non-Polaris legs are in F)

SEA-SFO-NRT-GUM in First-Polaris-First respectively
then a few days later . . .
GUAM-SAIPAN in First
then a few days later . . .
SPN-NRT-SFO-SEA in First-Polaris-First respectively

Question: There is a United Club in Guam. Will I have access to it on the morning of departure on the short Guam-Saipan flight?

I am currently "non-status",(I am an "alum" of higher status earlier in life).

Thanks in advance.
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Old Apr 1, 2023, 7:29 am
  #72  
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Originally Posted by andrewk829
Upcoming itinerary . . . booked in Polaris class using Mileage Plus miles (non-Polaris legs are in F)

SEA-SFO-NRT-GUM in First-Polaris-First respectively
then a few days later . . .
GUAM-SAIPAN in First
then a few days later . . .
SPN-NRT-SFO-SEA in First-Polaris-First respectively

Question: There is a United Club in Guam. Will I have access to it on the morning of departure on the short Guam-Saipan flight?

I am currently "non-status",(I am an "alum" of higher status earlier in life).

Thanks in advance.
It appears that GUM-SPN is marketed as "First" and not "Business", so I would expect no ticket-based access at GUM for that flight.

Paging SPN Lifer who may be able to confirm.
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Old Apr 1, 2023, 8:42 am
  #73  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 184
Upcoming itinerary:

GRU-ORD in Polaris.
ORD-MCO in First the next day (more than 24 hours past the international leg).

These flights are in the same itinerary. Would I be able to access the United Club? I dunno about Polaris. I'm currently 1k.
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Old Apr 1, 2023, 9:33 am
  #74  
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No access to PL or UC on arrival at ORD unless you have some means of getting through security, which I do not believe you will have. No access to PL next day since you are not arriving or departing same day on UA Polaris flight. Access to UC prior to domestic flight if you have UC membership or one-time pass.
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Old Apr 1, 2023, 10:19 am
  #75  
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: Hilton Gold
Posts: 44
Am I reading the United club rules correctly that I can access the United club at my departure airport on a business class Lufthansa ticket?

departure is ATL, think I’d rather use a United club than the “club at atl” that Lufthansa contracts with.

edit: just realized the only United club is at T-Gates. Long way from F gate. Oh well. Will still consider it if we are delayed.
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