Jan 4, 2015, 2:25 pm
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 news
resent 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:
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.
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
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 news
resent GS status extended to Jan2022, domestic UC access, additional PPTo 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.
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
Consolidated "United Club Access Questions" Thread
Mar 26, 2024, 11:39 am
#661
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,019
Nonsequitur and an overbroad generalization. OP was departing on a *A flight, but that wasn't sufficient for *A lounge access, since he is not *G and his onward *A flight didn't independntly qualify for UC access. If OP had been flying J on UA metal, his arriving flight would have granted him Polaris lounge access. And if OP had been flying OW, his arrival in J combined with an onward OW flight would have allowed access.
Mar 26, 2024, 11:57 am
#662
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
Mar 27, 2024, 8:31 am
#663
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,998
Status... "...can use lounges offered by oneworld airlines when departing on any flight marketed and operated by any oneworld member airline, regardless of cabin class being flown (exceptions are noted below)."
Class of Service... "Access is available on the day of travel (or before 06:00am the following day), at the airport from which the oneworld flight on which the eligible customer is travelling departs."
(AA and Alaska have different rules for those that have membership in their clubs.)
Mar 27, 2024, 9:43 am
#664
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,380
Yes, OW or *A, must be departing on an alliance flight..... But OW has this section that *A doesn't.
Flying J from NRT-SFO on (ANA or JAL), connecting to Y on SFO-SAN domestic on same alliance (UA or AA).
OW would have provided access at SFO (Y departure to SAN), but not on *A
https://www.oneworld.com/airport-lounges
Flying J from NRT-SFO on (ANA or JAL), connecting to Y on SFO-SAN domestic on same alliance (UA or AA).
OW would have provided access at SFO (Y departure to SAN), but not on *A
https://www.oneworld.com/airport-lounges
Connecting between oneworld marketed and operated flights: First and Business Class customers connecting on the same day of travel, or before 06:00am the following day, can access the lounge when travelling between an international long haul (a oneworld international long haul flight is defined as an international flight marketed and operated by any oneworld carrier with a scheduled flight time longer than 5 hours) and an international short haul or domestic flight (and vice-versa).
Lounge access will be determined on the international long haul ticketed flight (either First of Business Class) regardless of the ticketed class of travel on the international short haul or domestic flight
Lounge access will be determined on the international long haul ticketed flight (either First of Business Class) regardless of the ticketed class of travel on the international short haul or domestic flight
Mar 27, 2024, 11:42 am
#665
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: YEG
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 323
I am not 100% sure that I went through the auto gate but it was at the same airport (DEN) and very likely the exact same United Club. I don't remember there being any problem with the gates such that I would have been directed to walk around them - it was only last month. I have sent off a complaint to United, I'll let everyone know what they say.
United Customer Care informs me they won't answer any queries about current trips. For more information visit www.united.com. Also, their [email protected] isn't monitored so don't reply to this email.
Great service!
Another update: I lodged another complaint now that the whole itinerary is in the past. They closed it the next day without contacting me. Now I've lodged a complaint about the lack of response to my complaint. I'm starting to think this is a waste of time!
Last edited by rbakker; Apr 2, 2024 at 3:42 pm
Apr 23, 2024, 8:39 pm
#666
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AZ
Programs: AA Million Miler, Bonvoy Lifetime Gold, Global Entry
Posts: 246
I am travelling BRU-YUL-ORD-PHX with the BRU-YUL and YUL-ORD on AC and ORD-PHX on UA metal. All flights are in J. I believe I will have access to the transborder AC lounge at YUL but I am not sure about access to United Club in ORD. I have no status on AC or UA.
Apr 23, 2024, 8:53 pm
#667
Join Date: Aug 2019
Programs: UA*G
Posts: 45
No access at ORD, unfortunately, unless you have *G status with any other Star Alliance carrier.
Yesterday, 7:59 pm
#669
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
But, yes, the number of UA Gold members would absolutely overwhelm the lounges.
Yesterday, 9:41 pm
#670
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, Total Wine & More Reserve
Posts: 4,502
Yesterday, 10:09 pm
#671
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
This is a change in the last year or so.
Yesterday, 10:15 pm
#672
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, Total Wine & More Reserve
Posts: 4,502
Actually, under the latest rules, a UA *G would not have access to ORD UC on that itinerary. The latest rule states that you'd get access at the departure airport of your international itinerary. That, of course, isn't well-defined, but it's certainly not ORD on a BRU-YUL-ORD-PHX itinerary.
This is a change in the last year or so.
This is a change in the last year or so.
Yesterday, 10:27 pm
#673
Join Date: Aug 2019
Programs: UA*G
Posts: 45
Actually, under the latest rules, a UA *G would not have access to ORD UC on that itinerary. The latest rule states that you'd get access at the departure airport of your international itinerary. That, of course, isn't well-defined, but it's certainly not ORD on a BRU-YUL-ORD-PHX itinerary.
This is a change in the last year or so.
This is a change in the last year or so.
As for the access rules, I believe it is just clunkily worded. UA*G should still get access at ORD UC. The new wording was introduced, if I remember correctly, in April 2023. I have been able to access UCs with I->D itineraries using UA*G (not Polaris either, so it is not that exception that let me in) as late as this year. I believe there also have been other reports in this thread, since the initial change in the wording last year, of UA*G getting access with similar itineraries.
The access rules page had an update in December last year to the new look we see today, but at that time references to non-UA *G access for domestic flights were removed altogether. This was fixed I believe in March this year, albeit with some obvious formatting errors in the section (an additional space here, a missing punctuation mark there, and erroneous footnotes).
Yesterday, 10:39 pm
#674
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
The access rules page had an update in December last year to the new look we see today, but at that time references to non-UA *G access for domestic flights were removed altogether. This was fixed I believe in March this year, albeit with some obvious formatting errors in the section (an additional space here, a missing punctuation mark there, and erroneous footnotes).
If you belong to United’s frequent flyer program, a valid Star Alliance Gold membership card and a same-day boarding pass for travel on an international3 flight operated by a Star Alliance member airline, or a same-day boarding pass showing Star Alliance Gold status for travel on an international3 flight operated by a Star Alliance member airline, are needed to access United Club locations at the departure airport of their international itinerary
Now, if I'm flying AUS-ORD-YYZ, I don't know if the "departure airport of my international itinerary" is AUS or ORD. But if I'm flying YYZ-ORD-AUS, it's unambiguously YYZ.