Dec 7, 2014, 12:30 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This is an archive of older posts, the active thread is Consolidated "United Club Access Questions" Thread
United operates United Clubs in the USA and many international locations -- see United Club and Other United Lounges for a detailed list.
UA's partners and the Star Alliance operates lounges in some of the same airports and many others. See the *A Lounge Finder and *A Lounge Access Policies . Additionally, some airports have "contract" lounges, admission is airport dependent.
United also operates International Global First Lounges and Arrival Lounges. These lounges have different access policy, see the linked threads for more.
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.
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 itinarary (Alsoyou qill need to able to access to the UC location)
Starting 18 Aug 2016: United Club Access (including members) Only w/ Same-Day BP
Partner lounges
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
United operates United Clubs in the USA and many international locations -- see United Club and Other United Lounges for a detailed list.
UA's partners and the Star Alliance operates lounges in some of the same airports and many others. See the *A Lounge Finder and *A Lounge Access Policies . Additionally, some airports have "contract" lounges, admission is airport dependent.
United also operates International Global First Lounges and Arrival Lounges. These lounges have different access policy, see the linked threads for more.
To have access to the UCs, you will need to fit into one of the following
- Be a UC member -- either directly purchased or combined with a credit card (such as Chase MP Club card)* 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.
* The actual UC membership card @ UCs is generally not required if you have a UA BP -- since the UC membership is tied to the MP account
* Same day BP on ANY airline (arriving or departing)
* Spousal memberships are available as an extra cost option - Be traveling as *G member (see UA *G on domestic-only itinerary limitation) with departing *A BP showing your status while in any cabin* 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 - can be different PNR)
* 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
- Be departing that airport in *A International Business or International First (with BP)* International First passengers can guest 1 traveler with a departing *A BP. No guests for International Business.
* UA has an expanded access policy that those traveling same day International Business or International First on UA operated flights can access UCs at any same day connecting airport
- 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 or purchase a UC one-time access pass* No guests
- Have Amtrak Select Plus or Select Executive status.* 1 guest
* Same day BP on ANY airline (arriving or departing)
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.
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 itinarary (Alsoyou qill need to able to access to the UC location)
Starting 18 Aug 2016: United Club Access (including members) Only w/ Same-Day BP
Partner lounges
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 "United Club Access Questions" Thread [ARCHIVE]
Nov 16, 2018, 6:25 pm
#3436
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,429
Just checked and the rule as written does not require a *A boarding pass. In fact, it does not require an onward boarding pass at all, just a same-day international *A boarding pass, which could be from a flight taken earlier that day.
Perhaps UA did not update its rule page?
Originally Posted by UAL.com
- A valid Star Alliance Gold membership card and a same-day boarding pass for travel on an internationalFootnote 1 flight operated by a Star Alliance member airline (departure airport can be different from that of the United Club location being entered)
Nov 16, 2018, 6:34 pm
#3437
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 157
Not based on the wording. The way the rule is written means that a same day international *A boarding pass essentially converts the UA*G card into an access pass to any United Club, at any time, but just on that day.
Nov 16, 2018, 6:44 pm
#3438
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
This wiki suggests you can use UC on arrival: "UA has an expanded access policy for those traveling same day International Business or International First on UA operated flights, they can access UCs at any same day connecting airport (including origin and destination)" Consolidated "United Club Access Questions" Thread
Nov 16, 2018, 7:42 pm
#3439
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 157
This wiki suggests you can use UC on arrival: "UA has an expanded access policy for those traveling same day International Business or International First on UA operated flights, they can access UCs at any same day connecting airport (including origin and destination)" Consolidated "United Club Access Questions" Thread
“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)”
Turns out it wasn’t as simple as I thought.
Nov 16, 2018, 10:44 pm
#3440
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: 66,854
,,,,
According to United’s access rules, a same day international *A boarding pass gets you into United Clubs, irrespective of departure airport. The rule does not say that the international boarding pass must be for a flight yet to be flown. I have made use of this on occasion by using the United Club when I did not have a connecting UA flight. Say you arrive at LAX on UA from LHR and are connecting on AA or Spirit or some other airline domestically. The LHR-LAX boarding pass allows you to enter the United Club at LAX, notwithstanding that the LHR-LAX flight has already been flown.
Is this correct or have I just been lucky getting in in those circumstances? ....
Is this correct or have I just been lucky getting in in those circumstances? ....
Arrival or departure "same day" international *A BP will work, so your access has been per the rules.
Nov 17, 2018, 8:40 am
#3442
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,455
Nov 17, 2018, 9:40 am
#3443
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
Thanks for the link to the right thread, Even the wiki is ambiguous:
“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)”
Turns out it wasn’t as simple as I thought.
United's page says: "A same-day boarding pass showing Star Alliance Gold status, for travel on an international flight operated by a Star Alliance member airline (departure airport can be different from that of the United Club location being entered)".
Nov 27, 2018, 9:41 am
#3444
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 9
Pretty sure I understand the rules but wanna make sure.
If I'm flying single day business class itinerary on UA/ANA -- EWR-SFO-NRT but the EWR to SFO is in economy, I can still get UC access at EWR. The reason being that the economy flight is part of a single day itinerary?
And coming back business class NRT-SFO-EWR with SFO-EWR in economy I would still be able to get access at UC at SFO and even arrival lounge at EWR?
If I'm flying single day business class itinerary on UA/ANA -- EWR-SFO-NRT but the EWR to SFO is in economy, I can still get UC access at EWR. The reason being that the economy flight is part of a single day itinerary?
And coming back business class NRT-SFO-EWR with SFO-EWR in economy I would still be able to get access at UC at SFO and even arrival lounge at EWR?
Nov 27, 2018, 9:43 am
#3445
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
Pretty sure I understand the rules but wanna make sure.
If I'm flying single day business class itinerary on UA/ANA -- EWR-SFO-NRT but the EWR to SFO is in economy, I can still get UC access at EWR. The reason being that the economy flight is part of a single day itinerary?
And coming back business class NRT-SFO-EWR with SFO-EWR in economy I would still be able to get access at UC at SFO and even arrival lounge at EWR?
If I'm flying single day business class itinerary on UA/ANA -- EWR-SFO-NRT but the EWR to SFO is in economy, I can still get UC access at EWR. The reason being that the economy flight is part of a single day itinerary?
And coming back business class NRT-SFO-EWR with SFO-EWR in economy I would still be able to get access at UC at SFO and even arrival lounge at EWR?
And are you Star Alliance Gold or not?
Nov 27, 2018, 9:47 am
#3447
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,455
Nov 27, 2018, 9:48 am
#3448
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,023
You get access at SFO (Polaris and UC) only on the way there (not EWR) and at NRT (I would use ANA lounge) on way back. If you're on ANA on the way back, you only get access at NRT. If you're on UA NRT-SFO, you get access at NRT and SFO.
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Nov 27, 2018 at 9:55 am
Nov 27, 2018, 9:50 am
#3450
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,455