Jul 19, 2022, 9:24 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
The short answer is no and that is the general practice across the domestic carriers. There are few exceptions.
Additionally, average domestic fare is too low to fund the space needed.
Why can non-domestic carriers do this in their domestic zone? The amount of in country travel / first class is very small in comparison to the USA (in most cases) plus their train competition offers lounge access.
While there are some who have access due to UC membership or status, for other access it is only if
Premium cabin passengers for "transcontinental business class " (SFO/LAX<> EWR/JFK) or "United Business class within the U.S." (SFO<> BOS)
or Active duty U.S. military personnel under certain circumstances
For more on the "exceptions" see Consolidated "United Club Access Questions" Thread
So why not all domestic F passengers, besides it is not the practice? Essentially there is not enough lounge space and it would be too expensive to build enough space.Premium cabin passengers for "transcontinental business class " (SFO/LAX<> EWR/JFK) or "United Business class within the U.S." (SFO<> BOS)
or Active duty U.S. military personnel under certain circumstances
For more on the "exceptions" see Consolidated "United Club Access Questions" Thread
Additionally, average domestic fare is too low to fund the space needed.
Why can non-domestic carriers do this in their domestic zone? The amount of in country travel / first class is very small in comparison to the USA (in most cases) plus their train competition offers lounge access.
Why no United Lounge access with UA domestic first class tickets?
Mar 28, 2017, 7:29 pm
#16
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I thought that those arriving in UA premium cabin internationally connecting to a domestic flight (class irrelevant) do get lounge access. I always have, though maybe those just in premium cabin but without gold/higher don't?
Mar 28, 2017, 7:49 pm
#17
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Domestic F is basically just Premium Economy. Matrix even treats it that way.
Mar 28, 2017, 7:59 pm
#18
Join Date: Nov 2001
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True observation -- but paid F in Alaska only gets you access to its own lounges (SEA, PDX, LAX, and I think also one in SFO) -- as AS only has a few lounges. Be interesting to see what AS does with the Virgin America lounges at the other airports where AS does not have a lounge.
Back on topic, I would've been very peeved 10-20 years ago to have paid the exorbitant prices for domestic F but be denied lounge access. I doubt they would have had much impact on lounge crowding anyway. But with paid F much more affordable these days, I doubt that the lounges would be able to handle the influx.
Really? I didn't know that.
Mar 28, 2017, 8:27 pm
#19
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I
Back on topic, I would've been very peeved 10-20 years ago to have paid the exorbitant prices for domestic F but be denied lounge access. I doubt they would have had much impact on lounge crowding anyway. But with paid F much more affordable these days, I doubt that the lounges would be able to handle the influx.
Back on topic, I would've been very peeved 10-20 years ago to have paid the exorbitant prices for domestic F but be denied lounge access. I doubt they would have had much impact on lounge crowding anyway. But with paid F much more affordable these days, I doubt that the lounges would be able to handle the influx.
Mar 28, 2017, 9:53 pm
#20
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If the flight is one hour and the time spent in a nice LH lounge is 3 hours then I may be convinced.
Mar 28, 2017, 10:17 pm
#21
Join Date: Feb 2017
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Agree 100%. The in-flight component is far more important. If you don't have lounge access, you can always go to a nice restaurant and have an equivalent experience. You cannot get an equivalent experience to biz/1st in Y.
Mar 29, 2017, 4:20 am
#22
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Come down to Oz and get into the domestic QF Club Lounge(s) with Membership or status. Come into the QF Business Lounge with Business Class BP or any of the above. Very civilised in this First World country. Even the worse of the domestic QF Club Lounges is better than the best AS lounge. 
. Maybe if UA got rid of the credit card access provisions then they could make access based on real frequent flyer parameters.
. Maybe if UA got rid of the credit card access provisions then they could make access based on real frequent flyer parameters.
Mar 29, 2017, 7:08 am
#23
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While I'm sure I've just been lucky, the times I've flown solo in domestic EU coach (LH and OS for example), the middle seat has always been empty, making it exactly the same as if I'd purchased a business class seat anyway.
Mar 29, 2017, 7:51 am
#24
Join Date: May 2014
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not sure what your point is. Status does not get one access, except *G which gets access in association with int'l flights.
The sheer number of F seats is the problem. UA also sells memberships that a lot of flyers have. Add credit card passes and there's no room for domestic F.
The sheer number of F seats is the problem. UA also sells memberships that a lot of flyers have. Add credit card passes and there's no room for domestic F.
Mar 29, 2017, 11:23 am
#25
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If you have a practice of filling F with elites rather than flying with a half-empty F - which at least until very recently seems to have been policy with the U.S. airlines - then this affects the numbers of F passengers. It's not just available F seats that matter but load factor, too.
Mar 29, 2017, 12:34 pm
#26
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Not sure what your point is. The fact is, UA flies with full F cabins, and has for years, so the loads are virtually 100%. Let's not talk hypotheticals. The reality is the cabins are full - don't care who is in there or why. Letting domestic F passengers (paid, ToDs, CPUs, instruments, whatever) would swamp the lounges.
Mar 29, 2017, 2:46 pm
#27
Join Date: May 2014
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Not sure what your point is. The fact is, UA flies with full F cabins, and has for years, so the loads are virtually 100%. Let's not talk hypotheticals. The reality is the cabins are full - don't care who is in there or why. Letting domestic F passengers (paid, ToDs, CPUs, instruments, whatever) would swamp the lounges.
The point is that UA's domestic F product isn't exclusive enough to warrant lounge access.
Mar 29, 2017, 3:48 pm
#28
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to me Domestic "F" is a misnomer, its should be called something different. Their "real F class for international operations is actually First Class. Then they have this other category for North American flights in the front cabin, they call that Business Class and in my experience they can access the United Club lounge..
Mar 29, 2017, 4:01 pm
#29
Join Date: Dec 2015
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As with most bad things in America, blame the government for starting it.
http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....rope-and-asia/
http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....rope-and-asia/
Mar 29, 2017, 4:41 pm
#30
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 215
I've often wondered this same thing and I blame the agreement between Chase and UA (whatever it may be). I figure they're both making a hefty amount off the annual fee's and allowing basically anyone in so as long as they have the right credit card.