Active duty military denied access at IAD United Club
Nov 12, 2019, 8:16 am
#61
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 6,322
I just hope she got to pre-board correctly (thank you for your service).
Nov 12, 2019, 8:17 am
#62
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,404
OP even says the daughter is a USNA grad, which I assume means Annapolis and also implies that she would be an officer.
Nov 12, 2019, 8:35 am
#63
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,581
The Lounge dragons there are nice, I'll give you that. And it's better than the AF/KLM club in the B concourse, but that's not setting the bar very high.
Nov 12, 2019, 8:41 am
#64
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA MileagePlus (Premier Gold); Hilton HHonors (Gold); Chase Ultimate Rewards; Amex Plat
Posts: 6,675
Careful there! I would put the UCs on par with the TK lounge and would argue that at least for breakfast selection on offer from UA is hands down better than what was available when I was there in March (i.e. yogurt, cereals and fruit). Perhaps the food situation is better later in the day but early morning it is a disappointment.
TK Lounge IAD Food Selection
TK Lounge IAD Food Plate
At the UC lounge on the other hand, it was literally just this, plus one or two soups:
United Club IAD Food
So yeah, I'd definitely make the trip out to TK, at least during the afternoon. No idea what TK has in the morning; maybe it's much more limited, but in the afternoon and evening, it blows away anything they have at the UCs.
On the other hand, the TK lounge does have an adequate shower, something that cannot be said about any Domestic United Club. The business centre (which is obviously the main attraction of a lounge) is also a disappointment, limited desk space and the printer they had on site didn't seem to let me send it documents like I could at United Clubs. For my money, I'd much rather be in the neighbouring Senator lounge which I hear also has showers.
The Points Dude recently had an article discussing the various lounge access benefits offer to service members. AA and UA both have explicit policies that allow members of the military to enter their lounge. Interestingly, DL does not have such a policy but does offer one of their premium credit cards (which also includes Delta Club along with Priority Pass access) for free to active duty military members. Perhaps this is something OP should examine further.
Nov 12, 2019, 8:56 am
#65
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Amabassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,589
On our return from Hawaii we all went to the TK lounge for layover - morning spread was minimal on the food - but tons of pastries and a HUGE selection of fresh fruit. Was better than any UC for sure.
Nov 12, 2019, 9:10 am
#66
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 411
Full stop. No need to go further. She's required to be in uniform. United lounge agent was following the rules. As a member of the armed forces, I'm sure your daughter understands the need for rules and protocol and following them.
Nov 12, 2019, 9:26 am
#68
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: none
Posts: 1,668
If any airline offers lounge access to service members in uniform or on appropriate orders, it's positive. It means they are supportive of the military, not "unfriendly". It's up to the lounge attendants to control access, and sometimes they get it wrong.
Compared to navigating four years and graduating from a service academy, not being able to enter a UC is not that big of a deal.
Get on with your life.
Compared to navigating four years and graduating from a service academy, not being able to enter a UC is not that big of a deal.
Get on with your life.
Nov 12, 2019, 9:32 am
#69
Join Date: May 2006
Location: STL
Programs: UA Platinum, AA Platinum Pro, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,429
AFAIK some military personnel are forbidden to wear uniforms when traveling on commercial airlines while others might be ordered to wear their uniforms much more. It can be the decision of the base commander or similar officer (and depend on the nature of the post/duties as well as the current political climate) rather than a matter of individual preference given the tradeoffs.
For whatever reason the OP's daughter was denied entry; clearly either it was an issue of not having the right set of orders, uniform, club being at capacity whatever. OP wasn't there and is relying on second hand information. Is it possible that it was a one-off agent? Possibly.....but there is more than one UA club at IAD so if it was that big of an issue OP's daughter should have either purchased a pass (and sent a letter to UA), or tried another club, End of story...
Nov 12, 2019, 9:40 am
#70
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
Free UC access when you USO lounge is already available
Boarding prior to GS/Family/1K
Free onboard food/drink
Greater checked bag allowance
Plus random FA/pax gifts (upgrades, etc)
Seems like UA is pretty friendly to the group of people who volunteer choose this occupation. Police, fire, paramedic, etc don't get anything. Even UA's top tier customers don't have it as good.
Now, I do agree, I've always found it strange that they require them to be in uniform when one can just check ID. Some services explicitly advice service members not to travel in uniform.
Boarding prior to GS/Family/1K
Free onboard food/drink
Greater checked bag allowance
Plus random FA/pax gifts (upgrades, etc)
Seems like UA is pretty friendly to the group of people who volunteer choose this occupation. Police, fire, paramedic, etc don't get anything. Even UA's top tier customers don't have it as good.
Now, I do agree, I've always found it strange that they require them to be in uniform when one can just check ID. Some services explicitly advice service members not to travel in uniform.
Nov 12, 2019, 9:47 am
#72
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,040
The policy clearly states "in uniform OR..." meaning there is more than one method to obtain entry and being in uniform is only one method.
Here is the criteria, along with the source, for your reading pleasure:
Source: https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...-benefits.html
"We are pleased to invite active duty military members in uniform or with present leave orders or rest and recuperation papers to visit our United Club℠ locations on the same day they are traveling on a United- or United Express®-operated flight." (emphasis added)
If you are going to come on here and make "Full stop" authoritative declarations then it helps your credibility, tremendously, to actually be... ummm... correct.
Regards
Last edited by scubadu; Nov 12, 2019 at 9:53 am
Nov 12, 2019, 9:52 am
#73
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
No. I have brought my daughter in. By law (at least in Virginia) the bar cannot be self service (which creates massive frustration at the LH lounge, where unlike most of the Senator lounges, you cannot pull your own beer from the tap).
Nov 12, 2019, 10:28 am
#74
Join Date: May 2006
Location: STL
Programs: UA Platinum, AA Platinum Pro, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,429
I don't know if there is a specific NAVPERS to tell you the truth, but I didn't think NWU's were authorized for travel so perhaps that was what I was thinking. I just haven't encountered any Navy personnel traveling in uniform and it usually is stamped on my orders that "travel civilian attire is directed." I'd venture to say most commands observe this, and I think it may go back to the TWA hijacking where a sailor was killed (albeit I don't think he was in uniform).