enviroian

Flying phx-erw-fra tomorrow. I have 3.5 hours to kill at EWR. What is the best United club to hang out in? Are there other Star alliance lounges there that have better catering options/free drinks?

Thanks

star_world

There are two that you can use. Both get very busy in the evening, the one in the central area just after security has better views. All UCs have free drinks now, plus some additional "premium" drinks that you can pay for.

You can't use the other *A lounges in Terminal B without a boarding pass for the relevant terminal / concourse.

WineCountryUA

Is the airside A-B-C shuttle an option?

Additionally has not the TSA expanded the use of any valid BP (for that airport) for any security checkpoint.

star_world

There have been plenty of reports here that the staff at the gate for the shuttle require a boarding pass for Terminal A. Regardless, the offerings there are pretty bad in comparison with the UCs in C (that's saying something!)

Last I heard TSA in EWR wouldn't let you into B without a boarding pass for the specific concourse you were going to - haven't heard of that changing but I may have missed something.

WineCountryUA

last week went A>B and changed bus then B>C, with no BP check. (need not try to enter B but appeared possible) as sbm12 pointed out it was A1>A2>C, not B. {my excuse, it was my first time using the shuttle and it was after a long transcon with delays}

There have been reports the TSA has generically dropped this requirement in the past few months. My recent experience at other airports AUS, PBI, .... and bring folks to UC that were flying on other airlines but had long wait ... supports that lack of strict requirement. But who knows about the EWR folks

sbm12

You sure you didn't go A1->A2 and then to C? I don't think the shuttle stops at B airside as there are no CO/UA departures at B.

The C2/3 lounge has showers and better views of the field but otherwise they're basically the same.

enviroian

Thanks for the info star_world, appreciated.

WineCountryUA

Duh! you are correct.

Jorgen

On the subject of the A to C shuttle: in my limited experience it appears to be a complete... well, the board will censor me if I use the word I think is appropriate, but let's just say it's a mess.

When I got there, there was a huge mass of people standing by the door -- maybe sixty or so. Not in any kind of organized line, just a huge mass. I waited at the back of the mass for about five minutes, then the extremely detached-looking airport employee at the front let a handful of people through the door. Someone expressed surprise at the small number of people going through, to which she droned "It's a twelve-person bus".

I groaned loudly and walked off through security (apparently leading a small exodus in the process), caught the train to terminal C, got back in the premium security line, waited around for a few minutes, figured out that the non-premium security line was moving a lot faster, and switched to that one (I kept pace and noticed that I got through a lot faster than the guy who had been ahead of me in the premium line).

Anyway, if I'd actually hung around to catch the A-C interterminal bus I estimate I'd probably still be there.

On the upside, once I got through to Terminal C I found that the United Club just to the left was perfectly fine and had good seating options and free Sam Adams to go with the usual extremely limited food selection. Couldn't complain.

Have other people had better experiences? Is it always a twelve-seater bus? Is there always a huge mass of people?

WineCountryUA

Getting a bit OT but on my recent first time experience. The first leg (A1>A2 - not B) was a smaller vehicle (typical smaller rental car lot shuttle size), probably about 12 -- I was the last on and there were 6-8 others. No line at A1.
The second leg A2>C was in a larger bus (the typical larger rental car lot shuttle) -- bus was about half filled.

tarheelnj

No, it should take more people than that. I have noticed that it doubles as an employee shuttle back and forth between A and C, so that may have played a factor in your case.

I've gone from A to C with an "A" boarding pass and never had a problem - I just pointed out before they looked at the BP that I knew what I was doing.

greathustle

I prefer C3 of the 2 clubs in C but that's because I am usually looking for a shower. The C3 bar area is pretty big too, which I enjoy. Even when it's really crowded I'm usually able to find one stool somewhere at the bar, even if it's crowded between 2 other people

JayhawkCO

I'm there right now, and I agree with your assessment. Crowded, but sizeable bar area and not difficult to get a drink.

Chris

revigik

if going to Terminal B lounges with a CO boarding pass is legit?

Continental250K

Better size in C by Starbucks towards 113 and up.

More intimate environment over by 90.