United lounges compared with Delta
Jul 27, 2022, 8:03 am
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
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My advice is to avoid going to the SFO UCs for hot food. You'll find me getting hot food either at the CL or the PP restaurants.
Jul 27, 2022, 8:51 am
#47
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,452
Did anyone else receive a survey about United Clubs recently? Focused mostly on F&B offerings, and specifically asked about some new concepts, brand preferences and service styles (buffet, made-to-order, prepackaged, etc.)
United is slowly investing in the United Club experience, but there's so much work to be done, especially at the hubs. United has major lounge projects underway at 3 hubs presently (ORD, DEN, EWR), and all of them are purportedly of the caliber of the new EWR C3 lounge, which is promising. Incremental food and beverage improvements have been noted as well, which is welcome. From 9/11 to the merger, United invested minimally in Red Carpet Clubs, and CO hit the brakes on virtually all facility capex around 2008. I think the last all-new Presidents Club to open was at LAS on the eve of the WFC, and while it was a nice lounge at the time, it wasn't anything particularly unique or striking. Then, post-merger austerity until 2016 or so led to some rather disappointing new-builds (SFO E immediately comes to mind) that were well undersized and not competitive in terms of hard amenities (e.g., showers). Even LAX, which I love for the space and outdoor patio, is pretty generic. United is clearly moving in a different direction with new United Clubs and it's exciting, but long overdue.
One aspect of the SkyClub experience I wouldn't want to see United replicate is the restrictive two-tier guest policy for members. I would. however, be willing to pay more than is currently charged for the lounge product.
United is slowly investing in the United Club experience, but there's so much work to be done, especially at the hubs. United has major lounge projects underway at 3 hubs presently (ORD, DEN, EWR), and all of them are purportedly of the caliber of the new EWR C3 lounge, which is promising. Incremental food and beverage improvements have been noted as well, which is welcome. From 9/11 to the merger, United invested minimally in Red Carpet Clubs, and CO hit the brakes on virtually all facility capex around 2008. I think the last all-new Presidents Club to open was at LAS on the eve of the WFC, and while it was a nice lounge at the time, it wasn't anything particularly unique or striking. Then, post-merger austerity until 2016 or so led to some rather disappointing new-builds (SFO E immediately comes to mind) that were well undersized and not competitive in terms of hard amenities (e.g., showers). Even LAX, which I love for the space and outdoor patio, is pretty generic. United is clearly moving in a different direction with new United Clubs and it's exciting, but long overdue.
One aspect of the SkyClub experience I wouldn't want to see United replicate is the restrictive two-tier guest policy for members. I would. however, be willing to pay more than is currently charged for the lounge product.
Last edited by EWR764; Jul 27, 2022 at 9:06 am
Jul 27, 2022, 8:55 am
#48
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,415
Is Yankee Pier capable of serving you in less than two hours now? I swore off it after horrible service experiences that nearly involved skipping out on the check because my flight was departing.
Jul 27, 2022, 8:59 am
#49
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: LAX
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,532
The OP excludes Polaris lounges from the comparison, but that isn't really fair is it? International business passengers on United get Polaris lounges, whereas international business passengers on Delta are still in the Sky Clubs, so Sky Clubs are required to cater to them as well.
Jul 27, 2022, 9:36 am
#50
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Join Date: Mar 2010
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Yes. I went there after the CL closed a couple of months ago and there was no lineup. I had a quick meal and then head to the UC Rotunda.
Jul 27, 2022, 9:52 am
#51
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
They don't have a kitchen - me personally - I prefer a sandwich anyway. You can take it with you - hot food, not so much
Jul 27, 2022, 9:54 am
#52
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Jul 27, 2022, 9:33 pm
#53
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: EAU
Programs: UA 1K, CO Plat, NW Plat, Marriott Premiere Plat, SPG Plat, Priority Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,712
You know what I would KILL for in the United lounge? A soup ladle with a handle that isn't so long that it's nearly impossible to get your soup into the paper bowl without the handle hitting the sanitary glass above the soup container and spilling soup all over.
Jul 28, 2022, 8:40 am
#54
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: MSP
Programs: DL 1MM PM: UA Plat
Posts: 88
Jul 28, 2022, 8:54 am
#55
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When QF F reopens, won't OWE flyers have access? It's supposed to be the best lounge at LAX and I would be tempted to fly OW in that situation.
Jul 29, 2022, 8:15 am
#56
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: SJC/SFO/OAK
Programs: DL PM, SW, Hilton, , UAL PM, AA Gold-skeptic
Posts: 1,632
The OP excludes Polaris lounges from the comparison, but that isn't really fair is it? International business passengers on United get Polaris lounges, whereas international business passengers on Delta are still in the Sky Clubs, so Sky Clubs are required to cater to them as well.