Guide to United Club Access

United Airlines operates United Clubs at roughly thirty airports across the globe. While there is a good chance you’ve seen, or even visited them from time to time, I wanted to break down the United Club access requirements and what you can expect inside.

United Club Information

As far as the airline lounges of the big three U.S. carriers go, I find United Clubs to be on the lower end of the spectrum. Delta Sky Clubs are at the top, with American Airlines Admirals Clubs in the middle.

In my experience, most United Clubs are somewhat dated though they have extremely friendly staff and helpful staff. Though the airline has been relatively quiet on changes to its United Clubs, it has opened some swanky new spaces in recent years.

United Club locations feature free snacks, free drinks (including some alcoholic beverages) and free high-speed Wi-Fi. They are also staffed with United agents that have been able to work miracles for me on some recent trips. The airline has United Clubs available at the following airports:

• Atlanta (ATL)
• Austin (AUS)
• Boston (BOS)
• Chicago (ORD)
• Cleveland (CLE)
• Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW)
• Denver (DEN)
• Ft. Lauderdale (FLL)
• Guam (GUM)
• Honolulu (HNL)
• Houston (IAH)
• Las Vegas (LAS)
• London (LHR)
• Los Angeles (LAX)
• Mexico City (MEX)
• Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP)
• New Orleans (MSY)
• New York-LaGuardia (LGA)
• New York-Newark (EWR)
• Orange County (SNA)
• Orlando (MCO)
• Portland (PDX)
• Philadelphia (PHL)
• Phoenix (PHX)
• Raleigh/Durham (RDU)
• San Antonio (SAT)
• San Diego (SAN)
• San Francisco (SFO)
• Seattle/Tacoma (SEA)
• Tokyo-Narita (NRT)
• Washington-Dulles (IAD)
• Washington-Reagan (DCA)

United Club Access

While Delta has some extremely complex lounge access requirements, I find United Club access requirements to be fairly straightforward. There are a variety of ways to gain access to United Clubs which I’ll touch on below. Note that United Polaris Lounge access follows different criteria which I will cover in a later post.

United Club Membership

The most straightforward way to access United Club lounges is via a membership. United sells memberships online, in person at any United Club location or over the phone at 1-866-UA-CLUBS (1-866-822-5827). Pricing is determined on your United MileagePlus status level and are as follows:

United Club members are allowed to bring two guests, or one guest and dependent children under the age of 21, into the lounges. Member and guests must be traveling on a same-day United, Star Alliance, or contracted partner operated flight to access the lounge.

Chase United Club Cardholders

While a United Club membership is the most straightforward way to access United Clubs, the most cost effective is by getting a Chase United Club Card. The card has a $525 annual fee and, among other perks, comes with a United Club membership.

Chase United Explorer Cardholders

If the $525 annual fee is too much for you, or if you only fly once or twice a year, you may be better off with the United Explorer card. The card has a $0 fee for the first year with a $95 annual fee after that. The card comes with two United Club passes each year.

Qualifying United Business Class Flights

United Airlines Business class passengers traveling on select flights can access United Club locations at departure, connecting, and arrival airports. No guests can be brought in using this access. Qualifying United Business Class flights are:

• United Polaris Business Class
• United Business Class on international flights (this includes United First Class flights to and from Canada)
• United Business Class on select transcontinental flights between New York/Newark and Los Angeles and New York/Newark and San Francisco

Qualifying Star Alliance First and Business Class Flights

Ticketed passengers in First Class or Business Class on a Star Alliance airline can access the United Club prior to departure with a same day boarding pass. First Class passengers are allowed to bring one guest, travelling on a United or Star Alliance flight, while Business Class passengers are not entitled to a guest.

United MileagePlus Elite Members

United MileagePlus Elite members holding Gold status or higher (Star Alliance Gold) can access United Clubs prior to departure with a valid MileagePlus membership card and a same-day boarding pass for travel on an international flight operated by United or a Star Alliance member airline.

MileagePlus elites can bring one guest into the lounge as long as they are traveling on the same flight.

Star Alliance Gold Members

Members of other Star Alliance loyalty programs that have reached the equivalent of Star Alliance Gold status can access United Club locations at any departure airport on domestic and international itineraries.

A valid Star Alliance Gold membership card and a same-day boarding pass for travel on a flight operated by United or a Star Alliance member airline is needed to access the lounge. Star Alliance Gold members can bring one guest into the lounge as long as they are traveling on the same flight.

Single-Use Passes

United sells single use access to its United Clubs for $60 per person, per day via the United App. The airline often bundles this with other services, making for a slight discount overall.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Club Members

North America Plus members of Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Club can visit United Club locations at departure airports in the U.S. Maple Leaf Club Worldwide members can visit United Club locations at departure airports worldwide and are allowed to bring one guest.

To access the lounge, you’ll need a valid Air Canada Maple Leaf Club membership card and a same-day boarding pass for a flight operated by a Star Alliance member airline. If bringing a guest, they will also need a same-day boarding pass for a Star Alliance member airline.

Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyers

Virgin Australia has shrunk quite a bit in recent years so the value of this is very limited but, Velocity Gold, Platinum, and VIP members of the airline’s loyalty program can visit United Club locations at departure airports.

Passengers will need a same-day boarding pass for an international United or Virgin Australia-operated flight. One guest is allowed though they must also be traveling on a United or Virgin Australia flight.

Active Duty Military Personnel

Active duty military personnel can access United Clubs when dressed in uniform, holding a valid military ID, boarding pass for travel within 24 hours on a departing United or United Express flight and either leave orders or rest and recouperation papers.

In a departure from many of the other access requirements, military members who meet the above qualifications can bring family members with gate passes or who are traveling on the same flight on a space available basis.

United Club Fly Access

United recently rolled out a grab and go lounge concept known as United Club Fly. The first location is at Denver International Airport (DEN) in Concourse B. The airline has plans to open more of these spaces with the next one opening at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).

Since these lounges are meant for quick, drop in visits, there are some limitations on access. United Club members (including United Club cardholders), one-time pass holders, qualifying United Business Class customers, Star Alliance premium cabin passengers, and Star Alliance Gold frequent flyers can all access United Club Fly lounges using the same entrance requirements outlined above. However, no guests are allowed into United Club Fly lounges.

Also, the entrances are unstaffed so be prepared to scan your credentials upon entry.

Summary

I believe that, of the big three U.S. carriers, United has the most straightforward access requirements for its United Club lounges. I assume that most people will access a United Club via a credit card, status with a partner airline, or on a qualifying First of Business Class ticket, I hope this guide was informative for those unsure of how to gain entry.

The carrier does have a few quirky ways to gain entry though and, as access requirements change, we will continue to update this post to include the most up to date information available.