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Consolidated "United Club Access Questions" Thread

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Old Jan 4, 2015, 2:25 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
United operates its own United Clubs worldwide; for a detailed list, see this FT thread: United Club and Other United Lounges.
Official lounge access policy on UA's website: Club access policy
Older archived FT thread: Consolidated "United Club Access Questions" Thread [ARCHIVE]
For UA partner and Star Alliance lounges, reference the *A website: *A Lounge Finder and *A Lounge Access Policies. Note that some airports have "contract" lounges with varying access rules. Also see Non-UA Lounge Access Rules for United Club members?
United also operates Polaris Lounges and Arrival Lounges and previously operated International Global First Lounges (respective FT threads linked).
GS2021 newsresent GS status extended to Jan2022, domestic UC access, additional PP

To have access to the UCs, you will need to fit into one of the following:
  • UC member with same-day UA, *A, or contracted partner BP* UC members can have 2 guests or guest their spouse and dependent children under 21 years (note at non-UA *A lounges, UC members are allowed only 1 guest)
    * Since 1 Nov 2019, a same-day BP on a UA, *A, or contracted partner flight is required for entry
    * Actual UC membership card is generally not required at UCs if presenting a UA BP with member's UA FF# as the UC membership is tied to the MP account
  • UA *G member with international *A BP, for any class of travel, showing status
    * Can guest 1 traveler with a departing *A BP.
    * UA *G cannot access domestic UCs unless traveling on a *A international itin (within 24 hours - some agents use same calendar day) - can be different PNR
  • non-UA *G member with same-day *A BP for a flight departing from the same airport, showing status
    * Can guest 1 traveler with a departing *A BP from same airport.
    * If non-UA *G but crediting to UA MP, you will need to present your non-UA *G card. There have been some reports of refused entry -- agents claiming you have to be crediting to the same program as you are requesting entry
  • passenger with same-day *A BP for international travel in business or first class, departing same airport
    * International First passengers can guest 1 traveler with a departing *A BP
    * No guests for International Business.
  • Premium transcontinental non-stop (EWR-SFO/LAX & BOS-SFO) business class traveler
    * Limited to origin and destination airports of the premium transcontinental flight -- does not include connecting cities
    * No guests
  • Have GS status with a same day BP (UA/partner carrier)
    • No guests
  • Have or purchase a UC one-time access pass with same day BP
    * No guests
  • Have Amtrak Select Plus or Select Executive status.
    * 1 guest and/or dependent childern under 21
    * Same day BP on ANY airline (arriving or departing)
  • Active U.S. military personnelActive duty military members with a valid military ID, boarding pass for travel within 24 hours on a United- or United Express-operated flight and one of the following:
    Dressed in uniform
    Leave orders
    Rest and recuperation papers
    Access is subject to United Club seating availability.
    Allowed Guest -- Family members with gate passes or traveling on the same flight as the military member
  • Air Canada Maple Leaf™ Club membership with a departing *A BP from that airportMaple Leaf Club North America members can access United Club locations in the U.S. only. no Guest.
    Maple Leaf Club Worldwide members can access all United Club locations. 1 guest.

When BP/ticket is required, it can be either a paid or award ticket.


United Club T&Cs

Common questions
Children -- Are they counted as a guest?
Anyone with an individual ticket is counted as a guest. Lap children (below 2 years of age) are not counted as a guest. UC members can guest their dependent family at UCs (but this will not work at other *A lounges).

Is Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Puerto Rico (San Juan), .... international for UC access?
Yes
Travel to or from Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, Guam and Mexico are considered international itineraries for the purposes of United Club access.
What about Domestic First Class?
Domestic First Class is not provided with UC access. Unless you qualify based on some other reason, there is no access for paid or award domestic FC.
Why no United Lounge access with UA domestic first class tickets?

Can my guest stay if I leave the lounge?
Strictly speaking, no. Guests only have access when the sponsor is in the lounge. You have "responsibility" for the guest when they are in the lounge. Realistically, however, there is usually no problem with leaving a guest behind.

Can access to the UC be further restricted?
UA reserves the right to limit access including the number of guests at times of crowding.

Can I bring food into the UC?
Strictly speaking no. There may be local health & safety codes against this.

Can I guest 3 co-workers by using multiple access methods? Such as 2 via UC membership and 1 as *G international?
No -- you cannot stack access methods.

Can I access the UC on arrival and no forward *A travel or if departing on a non-*A carrier?
Maybe if UC member or UA *G on international itinerary or arriving on UC operated Polaris cabin itinerary (Also you will need to able to access to the UC location)
As of 1 Nov 2019 - all will be required to will need to provide a same-day boarding pass for travel on United, Star Alliance™ or a contracted partner for entry into all United Club location. Other airline BPs will not qualify
Club member/one-time pass access changes Nov 1, 2019 (same day BP on UA or partner)

Partner lounges
USA Lounges with UA *G / UC membership Access When Flying Domestic
Access / reviews for TK's IAD *A lounge
Consolidated "Access to Lufthansa Lounge at IAD" Thread [2014 forward]
Best IAD Lounge
Lufthansa Lounge Access in DTW/Detroit
Accessing the *A Lounge at LAX/TBIT as a UA flyer

Consolidated "Polaris Lounge Access Questions" Thread
Non-UA Lounge Access Rules for United Club members?
The United Club Meet-Up Thread
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Consolidated "United Club Access Questions" Thread

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Old Jul 12, 2024 | 9:28 am
  #721  
 
Join Date: Aug 2022
Posts: 23
United lounge access on Star Alliance ticket

Hello.

I see conflicting reports on United Lounge access flying US to Canada. I am flying business class on Air Canada. *Star Alliance member*
My research says I may enter, but I just saw a Google review where someone was turned away with same ticket.

Any clarification?
Thank you.

Last edited by osparki; Jul 12, 2024 at 9:28 am Reason: add words
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Old Jul 12, 2024 | 9:31 am
  #722  
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You should have United Club (not Lounge)access.

If you are flying Air Canada, is there a Maple Leaf Lounge at the departure airport? That would be the more appropriate choice.
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Old Jul 12, 2024 | 9:45 am
  #723  
 
Join Date: Aug 2022
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I am flying out of San Diego, so no Maple Leaf access until Vancouver.

Is the the San Diego facility a United Club?

I looked for verbiage to take a screen shot in case I have to argue there, but can't find on United site.

Thank you.
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Old Jul 12, 2024 | 9:49 am
  #724  
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You will have access to the United Club only at the departure city of your Air Canada flight. If you are connecting to the Air Canada flight you will not have United Club access prior to the domestic flight (e.g. suppose you are flying SAN-SFO-YVR with SFO-YVR on AC, you will have access at SFO but not SAN).
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Old Jul 12, 2024 | 9:53 am
  #725  
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Originally Posted by SCChris
You will have access to the United Club only at the departure city of your Air Canada flight. If you are connecting to the Air Canada flight you will not have United Club access prior to the domestic flight (e.g. suppose you are flying SAN-SFO-YVR with SFO-YVR on AC, you will have access at SFO but not SAN).
That's not true if it's the same ticket, it will be marked INTL from the start granting access throughout the journey.
I've never had issues accessing a United Club coming home in any location.
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Old Jul 12, 2024 | 9:55 am
  #726  
 
Join Date: Aug 2022
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I just need United Club access from starting airport in San Diego flying to Vancouver (1st stop) on Star Alliance flight on Air Canada.
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Old Jul 12, 2024 | 10:04 am
  #727  
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The pertinent wording is
International Business Class Customers
As an International Business Class Customer you have access to any Star Alliance member carrier’s owned Business Class lounge at the airport where your flight departs, if the following conditions are met:
  • You present a boarding pass in International Business Class on a Star Alliance member airline operated flight
  • Your flight departs on the same day of your visit or latest by 05:00 AM the next morning
  • The lounge shows the Star Alliance Gold logo at the entrance
You are not entitled to bring any guests.
International Business class access is only at the departure city of the international flight

Those with *G status have access at all airports . (Note UA *G must be on an INTL itin)
Originally Posted by rankourabu
That's not true if it's the same ticket, it will be marked INTL from the start granting access throughout the journey.
I've never had issues accessing a United Club coming home in any location.
As a *G that is true but without status it is only the international departure flight

Originally Posted by osparki
I just need United Club access from starting airport in San Diego flying to Vancouver (1st stop) on Star Alliance flight on Air Canada.
Should be no issue then.

The other report you read likely did not meet the international departure requirement

Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 12, 2024 at 10:05 am Reason: merged consecutive posts by same member
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Old Jul 12, 2024 | 10:31 am
  #728  
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Does OP have United Gold (or better) status for access at San Diego? Not clear he/she does.
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Old Jul 12, 2024 | 11:41 am
  #729  
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Originally Posted by IAH-OIL-TRASH
Does OP have United Gold (or better) status for access at San Diego? Not clear he/she does.
Doesn't matter. OP is flying AC J from SAN so has UC access there.
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Old Jul 12, 2024 | 6:05 pm
  #730  
 
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Thank you all
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Old Jul 12, 2024 | 8:26 pm
  #731  
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Originally Posted by osparki
Thank you all
By the way, the SAN UC isn't bad. Noisy if you sit in the outside area, very busy at times. But not bad at all.
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Old Jul 15, 2024 | 8:25 am
  #732  
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We are flying MCO-SFO-PPT in business class. I changed our MCO-SFO flight to the day before the SFO-PPT flight, to eliminate a missed connection in the event of weather or mechanical. Will we be able to us the United Club in Orlando? Although not technically a same day flight, it's the same ticket with an overnight connection.
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Old Aug 1, 2024 | 7:02 pm
  #733  
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Hi everyone, I will be arriving with United Polaris and have a connecting flight to LGA operated by Republic airways DBA United Express, do I get to use the Polaris Lounge at IAD?
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Old Aug 1, 2024 | 7:07 pm
  #734  
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Originally Posted by luv_flying
Hi everyone, I will be arriving with United Polaris and have a connecting flight to LGA operated by Republic airways DBA United Express, do I get to use the Polaris Lounge at IAD?
Yes, but entrance policy for Polaris lounge has nothing to do with your onward flight to LGA. United grants its own Polaris cabin passengers only for lounge use upon arrival (assuming you can regain airside access), no partner airlines allowed for arrival use.

Scan your INTL boarding pass for entrance.
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Old Aug 1, 2024 | 8:46 pm
  #735  
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Originally Posted by Repooc17

Scan your INTL boarding pass for entrance.
IAD-RIC BP worked for me recently. I did not scan ICN-SFO Polaris BP.
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