Airline Lounges, United Club

Beyond The Cubicle: Airline Lounges

Are Airline Lounges Worth The Money?

There are two types of travelers: those who run to their gate trying not to miss their flight, or those who get to their gate to make sure it exists and walk the terminal aimlessly. From wandering through shops, paying a particular amount for food and drinks at a restaurant, trying to find an outlet to charge your phone, or being frustrated trying to find a seat at your gate, most people (including myself) dislike the time between clearing security and waiting to board your plane. This past summer was my first experience in an airline lounge. I was able to use the perks of my airline credit and boy was I missing out all these years. 

There are different ways to access an airline club, whether you are sitting in first class, have the airline credit card, are a member of the club or buy a one-time pass. Depending on the airline club, these rules can vary, so below I will be talking about my experience with the United Club. With a United credit card (Explore, Quest or Club), one of the perks is having club passes. You can also pay for a day pass for $40-$60 per person as long as you have a United Boarding pass present for the day of your departure. 

United has 45 United Clubs across the world; 40 are based in the U.S., while the other 5 can be found in Guam (GUM), Hong Kong (HKG), London (LHR), Mexico City (MEX), and Tokyo (NRT). If a United lounge is not located in the airport you are in, you may use an affiliated lounge with an airline that is associated with United. The airports are listed on their website of which clubs you can access with a United Club pass. The location I was able to access was in Newark, NJ (EWR) before my flight to Naples, Italy. With my United Explore card, I am awarded two club passes annually that I can use at any location, whether I fly international or domestic.

Finding the United Club in an airport is very easy as there will be signs directing you to the location. You scan your pass(es) with the agent (this can be found in your United App) and enter the lounge. I wasn’t sure what to expect, as I none of my friends or family have had access to an airline lounge before. When we arrived at the lounge, we came to discover unlimited food stations, refillable beverage stations, a coffee bar, an actual bar, many restrooms, and tons of free space to relax, work, or sleep.

The seating choices around the lounge range from tables, counters, booths, sofas, armchairs, and regular public seating. You have a view of the planes departing and arriving at the gate and there are many outlets for you to charge your devices. There was an array of people in the lounge, from large families, couples, solo explorers, and business travelers. If you travel frequently for work, being a club member is very helpful as you can use their free Wi-Fi that is exclusive to the club, and can work in small spaces that can help minimize distractions. I was able to charge my phone and laptop in an outlet, have enough space to write for the blog, as well as enjoy a meal at the counter area. The bathrooms inside the lounge were very pleasant and provided feminine products if needed, as well as an ample amount of space to put your belonging. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to squeeze all your carry-ons and belongings in a small stall, so this bathroom was refreshing as there was no hassle! Not to mention soaps, hand creams, and other self-care products were also available for use. There was even a family bathroom for mothers to use with their young children. 

I was very impressed with the variety of options as there were multiple food stations, including vegan/vegetarian choices. There was a sandwich area where you can select freshly made, half sandwiches. Following the sandwich area was a dessert bar with cookies, which included some that were gluten free! After the dessert bar was the hot food and salad bar (which was our favorite part.) Some of the self-served foods included: rice, beans, pasta, vegetables, potato salad that my sister and I definitely went up for seconds, corn on the cob and more. I really like the buffet style set up because you can choose a little bit of everything in case you weren’t satisfied with your first choice. All of the food we ate was delicious and tastier than a lot of the meals we had at the other restaurants in EWR. 

The drinks choices are phenomenal in the club. The bar for alcoholic beverages was jammed packed (we weren’t surprised) and so was the seating nearby it, but you are still able to order with the bartender and bring your drink to your seat. Only beer and champagne are included with the member pass; if you want some hard alcohol or a nice cocktail you’re going to have to pay! My sister and I opted for a light and bubbly mimosa. There is also a coffee bar connected to the main bar where you can order espresso, lattes and cappuccinos, which you most likely must pay for as well. The drinks section included a soda fountain machine, a couple of coffee machines, and many water refill options. You can have as much as you want from this section of the lounge as it is self-serve and the coffee section even had multiple options for types of milk! I, of course, took advantage of all of the above because…how could you not? 

Overall, The United Club is worth it if you hate the hassle of airports and need a quiet place to wind down or work. The areas were kept clean, the unlimited food and drinks were outstanding, and there was a lot of space for people to get some work done. I am excited to try the domestic flights lounge to see if it is as enjoyable as the international flights terminal lounge. During the busy tourist season like summer and the holiday season, it will be a lot busier in these lounges rather than traveling off season, which is something to consider! As I travel and obtain more miles I will most likely upgrade to a full club member to use all the benefits and eventually get access to the Polaris Lounge, which is a more elegant and exclusive option. I also am intrigued to explore the Delta Fly lounge as that is another popular airline club that frequent flyers have raved about. I feel like I would not be able to travel the same again, especially on long distance flights now that I have experienced the United Club and can’t wait to book my next trip so I can enjoy my time before my flight at the lounge.