The ultimate guide to United Club access
Airport lounges can be an oasis from a busy, crowded or outdated terminal.
Some lounges belong to a membership network, like Priority Pass. Others are airline-specific, like the United Club.
If you're a loyal United flyer or frequent one of the carrier's largest hubs, here's what you need to know about accessing the United Club.
Same-day boarding pass requirement
The "Big Three" U.S. airlines — American, Delta and United — all require a same-day boarding pass to access their lounges. That means you can't use a United Club when you're flying with American.
Related: The best credit cards for flying United
For starters, you'll need a same-day boarding pass on United or a Star Alliance partner airline to gain entry to a United Club.
Credit cards
The United Club Infinite Card is the newest (and potentially most affordable) way to access United Clubs for frequent travelers. The card comes with a lounge membership that allows the primary cardholder and two adult companions (or one adult and any dependent children under the age of 21) access to United Clubs for as long as you hold the card.
The United Club Infinite Card carries a $525 annual fee, which is lower than a discounted lounge membership with Premier elite status (see below). The card currently offers a sign-up bonus of 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Business owners can open the United Club Business Card which offers the same United Club access as the United Club Infinite Card. However, this card has slightly different auxiliary benefits and a lower $450 annual fee.
The information for the United Club Business Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
If you'd prefer to avoid the hefty annual fee, you can opt for the entry-level United Explorer Card, which includes two single-use United Club passes each year. Note that these day passes don't include guest access.
Paid membership
You can pay for a United Club membership with either cash or miles, though the price varies depending on your United Premier elite status, with rates as follows:
| MileagePlus Premier status | Annual membership |
|---|---|
| General member | $650 or 85,000 miles |
| Premier Silver | $650 or 85,000 miles |
| Premier Gold | $650 or 85,000 miles |
| Premier Platinum | $600 or 80,000 miles |
| Premier 1K | $550 or 75,000 miles |
While top-tier elite members (Premier Platinum and Premier 1K) enjoy a discount, the prices are still quite high. TPG values United MileagePlus miles at 1.45 cents each, so your best bet is to pay the annual membership fee with cash, as opposed to miles. (Of course, opening the United Club Infinite Card is an even better deal.)
If you don't travel enough to commit to an annual membership, you can also purchase day passes for $59 at United Club locations or through the United mobile app. Just note that day passes don't guarantee entry during peak crowding periods.
Since Jan. 1, 2021, United's invite-only Global Services members can enjoy lounge access on all United-operated flights, including those operating exclusively within the United States. Note that this new perk only covers the Global Services member — you'll only be able to bring a guest into the lounge with a separate membership or when flying internationally.
Elite status
Select Premier members can use the United Club at any time during their travel journey.
United Premier Gold (and higher) members have access to the carrier's lounges when traveling internationally on any Star Alliance carrier, regardless of their class of service. They can also bring along one guest departing on a Star Alliance carrier from the same airport. Note that since May 3, 2021, the guest must be traveling on the same flight.
Star Alliance Gold members who hold status with another partner airline can use the United Club with any same-day Star Alliance boarding pass, including during domestic United travel. The same guest rules apply. Since May 3, 2021, the Star Alliance requires guests to be traveling on the same flight as the elite member.
(Note that Premier elites can't use the carrier's Polaris lounges, as those locations have separate entry requirements that we'll discuss in a moment.)
Ticket type
Premium-cabin Star Alliance travelers can also use United Clubs, though the exact terms and guest privileges vary by ticket type, as seen below.
Other United Club access
United's lounges are open to a few other travelers, including:
- Active U.S. military personnel. You'll need to travel with a valid military ID, a same-day United boarding pass and be dressed in uniform or bring your leave orders or rest and recuperation papers.
- If you're an Air Canada Maple Leaf Club member, you can access the United Club as before any same-day Star Alliance member flight.
- Maple Leaf Club North America members can use any domestic United Club location, while Maple Leaf Club Worldwide members can use all locations worldwide and bring a guest for each visit.
- Virgin Australia Velocity Gold, Platinum and VIP elite members may visit United Clubs by presenting a same-day boarding pass for an international United or Virgin Australia flight departing from the same airport. You can bring one guest if you're traveling with United.
United Polaris Lounge access
Of course, Star Alliance premium-cabin passengers also have access to United's Polaris lounges, which offer modern furnishings, private spa-like shower suites and elevated culinary experiences.
Three types of passengers are eligible for Polaris lounge access:
- Travelers in United Polaris business class: available at departure, connecting and/or arrival airports (no guests).
- Travelers in Star Alliance first class: only available at the departure airport for a long-haul first-class flight (one guest).
- Travelers in Star Alliance business class: only available at the departure airport for a long-haul business-class flight (no guests).
United Club Fly Access
In addition to United Clubs and Polaris Lounges, the carrier operates a new lounge concept called "Club Fly."
The first such space opened in Denver in November, based on a grab-and-go concept. Eligible travelers can enter Club Fly by scanning their boarding pass at the self-serve entry gate.
Once you get inside, you can raid the snack bar that's stocked with packaged and prepared foods, and you can also order a coffee from the barista.
Given Club Fly's focus on efficiency, the access policies are a bit different. All travelers eligible to enter a United Club or Polaris Lounge can visit Club Fly, but they cannot bring any guests. (This excludes active U.S. military personnel and Air Canada Maple Leaf Club members.)
Locations
You'll find a plethora of United Clubs in the carrier's main hubs, including:
- Chicago O'Hare (ORD) — Four locations: three in Terminal 1 (near gates B6, B18 and C10) plus another in Terminal 2 across from Gate F9.
- Denver (DEN) — Two locations: one near Gate B32 and the other near Gate B44. United Club Fly can be found near Gate B60, and there's a temporary pop-up club near Gate B59. Two new and renovated clubs are expected to open in Denver in 2023.
- Houston (IAH) — Five locations: one in Terminal A (across from Gate A9), one in Terminal B (south mezzanine), two in Terminal C (near Gate C1 and toward Gate C33) and one in Terminal E (between gates E11 and E12).
- Los Angeles (LAX) — one location adjacent to Gate 71A.
- Newark (EWR) — Three locations: one is a "pop-up" in Terminal C (near Gate C93), plus a full club in Terminal C (upper level, near Gate C123). Two new and renovated clubs are expected to open in Newark in 2023.
- San Francisco (SFO) — Three locations: two in Terminal 3 (near Gate E4 and Gate F11) and one in the international terminal (between gates G6 and G9).
- Washington Dulles (IAD) — Four locations in the Midfield Terminal (near gates C4, C7, C17 and D8).
Except for Denver, all of these airports (Chicago O'Hare, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.) have Polaris lounges.
Most of the other clubs are scattered across the U.S., including in airports such as Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), among others.
For complete details on all of these locations, including hours of operation, you can visit this page.
Bottom line
United offers a variety of ways to access its United Clubs, both for premium-cabin frequent flyers and for those with a membership.
If you frequently travel with United, it's worth analyzing which options offer the best bang for your buck to unlock a relaxing lounge experience.