What’s like to visit United Club?

Like United Club, the airline club is a fun, relaxed, and formal airport facility operated at many major airports worldwide. It customizes a quieter atmospheric environment where the customers can relax and work at the same time. Some airline clubs require customers to pay for showers; others don’t, depending on circumstances like the business/first-class passengers.

Let’s discuss an example of the Airlines club (United Club).

Airline Clubs (United Club)

Previously, airline clubs and lounges were used only for business/first-class passengers and those with elite/VIP status. When a passenger visits the airline’s club, the experience gives him or her a glimpse and offers premium services and offers a quieter place to relax. Things changed to the public for those with meeting one of the requirements (see How to access below).
If you fly on United or Star Alliance partnered airlines, you must be 18 or older to visit United Club or Polaris Lounge without accompanying your parents/guardians.

Business/first class Lounge (United Polaris Lounge) 

Business/First Class Lounge has more personalized, dedicated customer service and comprehensive private suites for you to relax and recharge before your long flight.

Differences between a general airline’s club (United Club) and business/first class lounge (United Polaris Lounge)

United Polaris Lounge	United Club
Premium design and furnishings	Complimentary beverages, light snacks, menus, and bar service (bars are for travelers 21 and older) **There are fee for premium beers, liquor, and wine
Multicourse meals and a-la-carte snack offerings	Complimentary assistance with reservations, seat assignments, and electronic ticketing
Comfortable relaxation areas, daybeds, rest pods	High-speed Wi-Fi access
Shower facilities	Private phone booths with speaker phones (at select locations)
	Information on local dining and entertainment options
	Abundance plugs and outlets
	Free computer and printers
	Free newspapers, magazines, and periodicals

Keep in mind that not all of the amenities are “free.”

Locations

United Polaris Lounge	United Club
San Francisco Newark Chicago Los Angeles Houston Washington DC (Dulles) – Opening up in mid 2021	Atlanta (Domestic Terminal) Boston Chicago (O’Hare) Cleveland Dallas/Fort-Worth Denver Ft. Lauderdale Guam Honolulu Houston (Intercontinental) Las Vegas Los Angeles Minneapolis-St. Paul New Orleans NYC (LaGuardia) Newark Liberty Orange County/Santa Ana Orlando Philadelphia Phoenix Portland Raleigh/Durham San Antonio San Diego San Francisco Seattle Washington DC (Ronald Regan) Washington DC (Dulles)
	Hong Kong London Mexico City Tokyo (Naira)

How to access

There are various requirements when entering both the airline’s club (United Club) and/or the first-class lounge (United Polaris Lounge). Here are each requirements below.

Airline’s Club (United Club)

There are several ways to get access to an airline’s club.

• One-Time Day Pass (United Club Pass for $59)
• Credit Cardholders with access to a club 
  • United Explorer Cardholder
  • United Club Infinite Cardholder
  • United Business Cardholder
• United Club Membership
  • Air Canada Maple Leaf Club Membership
    • Member, Silver, or Gold MileagePlus Status ($650 or 85,000 miles)
    • Platinum ($600 or 80,000 miles)
    • 1K ($550 or 75,000 miles)
• Ticketed business or first-class passengers (United or Star Alliance partnered flights only)
  • That includes United premium transcontinental flight (between Newark/JFK – SFO or LAX)
• Travelers with status
  • Star Alliance with Gold Status (with another partner airline) 
  • United Premier Gold Status or higher
  • Amtrak Guest Reward Select Plus Status
  • Amtrak Guest Reward Select Executive Status
• Active Duty US Military 

Note: United Quest Card doesn’t include a Club Pass. You can get access to a day pass for $59 unless you book in first/business class on United or Star Alliance. 

An initial $50 fee for a first-time United Club membership

Tip: You don’t have to fly first/business class to access the airline’s club.

Business/first class Lounge (United Polaris Lounge) 

Business lounges have more restrictive entry requirements. At the United’s Club on a few locations, there is the further back of an entrance that says, “Access Restricted to ticketed business/first class international (long-haul) passengers only.” It is not valid for those booked on business/first class on any domestic or transcontinental flights. It is also not valid for day pass holders or credit card status unless you met one below:

• Ticketed business/first class passengers on Star Alliance (International), or
• Ticketed Polaris business class passengers on United (International)

What to expect

When you arrive at the club’s entrance, know the conditions of what you say to the receptionist below. At the same time, you will present today’s (or same-day) boarding pass, a valid government-issued photo ID (I recommend your passport), and your payment card, and your credit card and other documents (if applicable). 

What can you say to the receptionist:

For Business or First-Class passengers:

“May I please gain access to a Club and a lounge? I have my [polaris business] ticket booked.”

For customers with status:

“May I please gain access to a Club. I am in [fill in the blank] [level] status.” 

For cardholders with membership club access:

“May I please gain access to a Club? My card includes a Club membership.” 

“May I please gain access to a Club? I am an annual member of a United club.” (for the membership)

For active-duty US military members:

“May I please gain access to a Club? I am an active duty US military member.”

For other club customers:

“May I please purchase a Club Pass?”

Important: The reservation must match your name to your government-issued photo ID to gain access to the club. 

Dress code

The club is subject to the dress code to maintain a “modesty” environment. Examples on the website include “Smart Casual,” which means “to dress modestly and appropriate for the environment.”

Unlike public access, where more people were waiting for the departure, an airline club is a private property for travelers. So before you start planning a visit, think about what you will wear before coming to the airport. 

Your outfit:

What you are wearing matters when you are visiting the club. Think of a “privilege,” which means you get a premium service when you come to the club, dress in “smart casual.”

What you wear to the airine’s club (United Club):

	Guys	Gurls
Best	Business formal/business casual	Business formal/business casual
Recommended	Smart casual (modest outfits)	Smart casuals (modest outfits)
	Shorts must be to the knee in neutral colors without tears, dirty, stains, or destructive of any kind	Short, dress, and skirt must be no shorter than the fingertip length when standing up (2-3 inches above the knee) without tears, dirty, strains, or destructive of any kind
Not Recommended	T-Shirts, sleeveless shirts, workout clothes, sandals (flip-flops), sneakers	Short skirts, short-shorts, miniskirts or minidress, revealing outfits, midriff tops, spaghetti straps or dress, workout clothes, flip-flops, snow boots
	Shirts with offensive or inappropriate slogans	Shirts with offensive or inappropriate slogans

Behavior

The behavior depends on how you act in a formal, fun, relaxed, and professorial environment. Maintaining an atmospheric environment is an expected norm in a paid lounge, whether in Airline’s club or first/business lounge.

Take a review from the United Club’s website on how to prepare for a visit.

In the United’s club, guests are asked to refrain from:

• Solicit of any kind
• Bring your pet (cute) – unless it’s service animals (kept in a kennel approved by the airline)
• Drink liquid or alcohol if you appear intoxication
• Bring any outside food or drinks (please, keep it inside your bags sealed)
• Smoke, vape, or chew a tobacco of any kind
• Bring airport luggage carts – you are responsible for your bags and belongings
• Hoard food/drinks/snacks – food and drinks provided for consumption only in the club or lounge
• Listen or use a speaker to music/watch videos without headphones/earplugs
• Put a feet onto furniture
• Lie down unless you are in a private lounge (Polaris Lounge where daybed or sleep pods are available)
• Dress up that are unsuitable/inappropriate for the environment (see “Dress Code” above)

Here is the hidden curriculum in a club:

Expected Behavior	Unexpected Behavior
Using indoor voice	Talking/singing to yourself
Using manners	Answering a call in a common area (other than the phone call area) – tune it down to silent/mute
Yielding a space for others	Littering
Enjoying yourself that doesn’t distract others or visitors	Hoarding a seat/space – please, respect your personal space
Dressing an outfit that are appropriate for the environment	Behaving that is not suitable for the environment – dancing, goofing around, shouting, giggling loudly is not allowed in the club or Polaris Lounge
Asking a receptionist if you have questions	Cursing/swearing – club and Polaris Lounge is a fun, relaxed, and formal lounge where profanity language isn’t allowed
Clean up after yourself	Sleeping – unless you are in a day bed or sleep pods in Polaris Lounge

Experience

Your experience will depend on individuals. For instance, some visitors were quite relaxed, enjoyed free, complemental snacks and drinks, and had comfort before their flight. They have other relaxing, personalized, smoothing experiences for business-class passengers, such as take a nap at the sleep pods, eat a-la-carte meals, and then shower well before their long-haul international flights. The United Club is a relaxing (destress) experience for the business-class and United passengers on all cabin classes.

I highly dare to try to visit a United or airline’s Club. It is worth the relaxation and mind from the hordes of crowds.

Can I bring my guests?

There are restrictions based on how many guests are allowed to bring under its conditions. Note that guests must travel on a same-day flight on United or Star Alliance with a pass holder.

• One-Time Day Pass (United Club Pass for $59) (No guests)
• Credit Cardmembers with access to a club (Max 2 adults or 1 adult and 1 dependent children <21) 
  • United Explorer Cardholder
  • United Club Infinite Cardholder
  • United Business Cardholder
• United Club Membership (Max 2 adults or 1 adults and 1 dependent children <21)
  • Air Canada Maple Leaf Club Membership (No guests for North American member; max 1 guest for Worldwide member)
    • Member, Silver, or Gold MileagePlus Status ($650 or 85,000 miles)
    • Platinum ($600 or 80,000 miles)
    • 1K ($550 or 75,000 miles)
• Ticketed Business or first-class passengers (The guest policies applied to United Polaris Lounge)
  • United Polaris business (International) (No guests)
  • United premium between Newark/NYC – SFO or LAX (No guests) (Not qualified for United Polaris Lounge)
  • First class (International) on Star Alliance (Max 1 guest)
  • Business class (International) on Star Alliance (No guests)
• Travelers with status
  • Star Alliance with Gold Status or higher (with another partner airline) (Max 1 guest; no guest for higher than gold)
  • United Premier Gold Status or higher (Max 1 guest; no guest for higher than gold)
  • Amtrak Guest Reward Select Plus Status
  • Amtrak Guest Reward Select Executive Status
• Active Duty US Military (Family members with gate passes)

Please, keep in mind that the guests must respect its environment and to accompany by a United Club holder at all times.

Conclusion

While visiting a club, it is noted that it is a different suitable environment than the general airport departure lounge. They have special considerations, which they have the money to invest to upbeat its service. So United Club guests and visitors, please, behave yourself. It is okay to have fun but keep it to yourself.

Bon Voyage, Travelers!