Summary

  • United Club access methods include premium cabin tickets, MileagePlus and Star Alliance status members, military personnel, and credit cards.
  • Star Alliance Gold membership grants lounge access on any alliance airline-operated flight, including United flights.
  • United Club membership and day passes are available for purchase, with varying prices based on MileagePlus elite status.

If you’ve flown in the US domestically, you might have seen signs or the entrance to the United Club, the lounge operated by United Airlines at many airports, primarily in the US but abroad, too. Providing a quieter environment than the airport terminal and with food and drink offerings, the Club is preferred by many frequent flyers. There are also several ways to access the United Club – including paid membership, credit card benefits, or Star Alliance status.

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Premium cabin tickets

Not likely on domestic and regional tickets

Surprisingly, this is the most complicated method of accessing the United Club due to the range of rules in play. Outside North America, it is standard to be able to access the lounge on any business or first class ticket, but this does not usually apply to domestic and regional tickets in the US.

Polaris lounge shutterstock_1204884121

Photo: JJava Designs | Shutterstock

According to United Airlines, the following premium cabin customers can access clubs:

  • Polaris business class passengers on long-haul international flights.
  • United Business passengers on international or transcontinental flights.
  • United First passengers on any flight to or from Canada.
  • First class on a Star Alliance member airline.
  • Business class on a Star Alliance member airline.

Interestingly, while Star Alliance passengers can only access the lounge at the departure airport, United passengers can use the lounge at departing, connecting, and arrival airports.

An overview of the United Airlines Polaris Business Class cabin.

Photo: United Airlines

You also can’t bring guests on any of these tickets except for Star Alliance first class flights, meaning simply buying a seat upfront is far from a sure-shot way to entering the lounge.

5

MileagePlus and Star Alliance status members

Star Alliance Gold gets access, but not MileagePlus

If you have United MileagePlus Premier Gold, Platinum, or 1K status, you can enter the United Clubs at the departure airport, provided it’s on an international Star Alliance flight. You can also bring one guest, provided they’re flying on a Star Alliance flight the same day. There is no standard Club access given to members on domestic or regional United flights.

Inside of the United Club lounge at Denver International Airport.

Photo: United Airlines

Related

The Different Tiers Of United Airlines’ MileagePlus Program

Elite status brings benefits when flying United Airlines and across the Star Alliance.

The rules are much better for non-United Star Alliance members. As with all alliances, elite members with any of the member airlines automatically receive a corresponding elite status with the Star Alliance. This brings benefits when traveling with any of the 26 member airlines. There are just two elite levels with Star Alliance.

  • Star Alliance Silver is given to low and some mid-tier equivalent levels. It offers minimal benefits, only including waitlisting and standby benefits.
  • Star Alliance Gold offers much more, including lounge access on any alliance airline-operated flight. This includes all United flights.

Related

The Top 6 Star Alliance Gold Benefits

The benefits can stop passengers from queuing soo much, while making the airport experience more pleasant.

4

Access for military

This is a benefit offered by many US airlines

US military people on active duty can access the United Club lounge for free. This is a benefit offered by many of the main US airlines and depends on space being available in the lounge and on other conditions. These include:

  • The military personnel must have a valid military ID to access the lounge.
  • They must have traveled on a United or United Express-operated flight within 24 hours.
  • One of the following criteria also needs to be met – be in uniform, have rest and recuperation papers, or have leave orders.
us army airport

Photo: cunaplus | Shutterstock

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Access with credit cards

The United Club Infinite Card includes Club membership

Getting status with United or any Star Alliance airline is difficult, let alone reaching Gold. However, United still wants to ensure that it can turn a profit and increase its revenue stream, and it does this with its range of co-branded credit cards. One in particular stands out here: the United Club Infinite card.

A screenshot of the different United Airlines co-branded credit cards.

Photo: United Airlines

For $525 annually, you get an annual United Club membership. This includes unlimited visits to the United Club (and participating Star Alliance lounges) before any United flight, regardless of region of travel, ticket purchased, or cabin class.

Other benefits of the United Club Infinite card include:

  • Two free checked bags on all United flights.
  • Increased earnings of four miles per dollar on all United purchases. You can also earn elite qualifying Premier Qualifying Points.
  • 10% discount on award redemptions.
  • Rebate for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS when charged to the card.
  • Premier Access benefits – including priority check-in, security lanes, boarding, and baggage handling.

Related

What Perks Come With The United Club Infinite Card?

The card has many benefits, which can be unlocked with an annual subscription.

2

United Club membership and Day Passes

You can always pay for access to lounges

Lounges are a profitable space for airlines, and US carriers typically offer a clear path to lounge access: buy a membership. Lounges can be accessed either on a pay-as-you-go day basis or with an annual membership. Day pass can be purchased for $59.

For memberships, the price paid depends on the elite status the member has with United MileagePlus. An annual United Club membership starts at the following rates:

  • $650 for general members.
  • $650 for Premier Silver and Gold members (alternatively, you can spend 85,000 miles).
  • $600 for Premier Platinum members (alternatively, you can spend 80,000 miles).
  • $550 for Premier 1K members. (alternatively, you can spend 75,000 miles).
The front desk area of a United Club lounge in Chicago O'Hare.

Photo: United Airlines

In addition to yourself, you can bring two adults or one adult plus dependent children under 21. This can be a big draw for families to fly moderately, substantially bringing down the per-visit cost.

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Partner programs

Access for other airline members

United also has special lounge access policies for two other airline program members. These, of course, are useful for certain travelers.

  • Members of Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Club (another lounge access program) – North America and Worldwide – also have access to United Clubs as long as they are flying any Star Alliance carrier (domestic or international). North America members can only access the clubs in this region with no guests, while Worldwide members can bring one guest.
An Air Canada Boeing 787 Dreamliner on final approach into LAX.

Photo: GingChen | Shutterstock

  • Virgin Australia (a non-alliance airline) Velocity Gold, Platinum, and VIP members can use United Clubs when flying an international Virgin Australia or United Airlines flight. One guest is also permitted if it’s an international United flight.

Have you visited any United Clubs on your trips recently? How do you normally secure lounge access? Let us know in the comments section below.


  • MileagePlus Tall

    MileagePlus

    Participating Airlines:
    United Airlines

    Owner:
    United Airlines

    Region:
    North America

    Countries:
    United States

    Established Date:
    1981-05-00

  • N14106 United Airlines (Her Art Here-California Livery) Boeing 757-224 (1)

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