Review: Executive Club Houston Airport

A lounge without a bathroom is a complete No-Go in my opinion. Have never seen such thing in Europe.

Hi Ben,
You should have gone to the KLM lounge. It's a Priority Club lounge that's really nice. Furnishings seem nicer, maybe not as much food, self serve bar and yes, they have bathrooms.

Do you think this lounge can be accessed with US Airways business award ticket to SYD (Air China one of the carriers)?

@ Sol -- Yes, if you're flying business class on Air China out of Houston (even if it's on an award ticket) you'll have access to this lounge.

Yeah...no bathroom, half my reason for being there evaporates.

No windows or bathrooms (?!) means an utter deal-breaker for me, no matter what the food looks like. I'll be at IAH next week, and the KLM lounge will be closed during most of our layover, so it looks like it'll be the UC for me!

im embarassed for houston. i cant believe this passes off - i went in and left immediately. awful. esp compared to the united (ex-con) lounges. no reason to stop here. move on folks. I agree w Joediver - try the klm lounge, perhaps BA has a lounge as well?

@tri Yes, BA has two nice lounges at IAH -- but only for BA/oneworld passengers. When we're flying LH out of IAH we walk to the nearest UA lounge rather than using the shared lounge ben reviews here.

Not having a restroom is weird, interior is meh but don't mind lack of windows. Too much sun down here in Houston 🙂

I'm surprised by your dad's lack of cell phone. I understand you may not want to say his exact age, but what bucket does he fall into (50s, 60s, 70s, etc)?

My grandparents (also in SEA) who are both in their late 70s each have smartphones and regularly text with friends and family (albeit with terrible spelling), use facebook, take pictures, play games and music, etc. Seems to be pretty common amongst their social circle as well

Yes, it does look like a hospital (nice) waiting room. Except for the bar and buffet which I wish our hospital had.

No bathrooms? Houston, we have a problem. I presume that ruled out a shower (or bath)? 😉

Can you please reveal how you are able to earn so many miles to book Lufthansa 1st class that often? You seem to fly it at least once a month, usually with someone else, that's a lot of miles used, I would really love to know your secret! Do you ever use United miles from Chase? Or your dad's amex -> Aeroplan only? What other miles do you use to book Lufthansa 1st class?

@bene

CX lounge at CDG also doesn't have bathrooms.

Wow that is a very sad lounge, a city like Houston deserves better facilities, and that airport wing is fairly new.

My mom is in her mid 70s and didn't want to use a cell phone. They can be complicated and intimidating these days, so I mentioned a Jitterbug but she was against it.

Then I found her the Jenny T172 Blu on Amazon. It is a trendy phone made for seniors and children. Features large numbers and displays calls in big characters on the screen. It is cheap and comes in many colors, comes unlocked with no contract and it is great for traveling overseas as well.

@Bene -- you should try the AF lounge at ORY. It's ... special.

IIRC I don't think the BA lounge at BRU has bathrooms either.

It's surprising that there are loungers out there that don't offer bathrooms. This is supposed to be a premium service. I wonder what the reasoning is.

Er, lounges, not loungers.

@ wwk5d -- My guess is that the area was previously office space or something, and it was over their budget to install bathrooms. Yeah, cheap.

@ Andrew -- A combination of Aeroplan, Lifemiles, and United miles are best for Lufthansa first class.

Having bathrooms = employing a contractor to clean/stock the bathrooms... great way to be cheap.

I used this lounge before a Lufthansa flight and found it be rather poor. The bartenders weren't polite or professional. The food was mostly greasy and something deep-fried, then perhaps frozen and reheated. The furnishings were pretty depressing. Yes typical contract lounge. While it may have had more food than U.S. airline domestic lounges, that food was unappealing, and then coupled with poor decor, no windows and no bathrooms, it just wasn't a nice lounge experienced.

I am shocked by lack of bathroom. I am not sure if that would pass health code here.

Please tell me with all that self-serve finger food and with people coming and going, touching things (i.e. knobs, handles, couches) there is a sink to wash one's hands?

@ Aeroman380 -- Nope, definitely didn't see a sink unfortunately.

@ Lucky - SQ F passengers at IAH use United Club, right? If I have some time at the airport, does it make sense to do so or is my time better spent on more worthwhile pursuits?

Kind of sucks that even with a premium ticket and Amex Plat (+Priority Pass), there don't seem to be any good options. Need that Centurion lounge from DFW! 🙂

@ Ivan Y -- Correct. I'd definitely say you're best off arriving at the airport as close to departure as possible since the lounge is nothing special.

@ Lucky - thank you, that's what I figured based on your trip report (SQ F IAH-DME).

I was actually conditionally approved for Global Entry (in 2 or 3 hours, much to my amazement) and since City Hall GE office has no appointments (due to gov't shutdown?), was thinking of doing interview before my departure so I can avoid delay on a way back (flying ZRH-ORD-IAH). I'd read interviews are fairly short but how long does the whole process (with biometrics) take - under an hour?

Why did it take you 15m to get through security? Don't you have Clear or at least Pre-Check? I never wait at security anymore except at UA's mid-field terminal at IAD (which is mostly unavoidable on international connections)

BTW, food is rather unimpressive compared to UA's F lounges and EK business lounges (both in USA).

@ Boraxo -- Because Lufthansa doesn't do Pre-Check. Only US airlines participate.

FYI, the lounge has been renovated since this review just 8 months ago. Just mainly new comfortable furniture and smartly designed dividers. A much needed improvement from this previously ugly room. The walls have been muted and given some texture. Less hospital, more boutique.

Still no pre-check here.

I am confused that some others suggest we use other lounges. Is this because of an alliance/partnership? I am flying out in F on Lufthansa. Are there other StarAlliance options besides the UCs?

That being said ... the last reviews are from 2 years ago. A brief mention of a renovation. What is the current status of options for lounges at IAH? Come to this Executive Lounge? Use one of the United Clubs?

@ Kevin -- Those would be your two options. Neither is great, but the Executive Club might be more convenient based on your departure gate.

Hi.. thanks for your sharing.
I will take the EVA air, business class from IAH to TPE next month. The lounge they offer is also Executive club.
I hope to take shower before boarding but unfortunately, it seems no shower either in the Executive Club.
It is possible to use other alternative lounge with shower equipment since EVA air also a member of Star Alliance?
Best Regards,

Thanks

Has there been any updates to this lounge? Flying EK F next year and have a decent layover. Any other options for EK passengers? Or PP? Thanks!