Our flight from Frankfurt landed at 5:30PM, while our connecting flight to Los Angeles was at around 8:20PM. Our flight arrived at the E Concourse, while our connecting flight was departing from the C Concourse. Global Entry was quick, though it’s a bit of a haul to change terminals, and on top of that, security took a while.
We were airside in the C Concourse by 6PM, and then had about 90 minutes before we needed to go the gate for our connecting flight.
Houston Airport concourse
So we decided to check out the United Club in the C Concourse, which just opened this spring, meaning the lounge is just a few months old. The lounge is located near gate C1, and it’s tough to miss the translucent blue exterior.
United Club Houston Airport exterior
The lounge has an impressive interior with mood lighting and a small decorative seating section (at least I assume that’s what it is, since it’s not even past the reception desk).
United Club Houston Airport entryway
We presented our inbound boarding passes to the associates at the desk, and were quickly admitted. I recently reviewed the new United Club Los Angeles, and it was clear that this lounge had a similar design style.
This is a fairly small United Club, as it consists of one large room with a few different seating zones.
United Club Houston Airport seating
The main part of the lounge just consists of leather chairs lined up in rows facing one another.
United Club Houston Airport seating
United Club Houston Airport seating
There are also some stylish leather chairs around small circular tables.
United Club Houston Airport seating
Along the wall is a counter with a couple dozen more seats.
United Club Houston Airport seating
Then on the far right of the lounge is an area with high-top seating and plenty of outlets.
United Club Houston Airport seating
Then on the far left of the lounge is the area with dining tables, bar, and buffet.
United Club Houston Airport bar
The club had views of the C Concourse gate area, though it was quite empty at the time, so there wasn’t much to see.
United Club Houston Airport view
The buffet was along the left wall just in front of the bar area.
United Club Houston Airport buffet
In terms of food, there was whole fruit, a small salad bar with limited toppings, cubed cheese, raw veggies, soup, snack mix, crackers, brownies, and cookies.
United Club Houston Airport snack selection
United Club Houston Airport snack selection
United Club Houston Airport snack selection
United Club Houston Airport snack selection
United Club Houston Airport soup
United Club Houston Airport snack selection
United Club Houston Airport snack selection
In terms of self serve drinks, there was illy drip coffee, an espresso machine, and then one of those high tech Coke fountains with over a dozen drinks to choose from.
United Club Houston Airport coffee
United Club Houston Airport espresso machine
United Club Houston Airport soda fountain
The bar had complimentary house wine, beer, and liquor, and then premium drinks were available for purchase.
The Wi-Fi in the lounge was reasonably fast. You can log-in either with your MileagePlus number if you’re a club member, or otherwise you can use the password, which changes every so often.
The bathroom was fairly nice, though the lounge didn’t have any showers. It’s a bit disappointing that United doesn’t have showers in more of their lounges, as it seems they’re saving that mostly for Polaris lounges nowadays.
I spent about an hour in the lounge working, and then eventually we headed to our departure gate for the flight to Los Angeles.
United Club Houston bottom line
In terms of quality, I’d say United Clubs are marginally better than American Admirals Clubs and significantly worse than Delta Sky Club®. I like the new United Club design, even if it doesn’t feel especially high end or seem like it will age very well. The food spread in United Clubs is a bit better than in Admirals Clubs, though it’s amazing the degree to which Delta Sky Club blow away the lounges offered by the other two US global carriers. There are several ways to visit these lounges, some as easy as a credit card with lounge access.
I guess United’s argument is that they have Polaris Lounges for their international business class passengers (well, only one lounge so far, really), while Delta only has SkyClubs for all passengers eligible for lounge access.
Where do you think United Clubs rank compared to other US lounges?
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