Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Airport lounges let you relax and recharge away from the crowds. Amenities can range from comfortable seating, to outlets for charging your electronics, plus complimentary food and beverages.
If you're flying with United Airlines and want to access one of its lounges, you'll need to know the entry rules. You can use a variety of methods to get into a United lounge — the right travel credit card, a lounge membership and even elite status can get you through the doors.
Below, CNBC Select explains what you need to do to get access to United lounges.
United lounge locations and types
United Airlines has a network of over 45 lounges across more than 30 airports around the world. The airline sorts these lounges into three types — United Club, United Club Fly and United Polaris lounge.
United Club lounges are standard airport lounges and make up the vast majority of the airline's locations. They provide complimentary light snacks, beverages and Wi-Fi.
United Club Fly is United's latest grab-and-go lounge iteration, featuring pre-packaged food, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages for travelers in need of a quick pit stop. Currently, there are Club Fly locations at Denver International Airport and Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
United's Polaris lounges are the most exclusive of the bunch and are only accessible to premium-cabin travelers on certain routes. There are currently six United Polaris lounge locations:
- Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
- Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
- Washington D.C. Dulles International Airport (IAD)
London Heathrow also has a United Polaris arrivals lounge, which is located past immigration and customs. It is open to United Polaris travelers with a same-day flight that arrives before noon.
Most United lounges are located within the lower 48 U.S. states, but five lounges operate outside of the continental U.S.:
- Tokyo-Narita International Airport (NRT)
- Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
- London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
- Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) – Temporarily closed
- A. B. Won Pat International Airport, Guam (GUM)
How to access United lounges
United applies different entry rules depending on the type of lounge you want to access. To visit any type of United lounge, you need to be traveling with United or an eligible partner.
- United Club: The majority of United's airport lounges are the standard Club lounges, which you can access with certain elite statuses, a United Club membership or with an international or premium transcontinental business class or first class ticket.
- United Club Fly: This lounge has access rules similar to the standard Club lounges, but you can't use a one-time pass to visit.
- United Polaris: You can visit these lounges when you're traveling on a long-haul international flight in United Polaris business class. Traveling in business or first class with a Star Alliance partner airline can also grant you access. For flights with Star Alliance partners, you can only access the Polaris lounge at the departure airport.
You can only bring a guest to a Polaris lounge if you're traveling with a Star Alliance airline in first class on a long-haul international flight. The number of guests you can bring to a standard Club lounge depends on how you qualify for access (which we'll cover below).
Cards with United lounge access
Two United Airlines credit cards grant you a United Club membership just for having the card. They both have large annual fees, but the cost is less than paying for any type of membership.Â
The United Clubâ„ Business Card and United Clubâ„ Card (see rates and fees) both come with a United Club membership and the opportunity to earn an All Access membership by spending $50,000 on your card in a calendar year. You can also receive an All Access membership by reaching Premier Gold status. Both cards also grant you four one-time club passes each year (starting with your first card anniversary) if you have an All Access membership and an authorized user or employee card added to your account.
The Club membership you receive from these cards is more useful than a paid membership because you can bring one adult guest and dependent children under 18. With a paid Individual membership, you receive no guest access. If you have an All Access membership, you receive unlimited lounge access for yourself and two adult guests plus dependent children under 18. This includes access to United Club and Star Alliance partner lounges (primary cardholder or authorized user must be present to use these one-time United Club passes).
These cards also come with other perks in addition to lounge access, such as free checked bags, expanded award availability and priority check-in, security screening, boarding and baggage handling.
The New United Clubâ„ Business Card is a great fit for any business traveler who wants luxury perks with United Airlines, such as unlimited United Club access, priority security screening and an opportunity to boost your elite status through credit card spending.
- Unlimited access to United Club and participating Star Alliance airport lounges
- First and second checked bags for free
- Premier Access perks, including priority check-in, boarding, baggage handling and security screening
- High annual fee
- Free checked bags benefit requires you to pay for the flight with the card
There are also lower-priced United Airlines cards that are ideal for anyone who travels with United less frequently — United℠Explorer Card (see rates and fees) and United℠Business Card (see rates and fees). These cards don't come with a United Club membership, but you'll get two United Club℠one-time passes per year, which you can use when the primary cardholder or an authorized user is present.
The Unitedâ„ Explorer Card is worth it even if you only fly with United Airlines once or twice a year because you can take advantage of two United Clubâ„ passes per year when the primary cardmember or authorized user is traveling and you can receive free checked bags.
- No annual fee for the first year
- Unlocks upgrades for elite members on award flights
- Two free United Club airport lounge passes every year
- Valuable United Airlines perks, such as in-flight purchase discounts and the ability to earn elite status credit through credit card spending
- First checked bag free benefit requires you to pay for the flight with the card
- United Airlines has a dynamic award chart which can limit the value and flexibility of your miles
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 70,000 bonus miles
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150
- 2x miles on United® purchases, dining, and hotel stays when booked with the hotel
- Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip. Terms Apply.
- Priority boarding on United® flights
- 2 United Club one-time passes per year - over a $100 value
- Over $500 in partner credits each year
- Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Some American Express cards have annual airline fee credits when you use the card for incidental charges at an airline of your choice. If you select United Airlines as your preferred airline for benefit, a United Club membership or single-use lounge pass purchased with your eligible Amex card will qualify for the airline fee credit. It's not the same as the card automatically granting you lounge access, but the fee credits will help cover the cost of a membership or some single-use passes.
The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Access to 1,550+ airport lounges, including Priority Passâ„¢ Select lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
- Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High annual fee
- Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.Â
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.Â
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.Â
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.Â
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.Â
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.Â
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.Â
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.Â
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.Â
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.Â
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.Â
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.Â
- $895 annual fee.Â
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
The Business Platinum Card from American Express is a premium business card loaded with statement credit offers for business services and travel that help justify its steep annual fee.
- Access to 1,550 airport lounges, including Priority Pass (Enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Hotel and rental car elite status perks
- Earns flexible rewards you can transfer to 20+ airline and hotel loyalty programs (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned; Benefits may be subject to auto-renewal)
- High annual fee
- Limited bonus spending categories
- Some statement credit offers are earned in small increments or only apply to purchases from a single brand
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Elevated Welcome Offer: Earn 200,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership.Â
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,550 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card company on the market as of 07/2025.Â
- See how you can unlock over $3,500 in business and travel value annually after meeting qualifying spend thresholds on the Business Platinum Card. Terms apply.Â
- Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually for up to a total of $600 in statement credits per calendar year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using the Business Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.Â
- No Preset Spending Limit: The spending limit on the Business Platinum Card is flexible, so unlike a traditional credit card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment and credit history.Â
- Make the Business Platinum Card® work even harder for you. Hilton for Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Gift cards are not an eligible purchase. Benefit enrollment required.Â
- Fly like a pro with a $200 Airline Fee Credit. Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals.Â
- Use the Business Platinum Card and get up to $209 back per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal).Â
- Maximize your time away with Fine Hotels + Resorts through Amex Travelâ„¢.Â
- Enroll and get up to $150 in statement credits on U.S purchases directly with Dell Technologies on the Business Platinum Card and an additional $1,000 statement credit after you spend $5,000 or more on that same Card per calendar year.Â
- Enroll and get a $250 statement credit after you spend $600 or more on U.S. purchases directly with Adobe per calendar year on the Business Platinum Card.Â
- Get up to $90 in statement credits quarterly for purchases with Indeed on the Business Platinum Card. That's up to $360 back per year. Enrollment required.
- Get up to $10 in statement credits per month for wireless telephone service purchases made directly with a wireless provider in the U.S. on the Business Platinum Card. That's up to $120 back per year. Enrollment required.
- Enhanced! 2X points on purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.Â
- 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.comÂ
- 1X points on other eligible purchasesÂ
- $895 Annual Fee.Â
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Elite status
United Premier Gold members or higher can access United Club locations at departure while traveling internationally with United or another Star Alliance airline. All other Star Alliance Gold members have access to United Club lounges at departure when traveling on a flight operated by a Star Alliance airline, including domestic flights. In both cases, you may bring one guest, but that guest must be traveling on the same flight.
Virgin Australia isn't part of the Star Alliance, but if you have elite status with Virgin Australia you can access United Club lounges under certain circumstances. You'll need to be traveling on an international Virgin Australia or United Airlines flight and have Gold status or higher with Virgin Australia's Velocity program to access United Club locations at departure. Eligible Velocity elite members may bring along one guest when traveling on an eligible flight.
Premium cabin ticket
Traveling in a premium cabin with United (or with certain partner airlines and routes) may give you access to United Club lounges. If eligible, you'll be able to access the lounges at departure, arrival or connecting locations unless otherwise noted.
To get into a United Club location, you'll need a same-day boarding pass for one of the following types of flights:
- Long-haul international United Polaris business class
- International United business class
- Premium transcontinental (arrival and departure access only)
- First class or business class on a Star Alliance airline (departure airport access only)
United Polaris business class passengers and those traveling in long-haul international business or first class on a Star Alliance member airline may also access United Polaris lounges.
You can't bring a guest along with you unless you're flying first class on a Star Alliance airline. In that case, you may bring a single guest with you to United Club and United Polaris locations.
Paid memberships
There are two types of United Club membership: an Individual membership and an All Access membership.
Individual memberships come with unlimited visits to all United Club locations for the member. An All Access membership provides unlimited access to all United Club and Star Alliance partner lounges for the member and up to two adult guests or one adult guest and dependents under the age of 18.
United Club membership prices
| MileagePlus status level | Individual membership | All Access membership |
|---|---|---|
| Member, Premier Silver, Premier Gold | $750 or 94,000 miles | $1,400 or 175,000 miles |
| Premier Platinum | $750 or 94,000 miles | $1,300 or 163,000 miles |
| Premier 1K | $750 or 94,000 miles | $1,200 or 150,000 miles |
You can purchase single-use United lounge passes through the United app for $59. These passes grant one person entry to a United Club up to three hours before your scheduled departure (time limit doesn't apply to visits between connecting flights). You cannot purchase access to United Polaris lounges.
Active U.S. military
Active duty members of the U.S. military may be able to access a United Club lounge for free (subject to space availability). In addition to having a valid military ID, you'll need to be traveling on a United or United Express-operated flight within 24 hours and also meet one of the following requirements:
- Be in uniform
- Have leave orders
- Have rest and recuperation papers
The military member may bring family members with gate passes or who are traveling on the same flight along as guests.
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For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
