Update: The C123 Club has opened today and will be open daily from 5am-10pm. Talk about going from worst to first, it looks like this is easily the best United Club worldwide, with everything from a foosball table to barista made espresso drinks to shower suites! Post a comment if you visit the new Club with your thoughts.
Originally posted on 5/13:
The United Club situation in Newark’s Terminal C has been subpar since the main club was closed to create a Polaris business class lounge.
The United Club near gate C74 is far too small for a hub airport like Newark and it’s a good hike to the C120-138 gates.
But on May 19th, United will open a new lounge near gate C123 and it promises to usher in a new era for United Clubs. It will be nearly 30,000 square-feet, its largest Club worldwide.
The club will have a new modern design, enhanced amenities and culinary offerings, and locally-sourced art and furniture pieces.
Going forward, United will be making all draft beer free at all clubs, including micro/local beer.
It will seat a whopping 500 people and feature 6 spa-like shower suites. Continental used to have showers in their lounges, but United removed those from their clubs worldwide. This about-face is a huge change in strategy for United as it positions itself to be a premium carrier. United will also be building showers in other new and renovated lounges.
The lounge will also feature a barista-staffed coffee shop and offer views of the Manhattan skyline and even a foosball table.
The Club’s hours will be 5am-10pm daily.
United will also close its lounge near gate C74 on 5/19 for some much needed renovations. It will reopen next year with a similar design to the C123 club, but with 17,000 square feet of space.
The new Terminal A club will open in late 2022/early 2023 but with 12,500 square feet of space and an outdoor terrace. United will try to focus Terminal A flights to those with mostly origin and destination traffic without many connecting passengers.
You can have lounge access for you and your entire family or 2 guests on Star Alliance flights if you have a United Club℠ Infinite Card. New cardholders get 100,000 miles after spending $5,000 in 3 months and earn 4 miles per dollar on United flights, 25% off premium drinks in Clubs and flights, 25% off in-flight WiFi, 2 free checked bags per person, Premier access checkin, security, boarding, and baggage handling even in basic economy, 10% off domestic saver awards, upgrades for elites and a companion on award tickets, expanded award space, IHG Platinum status, $75 IHG credit, 3 years free Shipt membership, and more.
Chase United Explorer cardholders also get 2 annual Club passes.
Are you excited for the new United Club in Newark?
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105 Comments On "[Now Open!] United Will Open Its Largest United Club Next Week In Newark"
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Dan can you elaborate on this :
upgrades for elites and a companion on award tickets
The card helps elite more? Aren’t they otherwise entitled to upgrades also?
Ty
Elites don’t get upgrades on awards unless they have United cards with an annual fee.
Elites don’t get companion upgrades on awards unless they have a Club Infinite card.
will there be kosher food??
I was at the opening ceremony last week and spoke to a few people within United leadership about Kosher food. They are currently working on it and hope to have t soon.
was at the Polaris club last week and told no plans for kosher food
Was at the Club this morning but unfortunately no kosher food here, at least at this point.
was at the Polaris club last week and was told no plans for kosher food
Reading well? United as it positions itself to be a premium carrier. Long way to go united… keep on dreaming Dan – you always pump United…
That’s its plan as part of United Next.
It’s not there today, but this is a good start.
Yes!!!! Just in time for my TATL flight at the end of May
Is that card the only way to get access to the lounge? What other ways can one access the lounge?
Star Alliance gold status.
How does one get that status?
https://www.dansdeals.com/?s=star+gold
or any other United card that give you lounge access?
or what about one time passes?
United Explorer Card gives 2 United Club one-time passes per year
With star alliance gold status but flying domestic. Can I use lounge?
From which airline?
I don’t know about this specific lounge but I’m United Star Alliance Gold and I’m only allowed in the lounges when I’m flying internationally.
Correct, you need Star Gold from a foreign carrier to access United lounges on domestic trips.
Any news if kosher food will be available?
I was at Polaris club last week and told no plans for kosher food, all they had was potato chips, not even pretzels as they had in regular club
If there isn’t good kosher food , it’s a Bracha livatala
+1
Bad decision to close c74. Even in its current state I’d rather go there for a stop then trek to 123 when my flights usually leave from c74-99. Obviously above isn’t a long term solution but aren’t they moving to terminal 1 in 24 months anyway?
It’s not closing, it’s for a long overdue renovation.
The new Terminal A should open soon and will also have a new United Club, but Terminal C isn’t going anywhere.
Any “temp” closure that is calculated in years rather than months is not temporary.
When the new A opens, it will be replacing more gates than the current A. If they wait to do c74 reno until then they’ll have more space in C to work with, possibly opening a temp c 74-99 location during the closure.
They have a pop-up location at C93.
Does the Polaris club have showers or will this have a unique amentity? Also, hopefully with the huge Fresko presence at EWR, they’ll be able to supply food!
Yes, all Polaris lounges have shower suites.
Spoke with Fresko, nothing has been ordered for any of the clubs.
If I travel international business class I know I am able to join the Polaris Lounge,
can I also join the United Club?
Sure.
How big is the Polaris EWR lounge?
Which one is better? The new club or Polaris?
Why would people go to Polaris of the club is better
Polaris lounge is nicer and has better complimentary food and drinks. Eventually it should have kosher wine and meals as well, though that was pushed off due to COVID.
According to what I was told at the Polaris lounge last week there are no plans for have any kosher food or wine. Also, Fresko told me nothing has been ordered for any of the clubs.
You can visit Polaris Lounge only if you are traveling to a specific international destination in business class. I believe Europe, Asia and some destinations in South America – we were traveling to Mexico and were not allowed to get in.
Dan, how does the United Club Infinite Card compare to the old United Club Card? I currently have a Club card, is it worthwhile while switching? Thanks
I was under the impression that Club cardmembers were all moved to the Infinite card?
At least I was.
Interesting. I wasn’t moved over, I definitely did not receive a new card.
Real question is until what time they will be open. The current club is only open until 9:45pm and I was once denied entry at 9:35pm. Frustrating for those on the 11+pm flight to TLV. I have been pretty consistent leaving feedback with United on this. Really hope this one will have later hours.
Keep providing feedback!
I’ll ask United if they know the hours yet.
+1
Hours will be 5am-10pm daily.
Be sure to provide feedback if you want longer hours as United does watch their feedback.
Will I be able to use my One Time Use lounge pass?
Yes, but those are subject to capacity controls.
Could they enter?
United gold members can enter? Or only *alliance
United Star Gold can enter when traveling internationally.
Other Star Gold can enter on all Star Alliance flights.
can i access the lounge when i arrive on a polaris business class flight from international?
Sure, but why not use the Polaris lounge?
didnt know i can access it when i land
good to know. will check it out
thanks
You can, though you would need a connecting flight to get through security.
Or coming from a customs pre clearance destination.
Why do you need to go through security again?
Because when you land from an international flight you need to go through customs and leave security, unless it’s from a flight with customs preclearance like in Canada or the Bahamas.
@Dan – I’ve got a feeling that this lounge will become part of priority pass.
Currently Priority Pass has not a single lounge in the entire EWR which is insane.
They pulled out of the old United lounge last month…. I think that the logical conclusion is that they did that anticipating using this new lounge instead.
What do you think?
Priority Pass membership from credit cards hasn’t included United in many years.
Do people actually have paid Priority Pass memberships?
I doubt anyone pays for PP but having an Amex plat there’s no lounges in EWR. Didn’t they at least have some random lounges in EWR pre Covid (like an Arts and Lounge)
Priority Pass from Capital One has more lounges that are accessible than AMEX Platinum. Would it be included?
No, that gets you things like bars, restaurants, massages, retail, etc. Not additional airline lounges.
United Club Mileage plus card doesn’t get access?
Explorer cardholders get 2 one-time use passes per year, though those passes are subject to capacity controls.
This post https://www.dansdeals.com/points-travel/milespoints/highest-offer-ever-earn-120000-miles-united-club-infinite-card-new-benefits-club-membership-discounted-awards-2-free-checked-bags-per-passenger-ihg-statuscredit/
Specifically said Cardholders get a full United Club membership. You can bring your entire family, or you and 2 guests, to enter over 1,000 United and partner lounges and Star Alliance lounges worldwide when flying United or Star Alliance airlines.
Or am i confused. That post has a picture of Mileage Plus card but calls it The United Club Infinite Card. I signed up for the card from that post.
Yes, that’s the Club Infinite card. You’ll have access.
Dan, if I have this card but I’m flying on a different airline, can I still utilize the lounge?(using up old voucher).
No, you need to be flying a United or Star Alliance flight.
Can confirm…here in Reagan International (DCA). Had a pass from my United credit card, but was denied admission since I was flying American today (needed a boarding pass for a United flight.
If someone is flying business can they access united club instead of Polaris or only if they have membership?
They can access either.
Speaking of *A gold, I’m *A Gold with SQ – is there a way to have that appear on my boarding pass if I’m using my MP number as well?
Would like to know this as well?
Me too. It doesn’t need to appear on your boarding pass. You go to the United Lounge, show them your Singapore *Gold membership card on your phone, and tell them you want to continue to credit to United and just use Singapore for access. It may take them a few minutes to figure it out, but they always do. Done this several times at Newark and LAX, as well as at San Antonio. Also worked to get my wife and I into the *Alliance Lounge at LAX (quite a trek coming from United gates, but I wanted to see it). So far, I’m batting 100%.
Do they offer lounge to Biz for premium transcon flights to LAX/SFO?
Yes.
I don’t understand the obsession with the lounges. I travel a fair amount. I generally don’t want to be that early that I have to sit around in a lounge. It is great when landing to have an option of freshening up.
United in Newark has never had any kosher food so why do we think they’re going to change. You can get a soda or a beer.
The only time I need a lounge is when flights are canceled and that’s when the lounges are closed.
For connecting flights
For delays
For dealing with flight cancellations and rebooking
For a more comfortable place to sit
Other United lounges have many more kosher food options. My assumption is this new lounge will as well.
United has kosher snacks in Newark. For example their brownies and chocolate chip cookies are kosher. But you should ask to see the hashgacha
Are they packaged or loose? If loose, many times heated up for freshness in an oven that had non kosher!
This will a lounge available to everyone who has access and not a polaris lounge?
Correct.
do i need to show them my club infinite to enter lounge? chase shut me down but united still has my card link giving me benefits etc
Me too, chase shut me down but for years still getting my club pass.
I booked a United flight with spouse’s United account and just now got the infinite card for myself. Will I be able to access the lounge and get the two free checked bags on that United flight or does it need to be booked with the infinite card?
It needs to be booked with your Infinite card
“It needs to be booked with your Infinite card” For the 2 free bags. Your card should give you Club membership though
would the united one time passes work?
They should.
If I cancelled my United Explorer card, but still have two one-time club passes which are still within the valid dates, will I have access?
If the passes are still showing up in your Mileage Plus account they should still work
No. They get cancelled when you close the card.
Do United Quest credit card holders get access?
No
Having a priority pass card, will get you access to this lounge?
No
My husband and I were in the lounge today. It’s very beautiful. Lots of seating and a great coffee machine bar. Some fresh fruit and some kosher cereals. Would be nice to have more kosher choices but a nice experience none the less…..
I flew out of Newark today. Flight was delayed over an hour, so I had some “quality” time in the new lounge. It is absolutely beautiful.
I am flying United business class to London next week. Do any lounges have Kosher food in Newark?
As of today neither the Polaris or regular club in Newark have anything that is kosher.
Would I be able to book a domestic award business ticket with United, have access to the lounge and then cancel the ticket for a full redeposit without any fees?
Was just here it is gorgeous and a great place to relax in terminal C. It does get very busy but has the space to accommodate everyone so doesn’t feel overcrowded. One interesting thing I witnessed was 2 staff getting into an altercation. Very unprofessional.
Nothing kosher except for bags of potato chips.
Epic! is this for business and up only or for economy to
i travel to and from Newark quite often and decided to upgrade my credit card to united club , i have tried the clubs in newark and ohare and found that for kosher travelers the selection is quite limited , there is little packaged food , there are apples,oranges,some potato chips with ou, and coke ,
the only exception is the united club popup in newark near gate 93 , there, almost everything is kosher , cereal, juice, brownies, bagels , coke in cans, cream cheese , jams etc. – it would be nice if they provided the same in regular club for kosher travelers
Send United feedback!
The United Club In TERMINAL A is now open