Take a Sneak Peek at the Brand New LAX United Club
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
If you've traveled through United's terminal at LAX within the last year, you're likely acutely aware that a major construction project is underway. Some parts of the terminal look anything but passenger-ready, but LAX's most notable United amenity is just about ready to open its doors to the public.
A new 20,000-square-foot United Club will welcome passengers as of 4:30am on Tuesday, December 6 — the lounge will be open from 4:30am until 10:30pm every day. The two existing Clubs will be closed as of next Tuesday, but, as you can see in this post, they likely won't be missed, especially since they're being replaced by United's biggest and brightest lounge in the US. Since the lounge isn't yet accessible to customers, United sent along some pre-opening photos for us to share.
Terminal space is at a premium, so the new United Club is located on the second level — escalators bring guests upstairs from an entrance near gate 71A.
The lounge has a variety of seating options, and more than 400 seats in total — roughly 300 of which have built-in power outlets.
There's a huge circular bar in the center — it's by far the nicest-looking bar in a domestic United Club.
Passengers sitting at the bar have power outlets as well, so you can charge your gear as you sip a cocktail.
This United Club is the antithesis of its windowless predecessor across the hall.
There are phenomenal tarmac views from several different sections, so you should be able to get a good look at airport operations regardless of where you choose to sit.
There's also some outdoor space, similar to what you'll find at the Star Alliance Lounge in the Tom Bradley International Terminal.
There's a sofa outside, along with tables and chairs.
Best of all, however, are the views — while there's a wall separating the balcony from the ground below, Avgeeks will still be able to get some pretty awesome shots through the glass.
United's lounge refurbishment project is well underway. Five redesigned lounges have opened this year, and 12 more will open in 2017. United's also opening several Polaris Lounges, but those will only be accessible to international business and first-class passengers.
Who can get in?
Like other United Clubs, this lounge is accessible to members (who pay as much as $550 or 70,000 miles per year per person) with up to two guests; United Polaris first or Star Alliance first-class passengers with one guest; United business, Polaris business or Star Alliance business-class passengers (with no guests); Star Alliance Gold members (with one guest); and United Premier Gold members and above traveling on an international flight (with one guest).
Unfortunately United is no longer part of the Priority Pass network, so you can't access the lounge for free with just any of the top premium credit cards. However, you do have a couple card options. The most obvious pick is the United MileagePlus Club Card, which gets you a full United Club membership but comes along with a hefty $450 annual fee. Another option is the United MileagePlus Explorer Card, which offers two one-time passes. You can also use some premium card travel credits to cover the cost of single access or an annual membership.
Will you be visiting United's new LAX Club?
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 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.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- 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.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.