United Airlines just unveiled its new grab-and-go lounge. Here’s what we thought ...
Editor's Note
Between a new Amex Centurion lounge, Capital One's highly-anticipated lounge and now a new club concept from United, there's a full-scale lounge race underway at Denver International Airport (DEN). Today, United just played its hand by opening the United Club Fly lounge.
Unlike traditional United Clubs, which have developed a reputation for being packed to the gills with hit-or-miss food, the United Club Fly lounge will offer United Club members pre-packaged sandwiches, salads, snacks and non-alcoholic drinks for takeaway that be consumed outside the lounge on the go. Located next to gate B61, this is an entirely new lounge concept for the airline, and hopefully one that will catch on.
We got a sneak peek of the United Club Fly lounge before its public opening. Here's a look inside and what we thought of it.
A new concept
United’s Club Fly comes after the carrier first teased the grab-and-go concept last fall as part of the changes it implemented in its regular United Clubs during the height of the pandemic.
Now, while most United Clubs have returned to normal – or close to normal – service, the grab-and-go set-up will become permanent with the airline’s Club Fly location. It also follows Capital One’s rollout of upscale grab-and-go food in its posh lounge at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) that opened a year ago.
The move makes sense for United at this particular hub, too, since about two-thirds of its passengers there are making connections, some of them tight, so a grab-and-go option might be preferable to the traditional lounge experience, which can involve precious minutes hunting for a free seat or a spare power outlet.
The United Club Fly is adjacent to the temporary United Club pop-up at gate B59. To access the United Club Fly, passengers scan their boarding pass and enter through the subway-style glass gates, which electronically open. There's seating for about 10 passengers. You can order specialty barista-made lattes and cappuccinos, pick up a sandwich or refill your water bottle. The exit is on the other side of the lounge, allowing those with tight connections a quick trip through without having to double back.
The new lounge concept came in response to customer feedback, according to the airline.
“United Club Fly is all about elevated convenience. We know there are times when our members are in a hurry and use our clubs to sneak a quick drink or snack, so we’ve created this new format to make it easy for them to do that without sacrificing an upscale club environment,” Luc Bondar, United's MileagePlus president and vice president of marketing and loyalty chief, said in a statement. “In Denver, more than two-thirds of our customers are connecting to other places, making it the ideal city to introduce this concept.”
Related: First look: The hotly anticipated one-of-a-kind United Club at Newark
Creative and local food and beverage offerings
United partnered with Colorado-based companies to cater to United Club Fly customers. You'll find local options like Noosa yogurt — one of my favorite brands.
Other cold grab-and-go sundries include cereal (with two milk options), chips, cookies, muffins, hard-boiled eggs, freshly cut fruit and vegetables, two salad choices, two sandwich selections and a vegan wrap.
The coffee bar has americanos, lattes, cappuccinos, chai lattes, black and green (matcha is an option) iced tea and nitro brew. Customers can select from 2%, skim, almond and oat milk.
All of these items are available to take away, meaning you could breeze in, grab a few dishes and be on your way in under a minute.
An inviting atmosphere
Keeping with the local theme, United commissioned paneling with the topography of the Rockies as the backdrop for the United Club Fly logo outside the lounge.
Although it does not have its own ceiling (rather, it opens up to the higher ceiling of the main terminal), the L-shaped lounge slightly resembles a Colorado ski chalet thanks to heavy wooden beams running above the space that form a sort of asymmetrical A-frame.
After scanning through the gates, your eyes will be pulled to the colorful Rocky Mountain Prairie painting. But the centerpiece of the lounge is the fireplace, which is actually an amber light under water vapor that creates the optical illusion of a fire, perfect for creating warm and fuzzy ambiance as you sip your oat milk matcha latte.
Even though there aren't many seats in United Club Fly, there's a coffee-bar style ledge with power outlets, USB and USB-C ports. It would work well for sipping your coffee and sending off a quick email, but if you have a longer layover, I'd head over to the United Club.
No guests allowed
Following the lead of American Express's crack own on guest access in the Centurion lounges, United Club members can't bring guests into United Club Fly. By contrast, United Club members can ordinarily bring two adult companions or one adult and dependent children under 21 years of age into regular United Clubs. If you try to hop the gate or follow your friend in, a foreboding siren will go off — a stark reminder not to bring in a guest.
While in the lounge, several customers were unhappy to learn they couldn't bring in their spouses.
On the other hand, travelers with one-time United Club passes can use them to access United Club Fly. To redeem a one-time pass, first scan your boarding pass and then the bar code on the one-time pass. Additionally, Star Alliance Gold members who earn their status with one of United's partners and MileagePlus members with Premier Gold or higher status traveling on international itineraries can also access United Club Fly.
Related: The ultimate guide to United Club access
Bottom line
United Club Fly is the airline's latest move to cater to guests on tight connections who don't have time to wait in line for a Starbucks coffee or forage for snacks at a United Club.
I walked out of the lounge impressed. If the new concept becomes more widespread, it might be another reason to consider the United Club℠ Infinite Card that currently includes lounge access.
While United hasn't shared if there are other United Club Fly locations in the works, we're happy to see that United Club members now have another Denver option with their membership.
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The Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex is a stacked card with a rewards rate that will help you earn bonus points on everyday and business-related purchases. You'll earn 15 elite night credits each calendar year, and receive automatic Gold elite status. Finally, the free night award certificate with a redemption level of 35,000 points or less can get you hundreds of dollars in potential value each year.Pros
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- 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and U.S. shipping
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- Earn a free-night award each card renewal month (up to 35,000 points)
- Receive 15 elite night credits to jump-start status
- Transfer Marriott points to 40+ airlines
Cons
- Airline points transfer ratios are poor
- Must spend $60,000 in a year for second free-night award
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 5/3/23.
- Receive a 7% discount off standard rates for reservations of standard guest rooms at hotels that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program when you book directly. Terms and Conditions Apply.
- 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
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- Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Card.
- Terms apply.