United to transform Houston hub with revamped terminal, world's largest lounge
Houston has officially been a United Airlines hub since the airline's merger with Continental Airlines in 2010, and now, 13 years later, the carrier is bringing some major upgrades to the city's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).
United, along with Houston Airport System — the city department that manages the region's airports — will invest $2 billion into the IAH airport over the coming years.
Headlining the passenger-facing upgrades is a completely transformed Terminal B, which will include 40 new gates.
Terminal B will be split into two concourses: North and South. The former will span approximately 765,000 square feet across three levels and will house 22 gates for narrow-body aircraft operating domestic and short-haul international flights.
Terminal B North will also house a brand-new United Club that's set to become the largest one in the United system. This new lounge outpost will be on the mezzanine level of this concourse and will offer views of the airfield.
United didn't share any other details about this new club, but just this year, the airline debuted its current largest club in Denver, which spans 35,000 square feet with seating for more than 600 flyers. Passengers passing through the Mile High City have been impressed with the new Denver club, which is likely a harbinger of good things to come for Houston.
That's especially true because most of the airline's five clubs in Houston are quite outdated. The current shining star is the renovated outpost near Gate C1, but this lounge (along with the other ones) consistently gets overcrowded during peak departure periods.
Adding more lounge capacity to Houston will be great news for flyers based in the city and those connecting through the hub. United offers over 400 daily flights from Houston to over 150 destinations, Cirium schedules show.
While the new United Club might be the highlight of Terminal B North, the carrier isn't stopping there. The airline says that it'll expand the pre-security ticketing and departures lobby, which will offer digital signage, and enlarge the curbside frontage for additional roadway capacity.
Terminal B will also house a new security checkpoint on the third floor of the new facility.
Meanwhile, Terminal B South, which currently houses regional operations for most of the airline's 50-seat jet operations, will get a big upgrade when 30 gates are converted to accommodate larger, two-cabin regional jets.
Once these upgrades are complete, all regional flights will be boarded via jet bridge, eliminating a big pain point for travelers under the current setup that relies on stairs and lots of walking.
Other terminalwide upgrades include a sensory room, a so-called multimedia park and special zones for passengers with disabilities who are looking for a comfortable space to decompress between security and boarding.
The new terminal will also house two concessions hubs spanning over 115,000 square feet with space for a plethora of yet-to-be-announced food and retail outposts.
Finally, the baggage claim and arrivals hall will be expanded, and a new baggage handling system, equipped with advanced baggage tracking technology, will support increased capacity.
"This investment further supports United's position as Houston's carrier of choice," said Phil Griffith, United's vice president of IAH, in a statement. "On behalf of our more than 14,000 employees who call Houston home, I can't wait to continue to do all we can to serve our customers flying to, from and through our hub on more than 400 flights each day," he added.
United plans to celebrate this announcement Nov. 30 with a special media event hosted by CEO Scott Kirby. The carrier will preview the Terminal B redevelopment project and will give a behind-the-scenes look at the upgraded baggage handling system.
The carrier is marketing these passenger-experience improvements as part of its broader United Next strategy that includes new and retrofitted planes, seatback screens for every passenger, bigger and better terminals, revamped lounges and much more.
The airline didn't publish an estimated completion date for when these upgrades will be ready for the flying public. It also didn't share what, if any, impacts the construction will have on the operation of the existing facility.
Related reading:
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.