United Club proves perfect companion to Premium Economy flight

Flying premium economy usually means you miss out on the sort of lounge access afforded to business class travelers. But as more people seek out premium travel experiences across all touch points, the option to acquire a space-available lounge pass holds appeal.

Armed with a United Airlines Economy Plus ticket from Newark Liberty to Brussels, I decided to spend the $59 entry fee to test the United Club lounge at Newark’s Terminal C, near Gate C123, to see if it’s worth the added expense.

(Understandably, you can’t pay for access to the far more exclusive United Polaris lounge, which is reserved for customers flying long-haul international first or business on United or its Star Alliance partners.)

After spending a day sightseeing in New York, I really needed to freshen up, so I immediately made my way to the United Club shower facility. There was no queue, and I was able to access a stall in mere moments.

Spacious and bright, each stall features high-quality stone and tile. While the towels are not luxurious, they are not scratchy either — an important consideration for anyone with sensory sensitivities or delicate skin.

Perricone MD toiletries were available, which was a nice touch, though I didn’t see any dental kits or razors.

The shower space also offered a large wooden log-stool for redressing and putting shoes back on, which elevated the overall experience. One downside was that the showerhead was only 6 ft above the ground, which is too short for this 6’4 journalist.

After reviving myself in the shower, I made my way into the lounge, which is very large but cleverly organised.

Dividing walls separate different seating areas. There’s desk space for working; tables and chairs for eating; a limited number of squashy recliners; and a variety of chairs you can simply sink into.

Armchairs face the floor-to-ceiling windows which overlook the apron, allowing guests to see all the action.

Large windows in the lounge are looking out to the apron.

After finding a seat behind a dividing acoustic wall, I decided to check out the other amenities in the space.

Refreshment can be obtained in multiple ways — self-service water and soda fountains, tea & coffee stations, and a manned bar. At the bar, basic wine and spirits are among the beverages on offer for free, while more premium options require an upcharge. I selected a glass of the house white wine, which was perfectly serviceable.

Drinks from the bar are served in glass, while the water and soda stations offer only disposable plastic cups, a contrast to what I’m accustomed to experiencing in Europe.

In truth, the plastic cups felt cheap, especially when they crumbled or flung themselves away from the flow of the strong stream from the soda fountain. I wonder if this little quirk of the system leads to a lot of spillage and waste.

I also explored the food options, which were quite basic. Hot food options included meat, pasta, root vegetables, and soup. Cold options included crackers and cheese, and meat-based sandwiches. My selection, a vegetarian pasta, was made palatable with the addition of Tabasco sauce.

While decompressing in the lounge, I used the perfectly fast Internet (190 Mbps) to stream content. My seat also featured a power socket, but my phone did not charge very quickly in it.

As I watched the sun set over New York, one thing that struck me about the lounge was that it is rather anodyne, without any strong theming. For example, the entrance showcases black-and-white photos of London — not the skyline of Manhattan that can be seen in the distance from the windows.

There’s also not much in the way of United branding or anything about the carrier’s historical legacy and, while the colour palette is United blue, it isn’t a unique or signature space. That is, perhaps, understandable, given the high volume of foot traffic at United Club lounges.

Even so, the furnishings at this United Club are of high quality and the lounge feels like an expensive space, similar to a corporate office.

As my 90-minute stop in the lounge came to an end, and I headed to my gate, I reflected on whether or not it was worth the $59 to gain access, concluding that yes, it was.

The reasons are manifold. Firstly, and most importantly, the lounge gave me a place to rest and recharge before boarding a long-haul flight on which I would be seated in Premium Economy as opposed to a lie-flat seat in business class.

Secondly, I was able to shower, change my socks, freshen up, and feel refreshed before getting on the transatlantic redeye. That’s a big deal, no matter how you slice it. The ability to shower at the lounge meant that I could maximise my time in the city, going straight from the museums to the airport.

Thirdly, while this lounge is not as decadent or as generous in its offerings as many others, it does what it needs to do well and consistently. In my experience, the food was edible, warm, and filling; the complimentary alcohol was serviceable; and branded Coca-Cola drinks were available. Nothing was particularly luxurious, but everything, bar the plastic cups, was done to a high standard.

Finally, the space felt very calming. Yes, it was not very inspiring, but the high-quality seats were comfortable. The organisation of the lounge meant it never felt busy and I could find my own space. The only downside was the elevator music, which is tolerable in a lift for 30 to 40 seconds but a bit tiring after an hour.

The United Club lounge is a vast open spacious with various forms of seating.

Appreciating that United Club lounges are used by a variety of passengers, including Polaris passengers who might not have access to a dedicated Polaris lounge at certain airports, I reckon that the space makes a great proof-of-concept for what an international Premium Economy lounge could be, though it was certainly not conceived as such.

After all, Premium Economy is the “new” business class for budget-conscious, premium-loving travelers who don’t want to be packed tooth-to-jowl down back.

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