United Airlines United Club Los Angeles Lounge

Definitely one of the better United Clubs on the circuit, the vast new United Club at Los Angeles airport has a sleek minimalist design, with a huge spacious layout.

There is a very good bar which dominates the back half of the lounge, but the food options always seem a bit lacking. There are great views of much of the airport, small private workspaces, and indeed the rarity of a small outdoor terrace.

On the whole it is one of the best lounges at LAX, certainly for a domestic flight, and worth a detour for a couple of hours, particularly at sunset.

Los Angeles United Airlines United Club lounge review

A huge, vast, brand new lounge, the Los Angeles United Airlines United Club is great, with a sleek outdoor terrace, great bar, and plenty of space. And space again. Indeed, when it launched the United Club Los Angeles Lounge was the airline's biggest and best in the US, although the new 'Newark' style has somewhat overtaken it. At 29,000 square feet, there is that rare luxury in an airport of strolling around and not tripping over other passengers. Indeed, you can feel almost self conscious strolling through the vast open area.

The new United Club at LAX is easy to find. It is located next to gate 71A in Terminal 7, which is United's new terminal. There is a large illuminated sign saying, of course, United Club. Just turn right after going through the security checkpoint.

When you step through the frosted automatic doors, the whole lounge seems like a vast step up from the tired old lounge of old at the far end of the terminal. There are three shining white desks. Alas, often there is a queue here as many passengers argue about entrance. Then, it's up the escalator to the actual lounge in a space that was added on top of the terminal building.

For a 'loft extension' though, as soon as you step in through the door it's clear you are in a different zone. At the top of the escalator there is a kind of 'touch down' coffee and water station.

Then turn left, and you see acres of seats going into the distance as far as the eye can see. Along with floor to ceiling windows with the most amazing views. Keep on walking, because there is much more to see. In the central area are lots of work benches, and high top seating, for laptop users who can plug into power sockets on the desktop.

Keep on walking through the lounge, because the vast open and minimalist style is relatively sparsely furnished, with wide and spacious aisles through the occasional seats. Eventually you'll get to the dining area, with a huge, long, very long, refectory area with snacks on the right. Dining tables are to the left. Ahead is the large horseshoe shaped bar, under hanging lights, which has seats at the bar, although these and indeed the whole open-space layout offers limited privacy.

Fear not, because if you keep on walking there is a somewhat more secluded and quieter areas to the rear of the lounge, to the right of the bar and the terrace. This area is almost like a separate room, and fewer people seem to congregate here. It is also the best place to enjoy the views. Bathed in sunlight, this area has a great view of the airport's signature tower building, the Los Angeles skyline, in the far distance the Hollywood hills.

A rare delight, particular for sunset vistas, is the outdoor terrace, where you can get some fresh air, and savour the flavour of Jet A1. It is very much a highlight of the club and the second of its kind at LAX, slightly smaller than the first in the sumptuous Star Alliance Lounge which also boasts a fire pit over in TBIT. The Terrance in the Los Angeles United Airlines United Club lounge has weather-proof sofas, trees, and even dining tables. In the evenings it can become a vibrant social space and destination of choice, just through the sliding automatic door behind the bar.

There is another quieter area, behind the area you entered, behind the escalators and customer service desks. Few people seem to sit here, even though the feeling of space is accentuated by the floor-to-ceiling windows in every direction.

Throughout the lounge there are a number of different styles of seats, from swivelling egg chairs to paired seats by the windows for couples. Power and USB ports are available at every seat, including in the dining area and at the bar, and all seats come with a handy side table or coffee table.

the Los Angeles United Airlines United Club lounge ranks as one of the airlines top lounges, along with the United Club at Newark, and London Heathrow. It is also a major change compared to the previously seriously down at heel lounges United provided for decades at LAX.

Food

If there is a downside to the United Airlines Los Angeles Lounge, it is the catering. It is at best just generic United Airlines, and in no way compared to the sumptuous lounge.

The catering area is huge - there is a long, very long, white bench all the way along one wall. However the offerings are somewhat basic.

At breakfast time, there are pastries and breads (with a toasters on the bench), yoghurt, cereal, and fresh fruit salads. Hot offerings at breakfast time inclides rissoles and scrambled egg.

During the rest of the day, the fare is really just standard United snacks, salads, soups, and desserts. Ingredients are sourced locally, and prepared fresh in an on-site kitchen. However, it is generally rather disapointing.

Bar

There is a large horseshoe bar, and for many it is a highlight of the lounge, grabbing a seat at the bar and chatting with other passengers. Soft drinks and other non-alcoholic beverages are free, as is the house domestic beer. Wine comes with a very pedestrian Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. There are also basic spirits with or without mixers on the house.

A further selection of local craft and imported beer is also offered free to US-based travellers with a Chase United MileagePlus Club credit card or Presidential Plus credit card, and are US$3 for all other guests.

However, if you want premium and brand name spirits start at US$7 and liqueurs from US$6, on which these credit card customers also receive a US$3 discount.

Finally, the top shelf stuff, including 14 other wines, they are available, but you have to pay for them. If you really want to splash out, the Veuve Clicquot Champagne is US$14 a glass.

Business Facilities

There is of course free Wi-Fi, and it is very fast indeed.

If you need some private space, there are six small offices you can book. Designed as private phone rooms they are located behind the customer service area. There is a small desk in each, plus power sockets.

A printer and photocopier is available next to the customer service desks.

Alas there is no traditional business centre as such.

Rounding off the treats in Business, there is a small VIP Room discreetly located next to the phone booths, at the end of the hallway.

Bathrooms

In lounge.

No showers, but decent bathrooms.

Access

United Club members, holders of a United Club Credit Card with lounge access, Air Canada Maple Leaf Club membership, United Club daypass, United Airlines premium transcontinental, Polaris or business class ticket, Star Alliance business or first class ticket, United MileagePlus (Gold, Platinum, and 1K members) with same day international travel and Star Alliance Gold cardholders departing on a same-day Lufthansa or Star Alliance flight.

Note that if you have access, and are flying internationally, the LAX Star Alliance lounge in TBIT is a vastly better lounge, and you are advised to head there.

Video: United Airlines United Club Lounge

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