Review of the Newark United Club lounge
The entrance area to the United Club at Newark Airport
We recently traveled to Chicago on United Airlines from Newark Liberty International Airport and had the opportunity to check out the new United Club at Terminal C.
This is an eagerly anticipated update to the old United lounges at their NYC area hub terminal.
Where is the United Lounge located at Newark Airport?
The United Lounge is located close to Gate 123 in Terminal C. It’s easily accessible via an escalator on the right-hand side as you walk away from the security screening area.
The lounge is very centrally located but tucked neatly in the upper area of terminal C, hidden right in plain sight.
NOTE - There is another lounge located in Terminal C it’s located by Gate 74 and is open 5:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. daily. The two lounges are located on opposite ends of Terminal C so one of them will be convenient to your gate.
There is also a United Polaris lounge for eligible passengers on long-haul international flights located between gates C102 and C120.
Newark Airport has now opened the new Terminal A and United operates some flights from the terminal. There is a United Lounge located by Gate A27. Unlike Terminal C there are also other lounges, including an Amex Centurion Lounge, in Terminal A.
The entrance to the United Club at Newark’s Terminal C.
Who can access the United Lounge?
My Chase Sapphire Reserve card provides access to Priority Pass lounges, but United Clubs are not part of that program.
Additionally, I have a United Explorer credit card that provides two lounge access passes each year. Getting a chance to see the new lounge was a perfect opportunity to use the passes for both Debbie and myself.
Cautionary note on using day passes - Your United Club day pass might not be accepted if the club is crowded.
On a recent trip to London, Debbie and I used my two lounge passes and enjoyed our visit to the Newark United Club. Unfortunately, after a long series of delays our flight was canceled and rescheduled to the following day.
I was going to purchase two more passes through the United app but for some reason, I decided to wait until we arrived at the airport the next day. That turned out to be fortunate because there was a large sign at the bottom of the access escalator advising that due to crowding they were not accepting day passes today. Of course, I could always hold onto the passes for another trip but I was glad I didn’t purchase them already.
Since United is the exclusive airline at Newark Terminal C there are no Priority Pass or Centurion Lounges. Luckily the terminal has many nice restaurants but they are not as relaxing as the lounge.
Other ways to access the United Club:
United Club membership.
Flying business class or first class on any Star Alliance airline.
Star Alliance Gold members or higher and flying internationally.
Purchase a one-time pass for $59 through the United app.
A boarding pass for travel in United Polaris business class for a long-haul international flight. (although in Newark you’ll want to access the Polaris lounge)
The automated entrance gates to the Newark United Club.
Checking out the United Club lounge
At the top of the escalator, you scan your boarding pass for automated access to the lounge. On the day we visited the lounge the automated gates weren’t working but they have staff members working at the gate and the manual process is very easy.
Once inside you are greeted by the “library” area filled with books and a large “hydration station” with colorful drinks.
Another aspect of the lounge that strikes you immediately is how bright it is. Not only are there floor-to-ceiling windows but there are also skylights throughout the club.
The club is massive, 30,000 square feet, and seats about 500 people. We visited mid-morning on a weekday and the lounge is about ⅔ full.
Seating at the Newark United Club
There is a wide variety of available seating options at the United Club in Newark. As you enter the lounge the seating to the left gives you a little more privacy and is geared toward getting work done.
The seats to the right feature ground-to-floor windows and overlook the tarmac where you can watch planes come and go.
We sat in a very upscale diner-style booth with a nice brick wall.
Other options are various styles of comfortable single chairs, long work tables with multiple seats, single-person booths with a laptop table, seats with high side and back walls for privacy, and bistro-style tables and chairs.
All of the seating has power, including USB-style outlets, nearby.
Food and drink options at the United lounge in Newark
We visited mid-morning so the options were breakfast related. The hot and fresh options included scrambled eggs, sausages, hard-boiled eggs, home fries, slices of bread, cakes, muffins, etc…
All the options were top-notch and tasty.
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Every time I went to a food or drink station there was a staff member wiping down and cleaning the area. I hope this continues post-pandemic because despite the large number of people eating and drinking the lounge was very clean.
There is a coffee bar staffed by baristas ready to make any type of coffee you want.
A large bar serves complimentary draft beer, wines, and spirits. More premium brands are also available for a fee.
There are also self-serve stations serving hot drinks and Coke Freestyle machines.
Update - Just visited the Newark United Club again on a trip to London. The flight left in the evening so we were able to check out the dinner food selections. There was a wide variety of hot dishes, including pasta and a chicken stew dish. There was a wide variety of freshly made sandwiches, including a fantastic grilled cheese. Below are a few photos.
Other features of the lounge
The lounge has an assistance desk where you can talk to United staff about any flight-related issues. Something which could be very handy if any problems arise.
If you are having a long travel day the lounge also has six showers available on a first-come, first-served basis.
There is a room for nursing mothers that allows for a few minutes of privacy.
The United Club offers a wide variety of seating options.
Conclusions about the Newark United Club
The United lounge in Newark is clearly a new high water mark for United’s clubs. The food, the seats, and the ambiance are all wonderful.
Since Newark Airport is our closest airport and it’s a major United hub I might have to upgrade my United credit card to the United Club Infinite Club card so I have unlimited lounge access.
Looking forward to my next visit to the lounge!
While the Newark lounge was the highlight of our transportation, our trip to Chicago was excellent too. You can read about our 24 hours in Chicago here.
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