United Club
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- Our review
United Club – Chicago O’Hare (ORD) Terminal 1, Gate C16
United operates four United Clubs at Chicago O’Hare international airport for members, their guests, and Star Alliance Gold passengers traveling internationally.
The formerly sprawling Terminal 1 Concourse C location was shuttered for two years to accommodate the construction of a new Polaris Lounge for long-haul business class passengers. In January 2018, the United Club next to gate C16 finally re-opened, but in a substantially reduced footprint. While the lounge sports a new design, the space accommodates just about 100 guests—far below the demands of United’s busiest concourse at O’Hare.
Due to space restrictions, one-time passes are not accepted at this location. A new and larger club is in the planning stages.
United Club ORD design
The United Club at Chicago O’Hare near gate C16 boasts United’s signature design with white tones, clean lines, and an efficient open layout. The ensemble is modern, practical to a fault, but somewhat bland and soulless.
United Club – Chicago O’Hare (ORD) Terminal 1, Gate C16
Wedged between a boarding gate and the adjacent Polaris Lounge kitchen and facilities, the United Club is almost an after-thought. The space has a somewhat unattractive layout, with a bar tucked in a recessed area, a buffet in a nook, and a dense and compact seating area.
The club benefits from two window walls and features outstanding tarmac views, though the layout of the space limits the amount of daylight that reaches the seating area adjacent to the lobby.
Seating options include leather armchairs with side tables, dining tables, and counter-style seating along the windows. Power and USB outlets are within arm’s reach, and most seats come with a side table and individual lamp.
United Club ORD amenities
The United Club at Chicago O’Hare airport Concourse C features basic amenities.
United Club – Chicago O’Hare (ORD) Terminal 1, Gate C16
In the morning, guests will find a continental breakfast spread with pastries, yoghurt, and fruit; followed by a selection of snacks, salads, soups, and desserts throughout the day. Due to space restrictions, the location near gate C16 does not feature hot food, unlike the three other United Clubs in Concourses B and F.
Complimentary self-service drinks include infused water, juices, hundreds of soda concoctions from a Coke Freestyle machine, tea, and espresso. House wines, Prosecco and liquor are free at the bar, while premium beverages come at a cost.
Other amenities include fast Wi-Fi, a selection of newspapers of magazines, and complimentary access to Foli, an online press kiosk.
Showers are not available anymore: they’re now an exclusive perk of the Polaris Lounge for international premium passengers.
United Club ORD bottom line
The United Club at Chicago O’Hare near gate C16 disappoints. While the lounge is technically brand new, it’s substantially smaller than its former incarnation and thus constantly crowded; the layout is unattractive; there is no hot food, and the showers have been phased out.
Long-haul international business and first class passengers should use the vastly superior adjacent United Polaris Lounge, while Star Alliance Gold customers and United Club members might prefer the locations by gates B6, B18, and F4.
The pluses- The tarmac views.
- The power outlets at every seat.
The minuses- The compact layout and crowds at peak times.
- The limited food selection.
- The lack of showers.
Food & BeveragesAirlinesYou may have access to United Club as a premium customer of one of the following airlines, or as an elite member of their frequent flyer program. Check the Access rules tab for more details.
Star Alliance
Access for eligible customers traveling on any Star Alliance member airline.
ANA (NH) Aegean (A3) Air Canada (AC) Air China (CA) Air India (AI) Air New Zealand (NZ) Asiana (OZ) Austrian (OS) Avianca (AV) Brussels Airlines (SN) Copa Airlines (CM) Croatia Airlines (OU) EGYPTAIR (MS) EVA Air (BR) Ethiopian Airlines (ET) LOT Polish Airlines (LO) Lufthansa (LH) SAS (SK) SWISS (LX) Shenzhen Airlines (ZH) Singapore Airlines (SQ) South African Airways (SA) TAP Air Portugal (TP) Thai Airways (TG) Turkish Airlines (TK) United (UA) Other airlines
Aer Lingus (EI) Access rulesThe following passengers have access:
- United Club members (+2 guests, or the member’s spouse and children under the age of 21.)
- United Global First passengers departing on an international flight (+1 guest)
- United BusinessFirst passengers departing on an international or p.s. flight (no guests)
- Business Class passengers departing on an international Star Alliance flight (no guests)
- First Class passengers departing on an international Star Alliance flight (+1 guest)
- United Premier Gold, Premium Platinum, Premier 1K, and Global Services members departing on an international Star Alliance flight in any class of service (+1 guest)
- Star Alliance Gold Members (except United Premier members) departing on a domestic or international Star Alliance flight in any class of service (+1 guest)
- Air Canada Maple Leaf Club members departing on a Star Alliance flight (no guests)
Notes:
- Passengers in domestic Business of First class (US including Hawaii, Canada) do not have access, unless flying on p.s. (Premium Service) between San Francisco or Los Angeles and New York JFK.
- A government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license, passport or military ID) is required.
Cards accepted
When flying Star Alliance. North America Plus and Worldwide memberships only
BlogsFoursquareYelpJoe N.2019-06-03 16:34:26This United Club has gone seriously downhill (as have many of their hub locations). What once was a privilege for frequent travelers, a quiet, spacious...Henry S.2019-05-26 10:53:21This is a United Club lounge you probably shouldn't bother visiting. Saddest one in the country I've seen so far. Wine only bar. Tiny selection of sad...Stephen R.2019-04-24 04:41:11Much nicer than before Better amenities with power in all the seats Always jammed though and could use bigger bathrooms Good upgrade and almost as chaotic...Louis H.2018-08-05 23:00:14My previous passage some months ago through Terminal C coincided with a remodeling of the United Club, so on my latest visitI I expected to find an updated,...Dave W.2018-08-05 10:27:36Why of why have a club without a full bar? I can't think of any reason. Call me disappointed. However, the lady who checked us in was very fun, showing us...Nick W.2018-07-08 12:02:34This is a brand new club location but is way too small for the traffic out of the C concourse. I was excited after I saw the new United Club rehab in...CommentsLeave a review
Photos
Terrible. Pulled the food an hour before they closed. What’s the point of coming having a lounge with no food?
Awful. Understandable it is under construction but that is not a reason for unfriendly sfaff. May as well close it until you want passengers.
I left and chose McDonald’s nearby; they are nicer.
The extremely overcrowded, frenzied lounge where at the moment if one is lucky one MIGHT find a stool, is an embarrassment to the US commercial airline industry and should be an embarrassment to United’s lounge system but there is such a low bar there currently it probably is not. I actually pay money for membership in this dilapidated tattered waiting room…and that does not reliably guarantee me any place to sit. The quality of this particular United lounge is itself approximately equal to that of a regular waiting-room seat by the gate in those airports that offer free WiFi.
-Tom
A clear zero star. Nothing to offer, no service, no interest in pessengers. It clearly shows why United is loosing pessengers.
It only competes with airports like Rijhad.
The location refused our one time passes ‘due to construction’. United airlines is fulling with people….one time pass worse nothing….
That’s correct. We call out this restriction in red letters in the access rules. United also has a mention on their web site. We do agree that the lack of one pass access is a disappointment to many customers. We also understand United’s perspective when 2/3 of the club capacity is missing due to construction.
Zero stars. Let’s hope when it’s done, the size of the lounge available to its largest revenue generators, the folks who actually BUY the United Club Membership, will be much larger than this. Looks like 10lbs of crap in 5lb bag.
I’m repeatedly disappointed by the total lack of effort served up at United Club lounges, especially at OHare airport. It’s a race to the bottom in quality of offerings and human resources. Then United wonders why they rank dead last of all major airlines when it comes to customer satisfaction.
What an embarrassment. Your flagship lounge in your flagship city run in this fashion. Filthy tables, disgusting food, poor service. Staff that really have no business interacting with customers.
Who is in charge of this lounge anyway? Who hired the staff?
United leadership once again, oblivious to what’s going on around them.
Terrible survice with bad procedures. Cleaning people is very rude attitude and takes long time to have cleaning shower booth. Also service booth people are not nice and professional attitude.
Very poor, food was disgusting with dry rolls and a soup container that looked coagulated!! The food selection was awful and the coffee even worse!! It is a pity that no one seems to have travelled on any other world airline and seen how to serve the customer or to know what it is to have a warm welcoming attitude
4 stars for the showers and quiet room, and because it doesn’t get much better in O’Hare unless you’re flying a foreign airline from another terminal.