United Airlines overhauled its lounge access rules in 2025, splitting paid United Club memberships into two tiers and tightening who can bring guests along. If you're flying through one of the carrier's big US hubs — Chicago O'Hare, Newark, Denver, Houston or San Francisco — here's how the current system works.
United runs two kinds of lounges. Standard United Clubs (45-plus locations, plus quick grab-and-go 'Club Fly' spots) are open to members, elites and pass holders. Polaris lounges are a step up — sit-down dining, shower suites and relaxation areas — but they're reserved for eligible premium-cabin passengers on long-haul international, transcontinental and Hawaii routes. No matter the lounge, you need a same-day boarding pass on United or a Star Alliance partner such as Lufthansa or Swiss.
The paid membership comes in two flavours. An Individual membership costs $750 a year (or 94,000 MileagePlus miles) and gets the member into every United Club, but guests cost extra — $59 per visit — and there's no partner-lounge access. All Access, priced from $1,100 to $1,400 depending on your Premier status tier, covers the member plus up to two adult guests (or one adult and dependents under 18) and opens the door to Star Alliance partner lounges worldwide. Lifetime members have been rolled into All Access.
For regular United flyers, a cobranded credit card is usually the better deal. The United Club Card and United Club Business Card cost $695 a year — less than a cash membership — yet include club membership for the cardholder, one adult guest and accompanying kids under 18. Cardholders can upgrade to All Access-style perks by holding Premier Gold status or spending $50,000 on the card in a calendar year. Cheaper options exist too: the United Explorer and United Business Cards each come with two single-visit passes annually, though these don't admit guests.
Elite status also unlocks doors. Premier Gold members and above get United Club entry when flying internationally on any Star Alliance carrier, plus one guest on the same flight — whatever cabin they're in. Star Alliance Gold earned elsewhere works on eligible Star Alliance flights, including domestic United itineraries. United's invite-only Global Services tier now gets access on all United flights, including domestic ones, though guests still need separate qualifications.
Finally, if you're an occasional flyer, one-time passes cost $59 at the lounge or in the United app, but read the fine print: entry only up to three hours before a scheduled departure, no guaranteed admission when the lounge is at capacity, and no use at Club Fly, Polaris, Arrivals or partner lounges.
A quick value note: The Points Guru values United miles at roughly 1.2 cents each (November 2026), so paying cash for membership generally beats redeeming miles. The real takeaway for holiday planners? If you fly United more than a couple of times a year, the $695 United Club Card is now the cheapest reliable route to a pre-flight seat, snack and decent Wi-Fi — cheaper than buying the membership outright. Once-a-year travellers are better off with a single $59 pass or the passes bundled with the Explorer Card. Original reporting by The Points Guy.
