United Details Plans for Its Airport Lounges for This Year and Beyond

Updated: June 10, 2026, 8:28am CDT

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The Future of United Clubs Is on the Way
Final Thoughts

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United Airlines hasn’t been shy about its ambitions to surpass Delta Air Lines as the nation’s premium airline of choice, and now we have another peek into what that will look like for United, specifically related to its United Club airport lounge network.

The Points Guy recently interviewed Alex Dorow, head of lounges and premium products at United, who shed light on what the airline’s flyers can expect this year and into the future when passing through any of its United Club locations.

Here’s what you should know.

The Future of United Clubs Is on the Way

Chicago-based United has already been in the headlines this week thanks to the opening of its United Club Fly outpost in Houston (IAH). This is the second iteration of its grab-and-go airport lounge concept, which made its debut in Denver (DEN) in 2022.

United Grab and Go Club Houston — United Club Fly in Houston. Image Credit: United Airlines

Dorow told The Points Guy that after opening the first location in Denver, the airline listened to feedback from its customers, which led to a change in the space’s format for the Houston location. He didn’t reveal where the next United Club Fly location would be — or if there would even be a next one at all — but he did say it “was not just a trial,” and that the airline continues to learn from the experience.

United will also continue opening new lounge spaces and expanding and improving existing locations. It’s currently working on expanding and upgrading its Polaris Lounges at its Chicago (ORD) and Newark (EWR) hubs. The Chicago location is closed while the work is ongoing, but the Newark lounge remains open. Both projects are slated to be completed before summer.

United will also reopen its lounge in Hong Kong (HKG) soon and will open a much larger B West lounge in Denver later this year.

United Polaris Lounge ORD Welcome Desk — United Polaris Lounge at Chicago O’Hare. Image credit: Chris Hassan

Other hubs will get some love, too. As previously reported by Upgraded Points, the airline will open a 40,000-square-foot United Club at its hub in Washington, D.C. (IAD), located in the upcoming Concourse E.

Down in Houston, United will open its largest-ever Club in the new Terminal B North. It will boast 50,000 square feet of space and capacity for over 600 guests, Dorow told TPG.

And out west, United will open an all-new lounge in Terminal 2 at San Francisco (SFO), where the carrier recently completed an expansion project.

Finally, Dorow hinted at upcoming changes to membership policies and access rules for the United Club network, though he didn’t reveal any concrete details in his sit-down with TPG.

Hot Tip:

Flying another airline but want to relax in comfort before your flight? Find out how to access an airport lounge without flying in first or business class in our complete guide.

Final Thoughts

United is moving quickly to establish itself as a genuinely premium airline in the U.S. and international markets. Airport lounges are a huge component of many travelers’ journeys. Based on what we’ve learned from the head of the United Club network, there’s a lot to look forward to for United flyers across the country and around the world.