The MOST MODERN United Club: A Review of United’s Club at Newark Liberty International Airport, Gate C74
by Krish Patel
United Airlines has unveiled modern and sleek United Club Lounges at various hub airports, such as Chicago O’Hare, Denver, and Newark. Newark’s Liberty International Airport has two United Clubs in Terminal C, one of which was redone and now feels more modern. With stunning finishes and comfortable seating in a well-accented ambiance, the United Club at gate C74 in Newark’s Terminal C is very well one of the most modern lounges in the United network.
United Club Location, Hours, and Access
Newark’s Liberty International Airport has four United Lounges, two of which are United Clubs found in Terminal C. United also has a Polaris Lounge in the same terminal for its long haul international Business Class passengers, as well as a third United Club in Terminal A. The lounge is located on a set of escalators near gate C74. It’s open daily from 5:00 AM to 10:30 PM.
To access the lounge, you can purchase a United Club membership, purchase a day-pass for $59 per person, a premium cabin ticket, or a credit card that includes lounge access, such as the United Club Infinite Card. You can only gain entry if you’re traveling on United or a Star Alliance partner airline. If you’re flying with an airline that is not a member of the Star Alliance, such as American Airlines, you won’t be able to access the lounge.
The cheapest United Club membership costs more than the annual fee of the United Club Infinite Card, which includes benefits in addition to lounge access. Here is a breakdown of the United Club memberships you can purchase:
(screenshot from united.com)
United Club Seating, Layout, and Ambiance
After taking a set of escalators up to the lounge, you’ll pass through a stunning entrance area with a detailed ceiling designed by local architect Ron Norsworthy. The blue hues and gold on the ceiling is inspired by Grand Central Station. It’s possible to self-scan your boarding pass and use the automated entry gates, which is a cool feature not found at some other clubs. However, this is a standard at United Clubs going forward.
The United Club is basically a massive donut shape packed with comfortable seating, a buffet, and amenities such as a full service bar. Past the entrance is a welcoming shelf filled with modern decor and a table with fruits and beverages.
A lot of the seating in this lounge features table space and charging ports to charge your device. The lounge feels well-lit with modern sconce lighting and large windows that allow for plenty of natural light from the terminal. There are many variants of seating to choose from, but a lot of it was taken up during my visit. I love the blue and purple seat colors that United opted for in this lounge, as it gives the space a nice accent.
On one of the walls, you might notice some signage that directs you to where the seating and amenities might be located. I wish more airport lounges had this feature, as it can be very challenging to navigate a packed airport club.
United Club Food and Drink Offerings
As expected from a typical United Club, there is no sit-down dining facility, nor can you order food directly to your table. Instead, there is a buffet with a few hot and cold food items. You’ll find a taco station where you can customize a taco you want and choose specific toppings, a selection of salads and sandwiches, a selection of light snacks such as cheese or crackers and dip, and half a dozen or so desserts. You’ll also find a variety of condiments to suit your taste. The selection is almost equivalent to what you’ll expect at an American Airlines Admirals Club, however, it isn’t on par with the food selection at a Delta Sky Club.
There’s also a table offering candies, chips, and other light snacks.
United partners with illy for the coffee that they offer both onboard and in their lounges. There’s an illy espresso machine with drip coffee and other coffee beverages. The tea selection in the United Club is decent and lags behind compared to that in other lounges. You’ll also find a soda machine and flavored water. I highly recommend cucumber and mint agua fresca. It’s very refreshing!
If you want an alcoholic beverage, there’s a full service bar where you can order beer, wine, and cocktails. Note that you might have to pay for premium liquor or fine wines. The bar is stunning, with its own mood that sets it apart from the rest of the lounge. The hanging light fixtures have a welcoming tone and the staff were friendly. Not all of the alcohol in the lounge is going to be free, however, you can order non-alcoholic beverages complimentary. I ordered a mixed fruit juice, and I’m glad I did because it tasted great.
United Club Amenities
This is one of my favorite United Club locations, but it lags behind in terms of amenities compared to the club found near gate C123. You won’t find showers in this club, which is disappointing. There are some work pods where you can get work done. You’ll find charging ports to charge your device, which are conveniently located.
There’s one wellness room tucked away near the lounge’s emergency exit, which is pretty small but feels cozy.
The bathrooms in the lounge are quite modern, clean, and spacious, with sconce lighting that gives it a wonderful accent. You’ll notice stunning brassy gold finishes and a marble countertop, which contribute to the attention to detail.
Along the corridor of bathrooms is some inspiring artwork depicting detailed patterns using various shades of black and white.
The lounge also offers free high-speed Wi-Fi, which is useful for getting some work done.
Overall Thoughts
The United Club at Newark by gate C74 is a modern lounge, with elegant finishes and spacious touches. In terms of ambiance, this has to be my favorite United Club so far. There are many variants of seating to choose from, however, this lounge lags behind in terms of its amenities and food offerings compared to some other airline clubs. I remember passing through this club once when its ambiance was old and dreary, with old furniture and an uninspiring ambiance. This new club design is seriously a vast improvement, feeling like a space you’d want to spend a lot of time in. I would certainly come back to this lounge and can’t wait to pass through it soon.
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