After getting off our United Airlines flight from Vancouver, we headed off to the United Club at the E Concourse at George Bush International Airport in Houston, Texas, United States.

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Review: United Club, Concourse E, George Bush International Airport, Houston, Texas, United States

“The United Club operated by United Airlines in Concourse E at George Bush International Airport in Houston, Texas is arguably the nicest United Club in Houston. This spacious lounge offers seating on multiple levels, with great apron views”

There are several lounges and United Clubs in George Bush International Airport in Houston, Texas, United States. This review relates to the United Club Concourse E. For other lounges available at George Bush International Airport, please see our reviews of the United Club Concourse C and the American Express Centurion Lounge in Concourse D.

We stopped over at the UA Club Concourse E as we had a 4 hr layover in Houston. The lounge is located near Gate E12, near many of the United Airlines International departures. It also has one of the most strange entrances – what’s with the 80’s televisions surrounding the outside atrium?

Accessing the United Club Lounge:

The United Clubs have a variety of methods in order to gain access.

A boarding pass for travel in United Polaris business class: Customers in United Polaris business class may access United Club locations at departure, connecting and arrival airports, along their eligible same-day routing.

A boarding pass for travel in United Business (international): Customers traveling internationally in United Business may access United Club locations at departure, connecting and arrival airports along their eligible same-day routing. Customers traveling to and from Canada in United First are eligible for United Business access.

A boarding pass for travel in United Business (premium transcontinental): Customers on premium transcontinental flights may only access United Club locations at the origin and destination of their premium transcontinental flight. Premium transcontinental flights are only between New York/Newark and Los Angeles and New York/Newark and San Francisco.

A boarding pass for travel in first class on a Star Alliance member airline: Customers may only access a United Club location at the departure airport for their international first class flight. One guest is permitted.

A boarding pass for travel in business class on a Star Alliance member airline: Customers may only access a United Club location at the departure airport for their international business class flight.

Star Alliance Gold membership card: a valid Star Alliance Gold membership card and a same-day boarding pass for travel on a flight operated by a Star Alliance member airline and departing from the same airport or a same-day boarding pass showing Star Alliance Gold status, for travel on a flight operated by a Star Alliance member airline and departing from the same airport

A United Club Membership (including a Mileage Plus Credit Card Membership): A boarding pass for same-day travel with valid United Club membership number listed, or a valid United Club membership card and boarding pass for same-day travel, or a valid United Club membership number and boarding pass for same-day travel

A United Club One Time Pass: A valid mobile or paper United Club one-time pass and boarding pass for same-day travel, or a valid 15-digit one-time pass number and boarding pass for same-day travel.

Active duty US Military Members: Active duty United States military members with a valid military ID, boarding pass for travel within 24 hours on a United- or United Express-operated flight and one of the following:

• Dressed in uniform
• Leave orders
• Rest and recuperation papers

Access is subject to United Club seating availability. Family members travelling on the same flight area are also permitted access.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Memberships: A valid Air Canada Maple Leaf Club membership card and a boarding pass for a flight operated by a Star Alliance member airline and departing from the same airport. Maple Leaf Club North America members can access United Club locations in the U.S. only. Maple Leaf Club Worldwide members can access all United Club locations.

Access to the United Club Lounge was granted to us courtesy of Star Alliance Gold Status earned through the Air Canada Aeroplan program with Elite Status. As both Mrs WT73 and I held status, we were able to access the lounge in conjunction with a departing ticket on any Star Alliance carrier regardless of cabin. WT73Jr was guested in courtesy of being able to invite one guest.

Inside the United Club Concourse E, Houston:

I have to say I was pretty impressed with this place. Some of the regulars here might laugh at being impressed by a United Club, but I should clarify – I was impressed with the facility. Instead of the wonderful silos of mediocre snacks that the United Clubs are known for, instead of the usual worn and beat up furniture, this place was sparkling bright clean.

What made this club so impressive?? – a great spacious layout on 2 seating levels, escalators up from the entry (no waiting or sharing the usual dark elevator rides with anyone else), heaps of natural light, a great view of aircraft operations, large comfy chairs all around, a family room with two TV’s for the kids to freak out in, and a large seating area and bar area. A quiet area (by design, not official designation) was also found upstairs. 

It always seems like the EX-Continental Lounges are in much better shape than the UA ones. I’d even go so far as to say it is one of the nicer UA clubs I have been to in the North American System.

The lounge also offered great tarmac and apron views from large windows that let in a lot of ambient light.

We spent a good two hours here during our connection while my wife watched Sex in the City DVD’s and my son was fixated on the movie “Home Alone 2” on the laptops.

My thoughts on the United Club Concourse E, Houston:

The United Club Concourse E has been the nicest and largest United Club that I’ve had the opportunity to visit in Houston, Texas. Unlike some of the other lounges at Houston, the lounge had lots of spaces and was large enough to accommodate family visitors like ours without much difficulty. While the various Concourses are quite a ways apart at the George Bush Houston International Airport, it is likely worth your time making the trek over here if you have a longer layover.

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