Everything is bigger in Texas, and United just took that literally. On October 22, the airline opened a sprawling new United Club at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport. At 54,000 square feet with room for 800 travelers, it is now the largest lounge in United’s network. It is also the largest airline-operated lounge in the United States. I have not passed through it yet. But on paper it reads less like an airport waiting room. It reads more like a Texas-sized living room with a very good bar.
Everything is bigger, including the lounge
The new Club sits on the mezzanine level of the newly redeveloped Terminal B North Concourse. It is near Gate B11, after security. The concourse itself is part of the story. It is a three-story, 765,000-square-foot addition that also opened October 22. It replaces facilities dating back to 1969. It adds 22 gates capable of handling larger aircraft. Each gate has its own jet bridge.
It is the centerpiece of United’s $2.6 billion Terminal B modernization program. More work is still to come on the southern concourse. That work also covers baggage handling, check-in areas, and roadways. The airline runs more than 500 daily departures from Houston to 65 international destinations. For United, the expansion is about capacity as much as comfort. This is United’s seventh lounge location at IAH. It joins its traditional Clubs, the grab-and-go United Club Fly, and the more exclusive Polaris Lounge.
Texas on the menu, NASA at the bar
Texas flavors run through the food program. Expect smoked beef brisket, chicken chili enchilada casserole, and biscuits and gravy. There is also a build-your-own taco station with chicken tinga, rice, beans, tortillas, guacamole, and salsas. Lighter soups, salads, and fresh vegetables round out the menu. Dessert runs to sweets like tres leches cake. Two large buffet stations serve food on opposite sides of the lounge. That should keep lines moving at peak times.
There are two full-service bars. The larger one anchors the main dining area. The smaller Moonshot Bar sits near the outdoor terrace. It pays tribute to Houston’s NASA connection with dark finishes and oversize moonlike light fixtures. It also offers an extensive tequila selection. Beer, wine, and standard spirits are complimentary at either bar. Premium brands and specialty cocktails cost extra. A dedicated barista counter serves complimentary made-to-order cappuccinos, lattes, Americanos, and mochas. It also serves matcha and chai. Self-serve espresso machines, soda fountains, and infused-water stations sit throughout the lounge. So a refill never requires a trek across 54,000 square feet.
Room to work, room to breathe
Houston influences carry into the design. They include sweeping wooden ceiling treatments inspired by the city’s winding bayous. Artwork comes predominantly from Texan artists. It includes photographs taken by a San Antonio-based United employee. Seating mixes communal dining tables, curved banquettes, and more-secluded armchairs. Many sit beside floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the airfield. A 1,350-square-foot outdoor terrace lets travelers get fresh air and watch planes taxi. It is only the second United Club with an outdoor terrace after Los Angeles. Outdoor ceiling fans help with Houston’s heat.
Travelers who need to work get 11 enclosed phone rooms. The rooms offer adjustable lighting, ventilation, and charging outlets. The lounge also offers high-speed Wi-Fi throughout. Families get tiered cushioned seating, a Pac-Man arcade machine, and private family bathrooms. There is also a wellness room for nursing or pumping. One thing you will not find: a shower. Those live at Houston’s separate Polaris Lounge. Only eligible premium-cabin passengers can use that lounge.
How to get in
The lounge is open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Access goes to United Club members and travelers with eligible United credit cards. Passengers flying in qualifying international premium cabins also qualify, along with certain Star Alliance Gold members. Without a membership, a one-time pass runs $59, though entry is subject to availability. And if your connection is tight, Terminal B’s smaller United Club Fly offers an easier option. It sits on the south side of the terminal. It offers self-scan entry, grab-and-go food and drinks, and barista-made coffee. It suits travelers who would rather take something to the gate than settle in. Between the barbecue, the Moonshot Bar, and a terrace above the airfield, this is a rare airport lounge. It might make a layover feel like part of the trip.
