United Has Launched Its Largest Club Lounge Ever

United is reinforcing its dedication to The Mile High City. While travelers nationwide have struggled for space in airport lounges, the airline is providing its loyal passengers a spacious retreat with a new lounge at Denver International Airport, marking the largest in the company's history.

Today, United revealed a 35,000-square-foot, three-story lounge located near gate B44, boasting seating for over 600 travelers. It features a brewery-inspired bar with tasting flights, shuffleboard tables, locally sourced art, runway views, and plans for a rooftop patio.

Here’s what you need to know about the latest addition to United’s lounge collection.

The environment

Alex Dorrow, United’s Head of Clubs and Lounges, stated that the new lounge, officially named the B-East club due to its location in Concourse B, is designed to handle “substantial amounts of traffic.”

Currently, Concourse B hosts 66 gates, exclusively used by United. In June 2023 alone, nearly 85,000 passengers traveled with United through Denver each day, with two-thirds being connecting flights, according to Dorrow. Hence, a large lounge was necessary to accommodate this demand.

Guests access the lounge from the Concourse level, where they must scan their boarding passes or membership cards. They can then take an escalator to the second and third floors, which feature three distinct buffets, two bars, and a variety of seating options, from high-top tables and chairs to leather sofas and plush wingback chairs overlooking the runway. Dorrow mentioned that there will eventually be an outdoor lounge area on the third floor, although no opening date has been set yet.

The refreshments

At first glance, the second floor might resemble one of Denver’s many craft breweries—and that’s intentional. With exposed pipes adorning the ceiling, it has an industrial feel, and the shuffleboard tables and beer flights create a vibe reminiscent of a post-work happy hour rather than an airport lounge.

“This area was crafted to stand out from the rest of the club, fostering a more social environment,” Dorrow remarked. “It’s about people enjoying each other’s company rather than focusing on work.”

At any given time, a selection of twelve beers from Colorado is available. Coors Banquet and Coors Light will always be on tap, while the other ten options will change seasonally. Currently, the autumn selection features Pumpkin Ale from Boulder’s Upslope Brewing Company and the ever-popular raspberry kolsch, Princess Yum Yum, from Denver Beer Co.. The names of the available beers are displayed on five Vestaboards (a classic flight information display system) behind the bar.

The two Coors pours are complimentary, while a pint of any other beer costs $5. For those wanting to sample several Colorado craft beers, flights of three or four 4-ounce beers are available for $7 and $9, respectively. Additionally, there’s a selection of complimentary wines and spirits, along with premium options like a variety of Colorado whiskeys, including Tincup, Stranahan’s, and Breckenridge Distillery.

The third-floor bar area offers a quieter atmosphere reminiscent of a cozy cabin, featuring wooden beams across the ceiling, leather sofas, and plaid-covered seating.

The lounge includes three buffet areas, with two on the second floor and one on the third. Guests can enjoy club sandwiches, maple-mustard pork tenderloin, cheese tortellini, vegetarian green chili, macaroni and cheese, and a delicious farro, butternut squash, and kale salad. Additionally, self-service coffee and soda stations, as well as snack areas with treats like trail mix, gummy bears, and chocolate salted caramels from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, are scattered throughout.

The artistic design

Local artists were commissioned to create original works for the lounge. One of the most striking pieces is a nearly two-story sculpture by Will Schlough, featuring three blue spruce pine cones—Colorado's state tree—constructed from dozens of repurposed skateboards, suspended from the ceiling at the entrance.

Another notable series consists of prints by Danielle SeeWalker, celebrating her Indigenous heritage. Each print showcases a single individual with a singular eye, inspired by a dream SeeWalker had about a tribal elder admiring a woman with hoop-shaped braids from a historical photograph, along with her interpretation of “Deer Woman,” a spirit in Native American lore.

In the second-floor bar area, a large mural created by Denver artist Charlo features vibrant geometric designs. This playful, graffiti-style artwork conceals over 40 words throughout, including “explore” and “adventure,” capturing the essence of joy and discovery in travel, according to the artist.

How to Access the United Club B-East in Denver

There are several ways to gain entry to the new lounge, all requiring travelers to be flying with United or another Star Alliance member airline that day. Options include possessing a United Club Membership or a one-time pass, holding Star Alliance Gold Status, or traveling in a premium cabin. Additionally, the United Club Infinite and United Explorer credit cards provide access to the lounge.

The lounge operates daily from 5 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Additional United Lounges

The past year has been significant for United lounges across the United States.

In Denver, United has opened two new lounges in the last year. In mid-August, they debuted a new lounge in Concourse A, located near gate A25. This is the first United lounge in that concourse, which serves all of United’s international flights and those of its Star Alliance partners, like Lufthansa and Air Canada. Last November, United also introduced a new lounge concept called Club Fly. This compact lounge doesn’t provide alcohol or restrooms, but it features a row of coolers filled with pre-packaged sandwiches, salads, cheese trays, and beverages, alongside a barista station for made-to-order espresso drinks, all designed for grab-and-go convenience. Resembling a mini-ski chalet, it’s situated near gate B61, ideal for travelers on short regional flights that might lack food service. This lounge aims to offer a quick snack or drink option for those in a hurry.

And this is just the start. United Club B-West, located near gate B30, closed on September 12 for an 18-month renovation. Once completed, it will have a layout similar to the new United Club B-East, but according to Dorrow, it will possess its own unique atmosphere. When it reopens, Denver International Airport will feature over 100,000 square feet of United lounge space.

On a national scale, United has also launched a lounge at Chicago O’Hare and a large new lounge in the new Terminal A at Newark Liberty International Airport, with plans for another lounge in Newark later this year.