United to launch its second grab-and-go Club Fly and the largest lounge ever in Houston

United Airlines is expanding its successful grab-and-go lounge concept with the opening of its second United Club Fly.

The Chicago-based airline will debut its latest United Club Fly at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston next year. Construction for the new lounge began a few weeks ago, although the airline hasn't begun marketing it yet.

The upcoming United Club Fly will be situated in Terminal B at IAH. United confirmed these plans with TPG but refrained from providing further details about the new lounge.

Alongside the new United Club Fly, the airline confirmed in a statement that it "will enhance a new United Club in Terminal B — expected to be the largest club in our network." (United first announced this new club last year when it revealed more details about the new Terminal B North in Houston.)

Thus, Houston will welcome two new lounges — a grab-and-go United Club Fly and an additional United Club.

The largest current United Club is located in Denver, spanning 35,000 square feet with seating for over 600 travelers. Passengers traveling through the Mile High City have praised the new Denver club, which bodes well for the future of Houston's lounges.

This will be great news for United's Houston travelers, who currently face limited lounge choices when flying with the airline. Only one of the current United Clubs in Houston features modern design elements, and that lounge, situated near Gate C1, often becomes overcrowded during busy departure periods.

United has not specified when the new comprehensive club in Terminal B will open, but they anticipate launching the Club Fly concept by next spring.

Currently, there is only one United Club Fly, situated at Denver International Airport (DEN). This facility opened in 2022 as the airline's inaugural grab-and-go lounge, designed for travelers to enter and exit within just a few minutes.

The lounge lacks a reception desk, traditional seating areas, and any amenities (including restrooms).

Instead, there's a coffee bar with baristas and various fridges and beverage stations filled with snacks and sandwiches, allowing travelers to quickly grab something before their next flight.

This concept was initially introduced in Denver due to the numerous tight connections that United manages through that airport. The lounge has gained immense popularity, with many travelers appreciating the convenience of quickly grabbing a bite before their flights.

Houston, as another major hub for United and a key connection point for travelers, makes it a logical choice for the airline to establish its second Club Fly.

The grab-and-go lounge concept has gained popularity over the years as traditional lounges face ongoing overcrowding, while airlines and their cobranded credit card partners aim to attract more sign-ups for premium cards.

With limited space in existing airports to build larger lounges, the Club Fly concept can operate in much smaller areas, making it easier for United and its competitors to secure leases for this type of facility.

Interestingly, United is the only airline in the U.S. offering a grab-and-go lounge. While Capital One has a takeaway fridge in its own lounges, United's Star Alliance partners, Air Canada and Lufthansa, provide similar options outside the U.S.