United Airways debuts huge new membership in Denver

Denver has simply grow to be the second United Airways hub to get pleasure from a totally refreshed suite of lounges.

That is as a result of United is taking the wraps off its long-awaited renovation and enlargement on the B West United Membership, which can open to passengers on Thursday.

The B West United Membership, situated close to Gate B32, has been closed since 2023 as a part of a significant lounge overhaul that United underwent at Denver Worldwide Airport (DEN).

Journey perks: 9 home lounges which can be value going out of your method for

The airline has already closed, renovated and expanded the B East United Membership, and it additionally opened a brand-new outpost within the A Concourse again in 2023.

Moreover, the airline’s first-ever Membership Fly opened in DEN in 2022.

However as DEN continues to retain its title as United’s fastest-growing hub, the airline wished to breathe new life into the B West outpost as effectively.

Now that it is prepared for flyers, DEN may have 4 United lounge outposts — all of that are both new or newly renovated. The one different hub with totally new or newly renovated golf equipment is Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport (EWR).

In whole, United now has greater than 100,000 sq. toes of United Membership house in Denver, with sufficient seating for almost 1,600 visitors. (Extra will probably be added with the forthcoming opening of the Polaris lounge within the coming years.)

Upfront of the B West United Membership opening, I acquired a preview of what flyers can anticipate.

Whereas not essentially revolutionary, this renovated and expanded house is a welcome enchancment for United vacationers passing by way of Denver. Here is why.

United Membership Denver B West entry and site

United’s new lounge is open from 5 a.m. till 9 p.m. day by day.

The doorway to the United Membership outpost hasn’t modified since earlier than the renovation. You may nonetheless discover it situated throughout from Gate B32.

The lounge’s foyer and reception space are on the terminal stage, and, assuming you are admitted, you will take the escalator (or stairs) as much as the lounge itself. (Notice: There may be an accessible elevator entrance on the aspect of the lounge.)

For full entry particulars, try TPG’s information to United Membership entry.

United Membership Denver B West format

The brand new United Membership takes on a really related design and format to those in B East and Concourse A.

The house is cut up into two ranges, with largely related facilities and seating configurations on each ranges.

If you enter the lounge, you will be on Degree 3, which will even most likely be the busiest, on condition that some vacationers, particularly those that do not learn up on the brand new lounge, might not notice there’s one other flooring.

As you ascend the escalator, you will see the lounge’s signature hearth and lounging space. A wide range of seating choices, together with particular person recliners and sofas, encompass the (fake) hearth.

Behind the fireside is but extra seating, together with a bunch of two-top cubicles constructed into the wall.

Talking of seating, there’s loads of it on this lounge. In all places you flip, you will seemingly discover house to plop down and chill out. United says that there are over 600 seats spanning greater than 33,000 sq. toes, making this among the many largest golf equipment within the community.

As soon as it opens, overcrowding should not be as a lot of a priority — at the very least, that is my hope — on condition that it considerably expands the United Membership footprint in Denver.

For those who flip left from the fireside, you will be in one of many lounge’s major buffet areas. Right here, you will discover a bunch of two-top eating tables, in addition to loads of barstools and high-top seating constructed into counters and freestanding room partitions.

You may discover a bunch of further particular person workstation pods alongside the perimeter of the eating space, although I would not essentially suggest making an attempt to lock in on some work right here, given how a lot foot visitors will doubtless cross by way of this house searching for the buffet.

In the meantime, should you as a substitute flip proper from the fireside, you will discover one of many lounge’s two signature bars.

This house is designed with extra of an industrial really feel due to the uncovered ceilings.

The bar itself is sort of trendy and feels very on-brand for what United was going for right here — an area designed to resemble a comfy cabin.

Adjoining to this room is one other house excellent for catching up on work. Open workstations line the aisle, however watch out with the marble desks. They’ve sharp edges — sharp sufficient to (sadly) rip my denims.

Lastly, there’s yet one more separate seating house behind the bar with extra tables and benches.

This house additionally has floor-to-ceiling home windows overlooking the B and C concourses. For those who’re an aviation fanatic, be sure you convey your digital camera — you will catch plenty of nice airplane pictures from these home windows.

If you’re able to ascend to Degree 4, you’ll be able to take the steps, elevator or escalator.

You may arrive at a small hallway with extra seating that connects the 2 sides of the lounge.

Turning proper will convey you to a different buffet space flanked on one aspect by extra eating tables.

There’s even an auxiliary eating room house that options the biggest high-top shared workspace desk I’ve seen in any United Membership. It has seating for 14 flyers.

As you stroll from the eating space to the opposite aspect of the lounge, you will cross by way of one other leisure house with a central (fake) hearth to seize your consideration.

There’s loads of seating across the hearth, and I beloved the wood-lined ceiling that helped promote a way of tranquility amid the chaos of one of many world’s busiest airports.

Behind the fireside are 5 navy blue recliner chairs that look to be among the many comfiest locations to sit down within the lounge. That is positively the place you will discover me stress-free when passing by way of Denver.

Lastly, should you proceed happening the hallway with the fireside, you will end up within the lounge’s second bar space.

This house feels extra elevated than the commercial feeling of the bar downstairs. Right here, you will discover checked carpeting, wooden ceiling remedies and a wood-lined bar, once more, all designed to resemble a comfy lodge.

Even the colour palette used right here feels extra homey than the remainder of the house.

General, this membership shares most of the similar design components as the prevailing outposts in DEN. It has two ranges, fake fireplaces and plenty of seating.

The design right here feels somewhat extra elevated than the others, however to the typical flyer, the largest enchancment with this outpost will merely be all the extra seating.

Denver is the fastest-growing United hub, and the crowds in any respect the opposite lounges present it.

United Membership Denver B West meals and beverage

United and high-quality eating have not lately been synonymous … and that is not altering with this lounge opening.

The meals choices that have been displayed on the buffet in the course of the preview occasion largely resembled what you’d discover in some other United Membership. Anticipate sandwiches, some salads, two soups and some different selections.

The airline’s catering positively covers the fundamentals, however this is not the elevated choices you’d discover in Delta Air Traces’ Sky Golf equipment, which proceed to impress with one of the best meals service in any membership lounge.

For those who’re seeking to quench your thirst, there are two beverage stations lining the partitions close to each buffets. Right here, you will discover loads of nonalcoholic selections, together with espresso machines, drip espresso and Coca-Cola freestyle fountains.

Each bars can be found to whip up your favourite cocktail or pour a glass of wine. Simply word that solely home selections are complimentary with entry. Any of the fancier pours will value you additional (both in miles or money).

United Membership Denver B West facilities

United’s new lounges do an important job of protecting the fundamentals, and this outpost is not any exception. You may discover loads of seating, an upscale design, quick Wi-Fi and plenty of energy retailers.

You will not discover cellphone cubicles, spas or assembly rooms right here — facilities largely reserved for credit score card-branded lounges or business-class-only outposts just like the Polaris lounge.

United did, nonetheless, construct a small sport room on the higher stage close to the bar with a picket shuffleboard desk etched with the United Membership emblem into it.

I’d’ve most popular one other sport or two, however at the very least this could hold these of us who’re youngsters at coronary heart entertained.

You will not discover any showers on this lounge — not one of the United Golf equipment in DEN provide showers, which is a disgrace given all the brand new long-haul routes the airline has been launching from the Mile Excessive Metropolis in recent times. (I am advised the Polaris Lounge will, unsurprisingly, provide bathe suites.)

The lounge does provide two units of gender-specific restrooms with loads of stalls and urinals.

There are additionally two wellness rooms geared up with child altering tables, in addition to two stand-alone all-gender restrooms.

Backside line

The brand new B West United Membership is a welcome opening for these passing by way of Denver. It considerably expands the airline’s lounge footprint in its fastest-growing airport and presents flyers a much more modernized house than the one it replaces.

That stated, on condition that that is the third newly designed United Membership at DEN, you will not essentially discover too many surprises inside. The design of all three is sort of related, and lots of vacationers most likely will not be capable of inform them aside.

But when which means getting a comfortable seat with out individuals on prime of you, effectively, that’d be a large enough improve for a lot of frequent flyers to rejoice.

I simply want United, which has been making an attempt to compete extra fiercely for premium visitors in latest months, would study what Delta — its chief competitor, in line with CEO Scott Kirby — does with its Sky Membership eating and facilities.

Just a few cellphone cubicles and a few extra intensive meals choices would go a good distance in elevating its lounge community.

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