The United Club in Honolulu is one of my favorites in the system, not so much because of the club itself, but because of the nostalgic memories of Hawaii associated with it.
United Club Honolulu Review (HNL)
Location + Access + Hours
The lounge is open daily from 5:30 AM to 10:30 PM. Access is reserved for United Club members or Chase United Club credit card holders plus Star Alliance Gold travelers, with a big asterisk. If your Star Alliance Gold status is with United, you can only access the lounge if traveling on an international Star Alliance itinerary. Star Alliance Gold members from other programs can access the lounge when traveling on any Star Alliance itinerary, even a flight on United to the Mainland in economy class. Global Services members enjoy access and one-time passes are accepted. Finally, Star Alliance business class or first class travelers have access to the lounge, though United domestic flights are excluded.
Tip: If you are at HNL in the morning and are a United MileagePlus Star Gold, Platinum, or 1K member, you can access the ANA Lounge if traveling on any Star Alliance flight in any class of service. (the lounge is open during the morning hours)
You’ll find the United Club in Diamond Head Concourse, 2nd Floor, above Gate G2 and G3.
United Club Honolulu Seating
The lounge recently was refurbished with new furniture, but the core of the lounge really hasn’t changed over the years. I’m talking about the design, the white etchings on the glass partitions, and some of the artwork that makes this lounge unique.
This is the way the lounge looked prior to the pandemic (a look I somewhat prefer):
The lounge has great tarmac views during the day and is large enough that it never feels packed, though it can feel crowded. I was there during the middle of the afternoon for my prior visit and the lounge never filled up.
There are power ports throughout the lounge and also some charging stations like this:
United Club Honolulu Food + Drink
Food choices have improved in this lounge. A buffet offers different choices throughout the day, including salads, sandwiches, soups and even some spam musubi.
Compare that to what was offered before the pandemic and you’ll note an improvement since 2019:
Self-serve coffee, juice, soft drinks, and water are available why the bar offers free beer, wine, and lower-shelf spirits. Other liquor and cocktails will cost extra.
The Mai Tais are recommended.
United Club HNL Restrooms
The men’s restroom was clean, but overdue for a remodel. The lounge may stuck in a cool 1980’s design, but the restroom is stuck in an ugly 1990’s design.
United Club HNL Printing
A printer and fax machine are available.
United Club Honolulu Service
I always chuckle at the service in this lounge. The staff is generally great–kind and friendly. But it seems that almost every time I enter the lounge there is an issue. It used to be they had no idea how to scan my bmi, SAS, or Turkish Star Gold cards back in the day. One time, I used a Chase one-time pass and the lady, nice as could be, said she could not accept the passes because they were expired. I looked at the passes, saw they had not expired yet, and asked her to check her calendar. She did…and burst out laughing.
I don’t know what it is about my access drama, but it seems there is always something. But overall, the staff truly exhibits the Aloha spirit. On my latest visit, I was with Tom Stuker and we were warmly welcomed in and offered a complimentary bag of Mauna Loa macadamia nuts.
CONCLUSION
Don’t forget that ANA has a great lounge in Honolulu, though with much more limited opening hours. If you are at the airport in the morning, I suggest you head there. But United’s Honolulu club is comfortable and has become better over the last several years. It’s a nice place to wait for your flight in a concourse that is really in need of a refresh.
> Read More: United CEO Bemoans Honolulu Airport
“I looked at the passes, saw they had not experienced again, and asked her to check her calendar” – could have sworn that it should be (emphasis mine) ‘saw they had not *expired* again, and asked her to check her calendar…” – Matthew – you may want to check this typo…
Most of HNL needs to be remodeled…but then it’s in paradise so it’s just fine!
This place is a joke. Don’t waste your time.
Well they have upgraded the food and furniture, but the best I can say is it’s insude and air conditioned. I do like the tropical decor as well. 😉
You can get a vodka on the rocks at the bar (if it’s open) and make yourself a guava screwdriver!
Indeed, some bartenders will proactively offer this!
It is a great lounge and the staff are very nice.
But HNL is really a dump. It’s the Pacific version of LGA. Another embarrassing US airport.
That said it is a walking history of 1960’s – 1970’s airport design.
Agreed! Considering how many billions pour into that tiny state every year the airport is a disgrace.
HNL club… good report…nice club, but small, and nice views of the runway ops including commercial and AF aircraft (Hickam shares the airport). Tiny bar, and interesting food not found at mainland clubs. If bored and you have time, walk down and check out the WN outside operation…interesting.
A very very tired relic of the past. Too small, too few plugs, beyond dated. An embarassment for a world class carrier. United should be ashamed of themselves.
Never fear….a Hawaiian favorite and staple…Macaroni Salad on the buffet!
SO_CAL_RETAIL_SLUT
looks as tired(decor) as the SC lounge!!
I’m in the tiny minority when I say this, but I actually like the simplicity and boringness of both the lounge and hnl itself. It’s more of a soothing and relaxed feel for business travelers, though the bathroom decor pattern doesn’t match the lounge. It’s awesome that this is on the second floor and has great views, as opposed to Delta’s lounge.
I love this lounge too!
Hello Matthew. This post and comments are a little confusing. You write “I slightly preferred the old furniture, which was replaced during the pandemic:” and “Compare that to what was offered before the pandemic and you’ll note an improvement since 2019:” and after both statements are many photos. When do the “old furniture” and “offered before the pandemic” photos end, at the next text? It would be less confusing if the new and old photos were better captioned or labeled.
The post is dated September 2022 yet the comments (thus far) are from 2019 and 2021 and are almost diametrically opposed in their assessment of the club, that adds to the confusion. I wasted several minutes looking for the quote in the The Jeff Smisek Appreciation Society November 22, 2019 at 3:56 pm comment until I saw that the comment was 3 years old and realized the quote had probably been edited out for the new/updated blog post.
I suggest better labeling of the photos or removing all the “old” photos, and removing old comments. Would make for a more pleasant experience, with less wasted time, for your readers. Thank you.
This lounge is great. I havent been in several years but it was a throwback and I liked it. I also overall love HNL – it just feels like you’re in Hawaii.
UNRELATED BUT I HOPE YOU CAN HELP (well, kind of unrelated – it has to do with United). For several days I have noticed that Mileage Plus doesnt show ANY Lufthansa/ Lufthansa group redemption ability. Whether it’s for an overwater flight to Europe, in connection with a UA flight to Europe (such as UA on IAD-FRA, then LH on FRA-FCO, for example), or even if I just need to redeem for an intra Europe segment on something like FRA-BUD. It’s just not there, regardless of the dates I book. I’ve asked some other friends and they say the same thing. Can you please look into this? Thank you.
I will look into it.
Thank you!
Good to point out the ANA lounge at HNL. It reopened in early July. However, ANA’s first-class lounge (ANA Suite Lounge) remains closed.
Can’t believe you reviewed this lounge and didn’t even mention the availability of Dole Whip soft-serve.
I must have missed that. Not my thing! Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
It’s actually kind of easy to miss, as it’s a small, nondescript machine sitting at the end of the bar near the wall. Heck, I even forgot about it when I was in the HNL United Club a week ago!
This was also my take away… How could he not mention the Dole Whip
@Matthew – “If you are at HNL in the morning and are a United MileagePlus Star Gold, Silver, or 1K member, you can access the ANA Lounge if traveling on any Star Alliance flight in any class of service.”
I’m assuming this is a typo? Perhaps you meant to write, “MileagePlus Premier Gold, Platinum, or 1K” instead?
I did and fixed it. Thank you, Tennen!
You must have preferred the old decor, since you have more pics of it…
The new decor looks much better. Especially as they got rid of that tired old carpet which hasn’t aged well.
So happy to see this….I’ll be in HNL next month and was wondering if you had reviewed this lounge and if is worth the effort/expense before a red-eye back to LAX. Based upon your review, I think it is, and will check it out. Thanks!
After experiencing Al Safwa in Doha, every other lounge looks like its a dump!
The UA Club in Honolulu has all the charm, luxury, and creature comforts of a Courtyard by Marriott lobby. This review is absurd.
To each their own. I like it.
I’m with you, Matthew. Admittedly, this place has always received second-class ratings, but there’s something about it that makes it feel more comfortable than the other UCs. And the staff are always very friendly and helpful. Aloha spirit, maybe?
The lounge reminds me of the United Club in Narita.
This UC must have the highest “entry denial rate” in the system. So many pax buying lie-flat first class to EWR or ORD and think they can get in.
You missed one of the best features, the Dole pineapple soft serve machine right of the bar!
It’s always a hit!
We were flying international first class and the staff denied us access to the lounge.
They claimed we were on another airline even though the ternary was United and the flights had United flight numbers.
They denied us access even though our boarding passes lit up green when we scanned them and had no answers%
They claimed we only had access in LAX where we were connecting because “HNL was the connecting airport and LAX was the departing airport”. We were flying HNL-LAX-YYZ so HNL was obviously the departing airport.
Staff was poorly trained and had no clue. United later confirmed we had access and offered a credit but no where near enough for the stress of dealing it’s this or the added discomfort before 13 hours of flights.
Would never fly United again. Never had these issues with other airlines even at HNL