United’s former Global First Lounge at San Francisco (SFO) in the G Gates area is now a standard United Club, but still brings back fond memories of yesteryear.
United Club San Francisco (SFO) G Gates Review
Every lounge has a story and this was the exclusive first class lounge back in the days when three-cabin service on United meant first, business, and economy rather than business, premium economy, and economy.
It was a rare occasion indeed when I had the privilege of visiting this lounge, but there were a few visits over the years.
Here’s what the spread look looked like back then:
The lounge was also more ornate back in the day, with palm trees and lion statues, a nod toward United’s extensive Asia service.
Seating
These days the lounge has the same chairs you can find in most any United Club and most of the artwork and plants that made it special are gone.
Still, it’s a large lounge. After validating your entry credentials, head downstairs via stairs or an elevator and you’ll find plenty of seating, including a number of small alcoves on the left side and a dining area in the back. You can also get flight help at a trio of desks near the elevators.
There’s also a small luggage storage area in the center of the lounge.
Food + Drink
United is in the process of moving back from individually-packaged products to a more traditional buffet, but during my visit there was a selection of packaged salads (pasta, vegetable/bean, Caesar), wraps, chips, and whole fruits.
The bar was self-serve before, so United has added a rather unsightly makeshift bar next to the food. Beer, wine, and select spirits are free while premium wine, spirits, and cocktails carry a surcharge.
Restrooms
Restrooms are available in the rear of the lounge past the food area. No showers are available (this lounge used to have showers – not sure if those shower suites are sealed off or sitting vacant).
Access + Hours + Location
This SFO United Club is located in Terminal 3, Boarding Area G, between gates G6 and G9. If you are coming from security in the international terminal, head straight down the G concourse and you’ll hit it on the right side. During the pandemic, it is open daily from 7:00AM to 9:00PM. If you are coming from other parts of Terminal 2 or Terminal 3, there is a landslide connector. Just follow the signs for G gates.
Access is reserved for United Club members, Chase United Club Visa holders, Star Alliance Gold travelers, business class travelers flying to Boston (BOS), New York (JFK), or Newark (EWR) on United’s premium transcontinental service, and international business or first class passengers traveling on any Star Alliance flight. Global Services members also enjoy access.
Furthermore, one-time passes from Chase are accepted or can be purchased for $59 (currently on sale for $39). Note that if you hold a Star Alliance Gold card from United Airlines (Premier Gold or higher), you can only access the lounge when traveling in conjunction with an international itinerary. Those who have a Star Gold card from other programs can use the lounge when traveling on any Star Alliance flight in any class of service. Also note that United does not give premium cabin passengers access on domestic flights, with the exception of the premium transcontinental route noted above.
Crowding
While this likely is not a problem any more since the nearby Polaris Lounge has now re-opened for longhaul business class passengers (making this a club essentially for Star Gold travelers and United Club members traveling internationally in economy class), there was a waiting list to get in during our visit. We were told this was per San Francisco ordinance, not because the lounge was packed the gills. However, during my last visit the lounge was so packed I did not take any additional pictures.
CONCLUSION
I’m not quite sure why this lounge would remove those beautiful reminders of United’s longtime links to Asia, but if those lions are sitting in a closet somewhere, I’d love to put them in my office…
This lounge was often crowded, but the opening of the Polaris Lounge has made a much less crowded lounge. While there are no special features that would make me choose this lounge over the E Gates or F Gates clubs, I do like the memories associated with this lounge.
It’s actually in Intl Terminal G. Connected to Terminal 3 via a long walkway.
“ Access is reserved for United Club members, Chase United Club Visa holders, Star Alliance Gold travelers, business class travelers flying to Boston (BOS), New York (JFK), or Newark (EWR) on United’s premium transcontinental service”
Boston is no longer a “premium” transcon route from SFO.
You still get lounge access on SFO to BOS and it is still branded as business class (not first), they just aren’t flying planes with lie flat seating on the route anymore.
Jared is correct.
So the United website is incorrect then?
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/travel/airport/united-club-and-lounges/access.html
“Customers on premium transcontinental flights may only access United Club locations at the origin and destination of their premium transcontinental flight.
Premium transcontinental flights are only between New York/Newark and Los Angeles and New York/Newark and San Francisco.”
It’s an anomaly, but there is indeed access.
Bob – Boston was removed from the premium transcon page of the website just because they took the 757-200 off the route. The cabin is still branded as United Business, thus granting you access.
One of the flights actually is operated by a 757-200 again, but again it isn’t listed on the website because that isn’t consistent, that plane just happens to be on the red eye flight this month. The other 2 daily flights are operated by 737-9s.
I remember this lounge well back in its heyday. The spreads were amazing and it was always quiet.
Fond memories, used to fly back and forth to Jakarta about a decade ago, loved that lounge.
Nice piece, Matthew.
So many memories from that Global First Lounge (often with the UA 747-400 outside the window) as I waited to board UA837 – loved seat 2K – to NRT with my onward journeys to GUM.. thanks for the update and all the pictures!!
Cannot access from terminal 2 unless you go thru security again as they are STILL not connected as of 2022. Crazy. Same thing if you are flying delta. You check in on terminal for baggage then go thru security in terminal 3 if going to Amex Centurion lounge! After the lounge to back to security in terminal 2 then to go to C gates for Delta you must use the long walkway (old term1)to get to delta lounge andC gates! Still not easy until some day all terminals will be connected
I believe the connector is now open.
@Matthew anything further to share on the food changes? You mentioned starting to move more back to buffet instead of pre packed. Is this happening on a certain date or in certain clubs?
Nothing specific now.
The dream of the 90s is alive in the United Club.
I love this lounge and spent many hours here waiting for flights to Asia and Europe. It was also a spot to see famous people regularly. I remember texting with my friend, who was a huge fan of George Lucas, when we he was in the lunge and then on my flight to FRA.
This lounge is an embarrassment for United. Offerings are poor, it was super crowded before COVID. And or was hot since it was so busy.
This lounge shows that since the opening of Polaris lounge United doesn’t care anymore about their 1K’s flying international, only high revenue biz class flyers matter.
I thought the point of Polaris lounges was to compete against AF, BA and the like for revenue business class, so admitting 1Ks in economy would not make much sense. And as a 1K you can still go wherever *A Gold will take you. I remember thinking at IAD pre-Polaris launch that it was absolutely embarrassing for UA when anyone who paid for business class walked into the UA club. I was usually on an upgrade with GPUs and used other lounges, so didn’t feel like I had been gypped.
Anyway, the IAD GFL was never as nice as that one in SFO. While I appreciated actual champagnes, I usually ate at the LH or TK lounges, then went to the GFL. And it looked pretty much like the other IAD UA lounges – in fact, they converted it to a UA club without having to change it much. Great place for celebrity sighting, though.
Can anyone provide the hours of the United Club Lounge, Terminal 3 as of November, 2022? Thank you.