As I was checking in for my flight to Chicago Thursday morning at Philadelphia International, I heard an agent call my name from behind me.
I turned around and was surprised to find my favorite Red Carpet Club attendant walk up. "Bad news Mr. Klint. The Red Carpet Club is closed. We just got word a few hours ago."
I jokingly asked if the rats from the C7 Red Carpet Club had Dulles had migrated north, to which she laughed (though obviously aware of the IAD rodent issue), and said, "No. No. It’s nothing like that."
When pressed, she told me that the health department temporarily shut down the club due to "hot water issues."
Whew. I was really thinking rats or cockroaches, so her answer was actually relieving.
I responded, "So does this mean we’re finally going to get new bathrooms?"
She laughed and said, "Nope. Probably not. You’ll have to use the US Club today." She also stated that she was unaware when the club would be able to re-open.
A hastily prepared sign outside the Red Carpet Club door did not even provide the details above.
If United is reading this blog: PLEASE USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RE-MODEL THE BATHROOMS. You’ve got great agents working in the club, but they are embarasssed and your Red Carpet Club patrons are frankly tired of the grimy bathroom.
For those who haven’t had the pleasure of visiting the PHL Red Carpet Club, here’s a few pictures from the men’s bathroom (note there is still ashtrays next to each urinal):
So I used the US Airways Club instead. It’s a nice club with very clean bathrooms, though the Red Carpet Club has a better breakfast spread: the US Club only offers yogurt, danish, and apples.
My concern is that United may just say "to heck with it" and close the club. There is plenty of space in the US Club and it’s only seven minutes away by foot.
I have been in or very closely associated with the restaurant business for more than 30 years. A health department can close a restaurant down at any time for not having hot water but rarely does because it is usually quickly fixable. When it does it means there are a lot of other violations/issues which can warrant closing the food service establishment but they usually entail a grace period for correction and the inspector feels the establishment should be closed immediately. By invoking the hot water violation the inspector closes the business immediately.
In most cases it means the establishment food safety practices are substandard and its customers health is at risk. Less often it means that the establishment is promising to correct problems but continues not to (like the missing tiles) and the inspector feels the business is not going to correct them.
I tried to fine the inspection online [ http://tinyurl.com/y3f7uvo ] but there is no record in the database for this business. I wonder if they were operating without a permit also. US Airway shows two business which passed their last inspection.
@Michael: Thanks for your analysis. Your hypothesis makes sense.
Hopefully UA will finally update the bathrooms, even if it means the club is closed for a month or two.
Whats an “eat urinal”? 🙂
@Reid: That’s not something you want to eat out of! 😉