From FlyerGuide Wiki
Red Carpet Club (RCC) Locations
Cities:
- BOS (Boston/Logan)
- HNL (Honolulu)
- IAD (Washington/Dulles)
- LAX (Los Angeles)
- NRT (Tokyo/Narita)
- ORD (Chicago/O'Hare)
- SAN (San Diego)
- SEA (Seattle)
- SFO (San Francisco)
Contents |
[edit] Common Features
[edit] Newspapers
In the morning, until supplies run out, all US Red Carpet Club locations have The Wall St Journal available to read. Most US Red Carpet Club locations, and most overseas Red Carpet Club locations, also offer The Financial Times. Often, a local newspaper is also available. The Red Carpet Club newspaper offerings are supposed to remain in the clubs.
A selection of magazines is generally also available, including the current issue of UA's Hemispheres in-flight magazine.
[edit] Television
US Red Carpet Club locations have at least 1 television. This is most usually tuned to a news channel (e.g. CNBC, CNN, Fox, MSNBC) but is sometimes tuned to some other broadcast or cable TV channel.
[edit] Wireless Internet
Wireless Internet (via T-Mobile) is available at no-cost to Red Carpet Club members sitting in a US domestic Red Carpet Club. To access this, one must open a web browser, with All Cookies Enabled, and then select the Red Carpet Club access button that appears. The UA instructions do not mention that one's web browser MUST accept All Cookies for this free access to work properly.
[edit] Snacks
The same set of complimentary snacks appears at nearly all US domestic Red Carpet Club locations. These vary by time of day, and from time to time a club might temporarily be out of one snack or another.
Note well that one is not permitted to bring outside food into any Red Carpet Club.
Specific snacks that commonly appear, depending upon time of day and local stock:
* Fruit: Apples, Bananas, Grapes, Oranges, Raisins * Pastries: Mini-bagels, muffins and fruit danishes. * Yoghurt: various flavours * Granola Bars: Oatmeal Raisin, Chocolate Chip * Snacks: Mini-Pretzels, Sun Chips, UA Snack Mix * Cheese: Cheddar, Monterey Jack * Crackers: various Pepperidge Farm * Candy: Kit-kat bars, Ghiardelli chocolate squares
[edit] Beverages
All clubs offer complimentary soft drinks (soda/pop, juice, tea, coffee).
UA is in the process of upgrading the espresso machines in the US domestic clubs. The newer machines produce both espresso and cappuccino, and have a more robust taste (some would say European-style) than the older machines had.
US domestic clubs offer American lager on draft, mixed drinks, and also wine. Some clubs (notably IAD C7/C17/D8 and ORD C16) offer ale on draft, or (notably ORD F7, BOS, SAN) offer a wider range of bottled beers, in addition to the standard offerings. There is normally a charge for any alcoholic beverage, although international business/first class passengers can obtain 2 free beverage coupons upon request when they first check-in to a club.
All RCCs are moving to a new system that distinguishes Premium alcoholic beverages from Regular alcoholic beverages. A Regular sized draft beer is 1 beverage coupon, while a Large sized draft beer is 2 coupons. A Premium beverage costs more money -- and requires 2 beverage coupons rather than just 1 coupon. FlyerTalkers can't agree whether this change is good or not.
Conversation with an RCC employee on 21st March 2010 indicates that UA RCC management is seriously considering making the Regular alcoholic beverages free to those of legal age, while keeping the Premium beverages as an option for purchase (i.e. cash or credit card). This appears to reflect input from Continental Airlines President's Club management, and also a reportedly strong desire to eliminate the administrative hassle of having the RCC Beverage Coupon system at all. If this change is made, UA would eliminate the RCC Beverage Coupons and existing coupons would be value-less (because the regular price beverages would then be free).
[edit] Work Spaces
Most clubs offer work carrels with power (and often also telephone jacks) suitable for laptop computers or paperwork. Some clubs also offer photocopying or sending faxes. At larger clubs, conference rooms are often available (for an hourly fee).
[edit] BOS (Boston/Logan)
The Red Carpet Club is located near Gate C-19. This is a smaller club, serving many of the same frequent flier passengers, and the staff are especially helpful and friendly as a result.
[edit] Coffee/Tea
Regular and Decaffeinated coffee are available. This is a middle-of-the-road American roast coffee, not a dark roast coffee. A selection of tea is available in tea bags as well.
As of late October 2009, this club now has the new espresso machines installed and in service.
[edit] Alcohol
This club has no special offerings. See Common Features above for the usual alcoholic drinks on offer.
[edit] HNL (Honolulu, Hawaii)
The Red Carpet Club is located on a mezzanine level above Gate 9. This is a relatively large club, with a view of gates 8 & 9, and a view of the runways as well. Reports indicate that it is most busy just before the UA departures for Japan at mid-day. It is often relatively empty in the evening before the overnight red-eye flights from HNL back to the US mainland.
As of July 2010, there had just been a change in the contract for operating the bar. This temporarily means that no liquor is available in this club until the new bar operator obtains its liquor license from the local government. As a mitigation, bottled beer and wine are temporarily free of charge (until the liquor license is approved).
The bartender indicated that once the liquor license is approved, they intend to offer draft Longboard lager from the Kona Brewing Co., which is a local micro-brewer. There are only 2 beer taps at the bar, so the other tap will be a mainstream national US brand lager. They also offer the Japanese Kirin brand beer in cans, although the fine print on the can indicates that it was actually brewed by A-B in Los Angeles, CA. Similarly, Heineken is available in cans. Ale is not available in this RCC location.
This club does have the standard snacks mentioned at top, and the new espresso/cappuccino machine in service.
While reasonably clean, this is not the most recently updated Red Carpet Club. The men's restroom is particularly worn, while the women's restroom is in much better condition.
[edit] IAD (Washington/Dulles)
- All 3 Red Carpet Clubs (near C7, near C17, and near D8) seem to have the same offerings.
- In addition to the usual Wall St Journal and Financial Times, this club also offers The Washington Post in the morning. The Washington Times and The New York Times are NOT usually available at these IAD clubs.
- The Clubs near gates C17 and D8 have entrances at the main level, but are primarily located below (at ground level). Elevators or stairs can be used to travel up and down.
- FlyerTalk contains repeated reports of (friendly, if hungry) field mice on the lower level of the club near gateC17, which causes some members to prefer the club near C7 (no reports of field mice there).
- For the curious, there is a separate secure portion of the upper part of the club at C17 behind a pair of smoked-glass doors. Access to this portion is restricted by Airport Officials (i.e. UA staff do not make the use decisions) and is normally limited to diplomatic uses.
[edit] Coffee/Tea
Regular and Decaffeinated coffee are available in all locations. This is an American-style coffee, not a dark roast coffee. A selection of tea is available in tea bags as well.
As of early December 2009, all of these clubs now have the new espresso machines installed and in service. The new machines produce a more robust espresso or cappuccino, more European in flavour than the older espresso machines.
[edit] Alcohol
In addition to the standard offering (see Common Features above), these 3 Red Carpet Clubs offer Red Carpet Ale on draft. There are unconfirmed reports that this is now Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Originally, this was Old Dominion Ale from the now-defunct Old Dominion Brewing Company that was located about 2 miles due north of IAD's center runway.
Wines and mixed drinks are also available at all 3 clubs at IAD.
The Red Carpet Clubs at IAD moved to the new fresh choice snack options in March 2010.
[edit] LAX (Los Angeles International)
There is one RCC, it is located in Terminal 7 near gate 70A.
(More details on this club would be very welcome.)
[edit] NRT (Tokyo/Narita)
This club is located airside, in Terminal 1, Satellite 3, near Gate 31. It is a relatively large club with ample seating. Wireless Internet appears to be available, although the RCC staff appear not to know any details about the WiFi offering.
NOTE: Depending upon the location of one's departing gate, and one's personality, one might consider using the ANA Lounges instead of the Red Carpet Club. The ANA Lounges have a more Japanese selection of snacks and beverages. The ANA Lounges prize quiet, so can be better places to get some work done without distraction, but might be less welcoming to passengers who want to converse instead.
[edit] Alcohol
Uniquely at this club, there is also Japanese lager available on draft. This beer machine, as some on FlyerTalk call it, seems to be quite popular. Ale is not available at this RCC.
[edit] Coffee/Tea
Regular and decaffeinated coffee are available. Japanese Green Tea is also available in tea bags.
[edit] Snacks
This club has a very different, much more limited, selection of snacks than most other Red Carpet Club locations:
* Crackers: Saltines; Japanese-style crackers * Cheese: soft processed cheese (from Japan) * Snacks: Pretzels
[edit] Showers
At the rear of this club there are several shower rooms that can be used. One asks the shower room counter clerk to use the room. He or she will ask for one's ongoing plane ticket (i.e. for the next flight) and will hold that ticket while one uses one of the shower rooms. The plane ticket is returned once one exits the shower room and returns the room key to the counter clerk.
Each shower room contains a shower, a lavatory, and a sink, along with clean towels. Usually, one is also given a shower kit with amenities such as soap, shampoo, and a razor.
[edit] ORD (Chicago/O'Hare)
There are 4 Red Carpet Club Locations at ORD. These are near gates B-6, B-18, C-16, and F-3.
- The Club near B-6 was re-opened in late December 2009 after renovation & expansion.
- The Club near B-18 is medium-sized, with a departure-level entrance, and upstairs lounge.
- The Club near C-16 is spacious, and includes a separate Quiet Room, but is often busy.
- The Club near F-3 is very small and is very often cramped.
[edit] Coffee/Tea
Regular and Decaffeinated coffee is available in all locations. This is a middle-of-the-road American roast coffee, not a dark roast coffee. A selection of tea is available in tea bags as well.
The Clubs near B-6, B-18, C-16, and F-3 all have the new espresso/capuccino machines installed as of May 2010.
[edit] Alcohol
In addition to the standard offerings (see Common Features above), the ORD RCCs near Gate C-16 and B-18 also offer ale from a local micro-brewery on draft. As of May 2010, the other 2 ORD RCCs did not have an ale available on draft.
[edit] SAN (San Diego, CA)
This Red Carpet Club is unusually difficult to locate. Immediately after clearing TSA screening, one travels up a short escalator and is then facing a Starbucks Coffee bar. If one turns around, one will see the Red Carpet Club entrance immediately above the lower part of that escalator. There are walkways to the left and right of the escalator leading to the Red Carpet Club entrance.
This is not a very large club, but the staff are especially helpful and pleasant.
[edit] Coffee/Tea
American-style regular and decaffeinated coffee are available. Tea is available in tea bags. Hot chocolate is available in paper pouches (along with hot water). This club has been updated with the new espresso machines, which produce a stronger, more European style, espresso or cappuccino.
[edit] Alcohol
In addition to the usual US domestic offerings (see Common Features above), a wider selection of beers is available in bottles at this club.
[edit] SEA (Seattle/Tacoma, Washington)
- NOTE: UA operations at SEA might be moving to a different terminal during 2010, in which case this information will cease to be valid.
- SEATAC is the local nickname for the SEAttle/TAComa Airport (SEA).
Observations below are from robtayman at flyerTalk:
The Seatac RCC is in the lower level of the N terminal. As you exit the train from the main terminal to the N terminal, the RCC is to the right of the escalators.
[edit] SFO (San Francisco)
There is a large domestic Red Carpet Club located in Concourse F. As one is walking to the gates, the entrance is on the right side just after leaving the moving walkway from the main portion of Terminal 3 at SFO. The domestic RCC includes a small Quiet Room towards the rear of the club. The domestic RCC generally offers The New York Times newspaper, in addition to The Wall St Journal and The Financial Times. Wireless Internet access is available in this club, but is often slow due to the large number of wireless Internet users in this club.
Separately, there is an international Red Carpet Club located in Concourse G of the International Terminal.
The information below is correct for the domestic Red Carpet Club in Concourse F as of May 2010. It is believed to be correct for the international club in Concourse G also, but that has not been recently verified.
[edit] Coffee/Tea
American-style regular and decaffeinated coffee are available. Tea is available in tea bags. Hot chocolate is available in paper pouches (along with hot water).
This club has been upgraded to the new espresso/capuccino machines as of April 2010.
[edit] Alcohol
In addition to the standard offerings (see Common Features above), both Anchor Steam lager and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale are available on draft. A wider than usual selection of beers is available in bottles.
[edit] FRA (Frankfurt)
The RCC (and IFL) in Frankfurt is closed as of October 2009. Use the Lufthansa lounges instead (*A Gold get Senator lounge access).
[edit] LHR (London/Heathrow)
The UA RCC (and UA IFL) at London/Heathrow were closed in early July 2008, on the same day that UA relocated from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1.
At Terminal 1, there is a shared Star Alliance Gold Lounge. UA Red Carpet Club members with a Star Alliance Logo printed on their card, and any 'Star Alliance Gold' member (any *A airline), can access this lounge. However, this is NOT a Red Carpet Club and different rules for guest access apply. Star Alliance access rules can be found online at www.staralliance.com.
The lounge offers both soft drinks (coffee, espresso, cappuccino, various tea, soda/pop) and alcohol (ale, lager, wine, and mixed-drinks) available at no cost. There are also snack foods, which vary by the time of day. There are televisions in two different places, along with flight status monitors. A range of UK newspapers are also on offer. Lufthansa usually supplies the lounge with a daily major newspaper from Germany.
This lounge has a small number of shower rooms available.
Passengers connecting to a British Midland (BD) UK/Ireland flight might find it more convenient to use the BMI Star Alliance Gold Lounge in the domestic wing of Terminal 1, near Gate 6, rather than this Star Alliance lounge. Food offerings are a bit better in the Star Alliance lounge, but the BD lounge is MUCH closer to UK/Ireland departure gates.
