United Club

Sao Paolo, Brazil, is not a destination when it comes to airport lounges. The United Club fits right in. The facility has potential, but has been neglected. The new furniture can’t make up for years of deferred maintenance and updates. The design is dated and the space looks tired, borderline rundown. Many passengers complain about the unreliable air conditioning which can make the club room painfully hot in the summer, and the spotty Wi-FI.

For an international club, this lounge is of a modest size – while it’s not small by any means, it sees a lot of traffic — all Star Alliance Gold customers have access, even those flying in economy. As such, it does get pretty busy and can be occasionally crowded. TAM’s recent departure from Star Alliance seems to have eased up pressure somewhat, though.

For all the shortcomings of this lounge, it does have a few perks. Shower suites are available to all passengers. Formerly operated as Arrivals facilities, the showers are now open to all United Club patrons and come with a shower, sink, toilet, towels, and amenities. However, like the rest of the lounge, the showers could benefit from refurbishments.

The food and drink selection is also far superior to the offer at domestic United Clubs. A buffet provides a selection of snacks, appetizers, and cold entrees. While opinions on food quality are mixed, in our experience it is quite acceptable overall, and we’d be delighted if other United Clubs offered a similar selection.

We don’t recommend that you come to the airport early to experience this lounge, although you may want to come in early should you like to find a good seat. That being said, if you’d like to enjoy a refreshing shower prior to a long flight and grab a bite to eat, this lounge will cater to your needs. We just hope that United is planning on making renovations very soon. It should also be noted that there is no space dedicated to First Class passengers.