Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links below. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
Departing from a convention in Orlando, I had the chance to check out the United Club℠ at Orlando International Airport (MCO). I have not been impressed with United’s lounge offerings over the past few years, but this one was well maintained, had some nice amenities like a gelato machine, and was not too crowded.
The lounge is located up one floor from the departure gates.
An elevator and stairs are available.
Access
A check-in desk is located on the upstair level. Access is granted for those with United Club℠ memberships, day passes from Chase co-branded credit cards or purchased for $59, Global Services® members, United passengers with Gold or higher status traveling internationally, international Business or First Class passengers traveling on a Star Alliance flight, and Star Alliance Gold members regardless of class flown. You can find more information about these lounges and their access rules here.
Anthony’s Take: I have not had very favorable experiences in the United Clubs℠ over the past few years and made the decision not to renew my membership this year. That said, I enjoyed my time at the Orlando International Airport (MCO) location and found the food selection and service to be above what I have recently encountered at other locations.
Bar
A small bar is tucked towards the back of the lounge. There is a variety of paid and complimentary beer, wine, and spirits here. The free offerings are pretty basic, but the paid selections are not badly priced.
A coffee station was near the buffet. It offered Illy brewed coffee.
A coffee machine, water dispenser, and selection of tea was also available.
Water dispensers and oranges were near the entrance.
Food
The food in the United Clubs℠ has improved in the past few years and is even better than it was pre-Covid. This lounge had a nice selection including a few hot items, soup, salads, sandwiches, snacks, desserts, and more.
Barbecue Chicken and Macaroni & Cheese
Tomato Basil Bisque
Sandwiches
Salad ingredients
More salad ingredients as well as chips and salsa
Fresh fruit and charcuterie
Brownies
Blondies
Lemon Bars
Candy and snacks
Solato Fresh Gelato machine
Wrapped fruit
Seating & Decor
The lounge is a decent size and it was pretty empty when I visited. There are multiple smaller rooms with seating configurations for working and relaxing. There is also an area that seemed designated for children, but it didn’t offer much for them to do there. Some of the decor is a bit dated, but it’s clean and functional.
Workstations and desks are near the back of the lounge.
I sat at this table and had the entire space to myself.
The one room that I designated the kids’ area had this Dr. Seuss sign.
Amenities
This United Club℠ offers free Wi-Fi, restrooms, magazines (including the final issue of Hemispheres during my visit), and the food and beverages mentioned above.
This lounge also had one of United’s robots that rolls around for people to discard trash and stack dishes. It’s gimmicky to me and most people ignore it.
Overall Impression:
This is a nice United Club℠ and I found it a good spot to escape the kid-filled pandemonium that is Orlando International Airport (MCO). I would return in the future and hope that United continues to maintain this lounge.
User Generated Content Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat encourages constructive discussions, comments, and questions. Responses are not provided by or commissioned by any bank advertisers. These responses have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the responsibility of the bank advertiser to respond to comments.
Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
2 comments
I like the MCO United Club. Though they recently removed the individual work cubes and put in those tables/counters (in that back room behind the Gelato machine). Thankfully still not many people go back there… but it was nice to have an enclosed private space.
Sometimes, especially on weekends, they have additional food items like chicken nuggets geared toward kids.
It is also the only UA Club (or quite honestly any US airline club) where I’ve seen the staff – and more than once – tell a parent to control their kid or get out. Early this year I was in there and a 6 or 7 year old was running up behind people and yelling SIRI to make their phones activate. They got a warning from one of the desk agents. The next time, the family was told to vacate. The male adult in the group was unhappy about this, and they started packing up what they had on the table, for the agent to remind them food from the club is only for consumption within the club, so please leave it. It was glorious.
That is great.