Table of Contents
Points Miles and Bling (blog) contains referral or affiliate links. The blog receives a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your continued support. Credit Card issuers are not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details, current product information, and Terms and Conditions, click the link included.
The reviews from my summer 2025 Australia trip have been long overdue. On that trip, I was fortunate to book United’s Polaris Business Class to Melbourne (MEL) with Aeroplan points, connecting through Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Los Angeles (LAX).
During my transit at ORD, I had a short window before my United First flight to LAX, so I checked out the United Club in Terminal 1, Concourse B, near Gate B6. Truth be told, I don’t generally go out of my way to visit a United Club during a short layover. They’re useful for a quick drink or getting some work done, but I rarely build extra airport time around them.
I’m glad I stopped by this one, though. The lounge was considerably larger than I expected, with a modern interior and plenty of natural light pouring through its distinctive skylights. It made a good first impression, even if some familiar United Club frustrations followed.
United Club Chicago ORD B6 – At a Glance
| Airport | Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) |
|---|---|
| Location | Terminal 1, Concourse B, near Gate B6 |
| Hours | Approximately 4:30 a.m.–9:00 p.m. daily; subject to change |
| Access | Eligible United Club members, Star Alliance Gold members, qualifying premium-cabin passengers and eligible passholders |
| Seating | Lounge chairs, sofas, café-style tables, communal workspaces |
| Food and drinks | Hot and cold buffet, sandwiches, snacks, coffee and a staffed bar |
| Best for | Working, a quick meal or drink during a connection |
| Main drawback | Crowding, especially around the bar and food stations |
United Club Chicago ORD – Location and Access
The United Club is conveniently located near Gate B6 in Terminal 1, Concourse B. The entrance is identifiable by the familiar United blue branding and glass frontage.
For this visit, I flew United First between ORD and LAX, then connected onward to Melbourne in United Polaris Business Class. I also held Aeroplan 50K Elite Status, which provided Star Alliance Gold benefits and eligible access to United Club lounges.
Unlike United MileagePlus elites, who face restrictions on accessing United Clubs during purely domestic U.S. travel, Star Alliance Gold members through programs such as Aeroplan can access eligible United Clubs when travelling on a same-day Star Alliance flight, including domestic U.S. itineraries. United First on a typical domestic U.S. flight does not automatically include United Club access. Eligible status, lounge membership, or a qualifying itinerary can help.
After scanning my boarding pass, I took the escalators up to the mezzanine level, where the lounge opens into a much larger space than the entrance suggests.
United Club Chicago ORD B6
United Club Chicago ORD – Seating and Layout
My first impression of the lounge was that it felt bright and spacious. United has done a good job incorporating natural light into the design. Large windows and angled glass skylights line the lounge, while the high ceiling creates an attractive, open space.
Main level – lounge floor
The interiors follow a familiar United Club design. Think neutral grey and cream tones, dark carpeting, leather seating, warm table lamps and splashes of United blue throughout. It all looks quite polished, particularly when you first enter.
Of course, once I started walking around, I was reminded that United Clubs are extremely popular, and the seating is arranged to accommodate as many passengers as possible.
Dense seating setup
The B6 lounge is deceptively large, with several seating sections extending beyond the initial main hall. The layout is more varied than it first appears, although the sheer number of seats makes the lounge feel busy even before every chair is occupied.
The main seating area features a mix of traditional lounge chairs, cream-coloured sofas and small round tables. Darker blue wingback chairs are arranged in groups, offering a slightly more comfortable option for passengers looking to relax. The contrast between the warm table lamps, contemporary lighting and blue glass partitions is particularly attractive. Historical aviation photographs on some of the walls are another nice touch.
More Seating options
As I walked deeper into the lounge, I came across more seating configurations, including café-style tables and chairs, smaller clusters of armchairs and communal seating areas. The challenge is finding somewhere that feels removed from everyone else. At the time of my visit, the lounge was particularly busy. Many seating areas were occupied, and the constant flow of passengers made it hard to find a genuinely quiet corner.
To be fair, I’ve encountered this in several United Clubs. The newer interiors and improved amenities are welcome, but the seating density still makes these lounges feel more like elevated airport gate areas than a retreat from the terminal crowds.
One area where the lounge does reasonably well is providing space to work. Away from the main seating sections, long communal counters with stools offer workspaces overlooking the brighter parts of the lounge. I noticed several passengers working on laptops, while others were using the counters to eat or catch up on their phones. For someone looking to spend an hour or two catching up on emails, this would be my preferred part of the lounge.
Workspaces to the left
Cafe style seating
Increasingly, the customer service desks inside lounges are among my favourite airport lounge amenities. When travel plans go sideways, having access to an airline agent without returning to the busy gate area or waiting on a call can be extremely useful. Whether you need help with a missed connection, a standby request, a flight change, or rebooking during a disruption, airline desks are often the most valuable feature of the entire lounge. For frequent travellers, that convenience alone can make lounge access worthwhile.
United Airline Desk in lounge
United Club Chicago ORD – Food and Drinks
The food and beverage offerings span two sections of the lounge. A smaller station toward the front offers sandwiches, light bites and refreshments, while a larger buffet area farther inside, closer to the main bar, features a wider selection of hot and cold dishes.
I actually liked this arrangement. It means passengers who just want a quick snack don’t have to make their way through the lounge’s busiest parts. Unfortunately, during my visit, both food areas saw a steady stream of passengers, with the larger buffet especially busy.
Buffet Area
The food selection was fairly extensive for a standard United Club, although the quality itself was middle of the road. The smaller food station included sandwiches and other convenient grab-and-go options. During my visit, these included tomato, pesto and caprese ciabatta sandwiches, along with chicken salad sandwiches. There were also lighter options such as cheese, crackers, grapes and other snacks.
The larger buffet was more substantial, with hot dishes and a variety of salads. Some of the items available during my visit included:
- Chicken cacciatore pasta
- Roasted zucchini
- Chicken, dried cranberry and baby spinach salad
- Black bean, corn and cilantro summer salad with lime dressing
- Chicken lemon orzo soup
- Assorted cheeses, vegetables and lighter bites
Salad and Lite Bites
Sandwich corner
Hot food options
There was plenty of variety to put together a meal before a flight, with vegetarian options and dishes for those looking for something more substantial. However, nothing particularly stood out. The hot food was adequate, and the salads offered welcome variety, but overall, it was exactly the kind of meal I’ve come to expect at a busy United Club.
The bigger issue was the pace of buffet service. During my visit, the food stations had a constant line, and staff worked hard to replenish trays as passengers emptied them. This also affected the surrounding seating areas. Tables turned over frequently, and some needed clearing before the next passengers could settle in.
I don’t think this reflected staff effort. The lounge was simply operating at a level of activity that made it difficult to keep everything looking fresh and tidy. The food was sufficient for a quick airport meal, but I wouldn’t plan an extended lounge visit around it.
Seating area around f&b section
The main bar, located toward the back of the lounge, was easily one of its most popular gathering spots. It’s a sizeable staffed bar with an extensive display of spirits, wines and other beverages. The bartenders were certainly kept busy during my visit, moving between drink orders and conversations with passengers.
Main lounge Bar
United Club B6 vs. United Club C10 at Chicago O’Hare
Having also visited the United Club near Gate C10 at ORD, it’s worth briefly comparing my experiences.
Both lounges feature United’s contemporary design, generous natural light, and a wide range of seating options.
The B6 lounge impressed me with its size, skylights and extensive seating areas. Architecturally, it’s an attractive space and has everything I would expect from a modern United Club. However, my visit to the C10 lounge was a more enjoyable experience overall. During that visit, I found the food selection fresher and more appealing, while the lounge itself was considerably less crowded. The large windows overlooking airport operations were another highlight.
Admittedly, lounge crowding can vary significantly by time of day, and I wouldn’t assume C10 is always quieter than B6. But based on my own visits, I preferred the overall experience at C10.
United Club Chicago ORD B6 – Takeaway
United Clubs have improved considerably over the years, particularly in lounge design, seating, and the overall appearance of their facilities. The United Club near Gate B6 at Chicago O’Hare is a good example of that progress. It’s modern, bright, and much larger than it initially appears, with enough seating and workspace options to accommodate different types of travellers.
But I keep coming back to the crowding. Despite the lounge’s generous size, the dense seating and constant passenger movement make it hard to find any peace and quiet. If I had a couple of hours to spend at ORD and needed somewhere to work, I would happily use it again. The quieter workspaces make it a perfectly reasonable choice. But I wouldn’t go out of my way for the food, nor would I arrive early expecting a particularly relaxing experience.
For my short layover, the lounge served its purpose. I looked around, appreciated the space, and soon headed back to the gate for my flight to LAX.
