Review: United Club at Chicago O’Hare Int’l Airport (ORD), Terminal 2, E Gates

New lounge in former Sky Club location provides United flyers with an overflow location at O’Hare’s Terminal 2.

The summary

Taking over the space that housed the former Sky Club, which moved when Delta departed to Terminal 5, the United Club at the E gates in Terminal 2 provides additional lounge space at United’s Chicago hub. Given its former occupant, the lounge has some design elements that make it unique among the O’Hare United Clubs, has self-serve beer and wine, and a smaller buffet than other clubs.

Entry to the club is clearly marked by gate E5. In fact, this club is a 2 minute walk from the United Club by the F gates. After scanning your boarding pass at reception, the glass wall to the right offers tarmac views and floods the lounge with natural light. Guests walk down a short hall to enter the main part of the lounge. On the left is a small stand alone room, that is ideal for a small group.

Past this room, you enter the most attractive part of the lounge, which serves as a customer service area. The customer service desk was not manned the morning I visited. The ceiling is adorned with an attractive recessed mosaic, which elevates the look of the lounge. Across from the desk is an infused water station. This area also has 3 individual phone booths that are perfect for a phone call or virtual meeting.

Behind this area is the main seating room. United flyers will recognize the seating: many beige chairs and some blue style egg chairs. As usual, outlets are everywhere – United does a good job with that.

On the left side of the main seating room is the beverage alcove that has infused water, juices, and self-serve beer on tap, and wine. This liquor set up (no manned bar) sets this lounge apart from the other United Clubs at O’Hare. This room oddly has the cereal dispensers.

Behind the main room is the main dining area. It’s odd that there are not a lot of tables in this area. There are two rather large hi-top tables that are fine for eating. The light fixtures will be familiar to frequent United Club patrons. This area includes the coffee and soft drink station. The food on offer is also different from other clubs. There is a grain bar, yogurt and fruit, breads and baked goods, and a variety of spreads. The smoked salmon was a nice touch. There was no hot food on offer.

This lounge serves its purpose as largely overflow space for United travelers. Retaining some of the design elements from the previous lounge occupant (Delta), United opted not to completely redo the lounge in either its mid-2010s motif or its newer iteration like the C club at O’Hare. So, it resembles no other club. The buffet was interesting – but the lack of a hot item was noticeable. Some people may like the self-serve liquor. I suppose if you want a more substantial cocktail, you can go next door to the F lounge – where they have a manned bar and where you pay for premium drinks.

The wrap: 

…The details. Date – August 2,1 2025. Rating: Gets the job done. Access: United club member

…What I like: Outlet availability, interesting design, phone booths

…What I don’t like: The limited buffet, not a lot of dining tables.