Former Continental Presidents Club and nothing has changed
The lounge is near gate C33 of Houston Intercontinental’s massive C terminal. This large lounge still sports the dark wood and cubicles that were hallmarks of Continental Airline’s Presidents Clubs. The lounge never even received the mid-2010’s United refresh with clean lines and plenty of white surfaces and faux marble.
The lounge is mainly one large room, with windows facing the tarmac along one side and the food and bar and the other side. There was a short line upon entry. The agent was having difficulty granting access to some Air New Zealand passengers. The entry station features dark wood as does the large customer service desk that greets guests upon entry. On the right hand side is seating area with some blue chairs by a departure board. The chairs are a feature of many United Clubs these days.
The dated décor is unremarkable with plenty of wood and beige chairs. The main seating area is brightened by the windows that face the tarmac. For those looking to work on their laptops, there are several semi-private cubicles as well as a hi-top table. As per usual, there are outlets everywhere. United consistently does a great job with connectivity.
The lounge was very crowded but there are surprisingly a couple of semi-private rooms on the right side of the lounge (across from the windows). These rooms sported the same beige chairs as the main room but were not crowded. Houston is a huge hub for United, and the lounge furniture had signs of wear and tear.
Past the entry to these rooms was the main food and beverage area. The large buffet starts with soup (tomato bisque) and salad. One plus was the grilled chicken salad. There was a kale salad and beet salad with quinoa. Then there was a decent sized cheese board with crackers. Further along were some cold sandwiches.
The hot offerings were an Italian sausage dish and some rice pilaf. Cookies and lemon bars were some dessert items on offer. There were also some snack dispensers.
For drinks, the lounge featured coffee (Illy) and an espresso machine for more complicated espresso drinks. There were plenty of tea flavors offered and some infused water.
The bar itself was at the back with seating for seven guests. There were several complimentary alcoholic offerings. But, as typical for most US domestic lounges, there is a charge for more premium offerings. I liked the recessed paintings behind the bar.
As in all United Clubs, internet was very fast and as noted there were outlets near every seat. The lounge was very crowded in the afternoon (with one-time passes not accepted). The staff all had that Texas friendliness. This is not a lounge I would arrive early for. However, good news is on the horizon for United passengers at IAH: the largest club in North America is scheduled to open in October – a 55,000 square foot United Club in Terminal B. Travelers will need to take the skytrain to access the new club from other terminals, but it will undoubtedly reduce crowding in this lounge and the other one in Terminal C. Perhaps United will them temporarily close this lounge to give it a much-needed update.
…the details: Date: September 23, 2026. Rating: Average. Access: United Club member.
….What I like: The friendly staff, the semi-private rooms to the side, connectivity
—What I don’t like: Crowds, unremarkable buffet and a dated, tired decor.
