Traveling from New Orleans to Berlin, we had a scheduled seven-hour, 51-minute layover in the Newark Liberty International Airport. Dreading the long wait, we took advantage of the United Club in Terminal C. Using a United Club one-time pass costing $59 per person, we spent more than five hours in the library-like retreat. We arrived in the Club just as breakfast was removed. Having risen at 2 a.m., my husband immediately poured a coffee and snagged a complimentary newspaper. I intended to review my DK Eyewitness Travel Top 10 Berlin 2016 and jot down the final details of our itinerary.

Saturday morning, the Club was busy as we hunted for seats beside a coveted charging station. As guests left the Club, the efficient staff continuously picked up dishes strewn across tables. Although it was barely past 10 a.m., most of the bar seats were taken. We didn’t partake in the complimentary alcohol but eagerly moved into the dining area when lunch was served. The menu included a kale salad with a mango vinaigrette, jambalaya soup, rolls, hummus, pita, fruit, assorted nuts, cheese and raw veggies. A few Club guests, working on laptops, sat inside rows of cubicles. A handful watched a soccer match on a large television in a room with stadium seating. Jim and I wanted to explore the airport’s retail shops but discovered the Club no longer holds your baggage. After a bit of shopping, we returned to the Club and charged our electronic devices in anticipation of our eight-hour flight. A staff member informed us when our boarding time approached. Guests of the Club are not disturbed by incessant announcements heard throughout the airport. The Club exudes a calm vibe far more restful than the typical exuberance of an airport. One-time passes are purchased inside the 45 United Clubs or on the airline’s app.

United Club

Terminal C, Newark Liberty International Airport 10 Toler Place, Newark, NJ 07114