VIP Lounge

Every year since 2010 from the week of Thanksgiving until Christmas eve, the space next to Guest Services by the Macy’s on the lower level of the Mall at Short Hills turns into a pop-​up United airport lounge open from 11 A.M. each day until closing.
Cardholders of any United Airlines co-​branded MileagePlus credit card from Chase and up to 2 guests can can enter for free (no boarding pass necessary). Complimentary amenities for all visitors include complimentary K-​cup drinks (mostly coffee but vary by week), cookies/​brownies/​scones/​muffins, bagged potato chips, Granny Smith apples, chilled canned soda, flat-​screen wall-​mounted TV’s, café and sofa seating, bag & coat check, wi-​fi, charging stations, two unisex restrooms, and gift-​wrapping (for cardholders only).
If you’ve ever been inside an actual United Club or any airport lounge, you’ll realize immediately that this place is nothing like an actual airport lounge. There’s no booze, no real food besides pastries, and during the evening – no peace or quiet. Parents with ill-​behaved children, rowdy mall shoppers with no common courtesy, and people who have never used a Keurig machine can all be found in what might otherwise be a tranquil, stress-​free, and exclusive oasis in the chaotic wasteland of holiday mall shopping.
No, the real gem of this Chase-​United VIP Lounge is one of the weekly promotions that falls on the first three Tuesdays in December: for every new unwrapped toy (max. 2) valued at $ 15 or more, Chase-​United will fork over one United Club One-​Time Pass, valid for 12 – 14 months from date of issuance and good for entry at a REAL United Club (with boarding pass) – which has a $ 50 face value (if you don’t already have a United MileagePlus® Club card).
Besides Toys-​for-​Tots Tuesdays, the lounge also has other promotions and giveaways on other days of the week (subject to change each year): local bakery eats on Mondays, MileagePlus X Wednesdays, Cardmember Appreciation on Thursdays (I got a small Chase-​United clamshell case with headphones that are complete rubbish), and Football Sundays.
In extending additional privileges beyond travel experiences to cardholders, the Chase-​United partnership hopes that Chase-​United cardholders will have a more positive opinion of cardmember benefits and will be more likely to use the card for purchases.
In spite of servicing «customers» who don’t pay a dime to get in, the lounge employees who are contracted to greet visitors, wrap gifts, serve donuts, and sweep up trash for a month are surprisingly cordial and professional – at least more so than some actual United Club lounge employees. This year has been full of changes for United Airlines, so it’s no surprise that this year’s VIP lounge experience reflects some of the upgrades in United’s new approach to customer service.

Another year and another great lounge from Chase and United. Just when you have had enough of the hustle and bustle of shopping you can take a break in the lounge. You need a Chase United card to enter and you can bring three guests in with you. Complimentary snacks and gift wrapping is available. Flat screen TVs are plentiful and charging stations as well.