United Airlines set to open its biggest airport lounge in $2.6 billion overhaul at Houston hub

The 54,000-square-foot lounge is opening Thursday at George Bush Intercontinental Airport’s Terminal B in Houston, part of an overhaul of the airport that includes 22 gates for mainline aircraft.

The airport, with more than 500 departures a day, is United’s main connecting hub for flights to and from Latin America.

The new club can seat 800 people and features an outdoor terrace for plane-spotting as well as two full-service bars and buffets.

The new lounge, part of United’s $2.6 billion investment at the airport’s Terminal B, shows how airlines are putting more money into larger spaces for premium-travel demand to attract the growing ranks of elite frequent flyers, co-branded credit card holders and customers just willing to spend more to fly.

American Airlines earlier this month said it is planning its largest-ever lounge at its Charlotte Douglas International Airport hub in North Carolina. Delta Air Lines has expanded both its popular Delta Sky Clubs and its top-tier Delta One Lounges.

Southwest Airlines is building its first-ever network of airport lounges, which are tied to its credit card partner, Chase. Last week, the carrier unveiled mock-ups of the lounges, which it is calling Icon. And JetBlue Airways opened lounges in New York and Boston in the past year.