United Opens Its Largest Lounge Yet at Houston Hub

United Airlines is opening its biggest airport lounge this week at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, describing it as the largest in the Americas.

The 54,000-square-foot space opens Thursday in Terminal B and can seat 800 people, with an outdoor terrace for plane-spotting, two full-service bars and buffets. It is part of a $2.6 billion investment in Terminal B that includes 22 gates for mainline aircraft.

The Houston airport sees more than 500 departures a day and serves as United's main connecting hub for flights to and from Latin America.

The project reflects a wider push by airlines to spend more on larger premium spaces as demand grows among elite frequent flyers, co-branded credit card holders and travelers willing to pay more. American Airlines said earlier this month it plans its largest-ever lounge at its Charlotte hub, Delta has expanded its Sky Clubs and Delta One Lounges, Southwest is building its first lounge network tied to Chase, and JetBlue opened lounges in New York and Boston over the past year.