Check Out Jersey-Grown Veggies, Garden State Decor at United’s New Newark Airport Lounge

By the end of the year, officials say Newark Liberty International Airport’s Terminal A will be home to four so-called “premium” lounges. United Airlines beat the pack with its new Jersey-centric spot that opened in the terminal’s newest wing last month.

The new United Club opened to club members on June 28 in Terminal A, ahead of lounges planned by American and Delta Airlines and an American Express Centurion Lounge. NJ Advance Media took a tour Friday.

The first thing visitors notice entering the United Club is a mural at the entrance by Newark-based artist Antoinette Ellis-Williams. The second thing is the smell coming from the buffet.

Chef Daniel Ospina of Teaneck answered the question on the lips of every true Jersey traveler - is Taylor ham/pork roll on the menu?

“We do serve it for breakfast on a Kaiser roll,” he said, as he checked the lunch buffet.

Jersey cred established.

For frequent flyers, the menu will not remain static and will change with the four seasons, he said.

There is possibly no better guide than Carmela Calamita, United Airlines premium service agent of Freehold who’s worked at the airport for 37 years and knows how airport clubs have evolved since the 1980′s.

“In the past, we never had food offerings. It was cheese and crackers,” she said. “Now we serve hot food, a hot buffet, there’s a full bar.”

The wide array of food choices varies from fresh vegetables, sandwiches and wraps to a soup and a salad bar. Coffee varieties include expresso and lattes.

Jersey food is emphasized throughout the club, said Ron Jones, resident district manager for Flik Hospitality Group, the operator of United’s airport lounges at Newark.

“We use New Jersey produce, squash, zucchini, eggplant, peaches…when in season,” Jones said, adding they work with local farms and suppliers to source them.

Jersey’s favorite confectionary, salt water taffy, is available in large jars, along with candy, dried fruit and wasabi beans. Flik used QR code phone surveys to keep up with changing customer tastes, he said.

The lounge also boasts a lot of seating.

The seats along the back wall of the United Club, which faces the terminal’s giant panoramic window, look out at the skylines of Newark and New York.

A large bar is bookended by two big TVs.

Away from the buffet and food area are eight single seat booths, with indirect lighting that are perfect for working or using a laptop in. All were in use. Closer to the buffet are several similar sized two-seat diner style booths (This is Jersey.)

For family needs, there is a wellness room for moms to breastfeed and a large handicapped unisex bathroom, in addition to men’s and women’s rooms. The Terminal A United Club is half the size of the 30,000 square foot club at Terminal C, so it doesn’t have showers the larger club offers for travelers to freshen up after a long trip.

With a capacity of 524 people, the Terminal A United Club is both close to TSA security checkpoints and a shuttle bus that runs to Terminals B and C, said Anthony Fleet, a United spokesman.

“United’s lounge is the first in a remarkable array of new world-class amenities that will be part of the full opening of Terminal A that will occur over this summer and early fall,” said Rick Cotton, Port Authority executive director.

Club hours are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The three other Terminal A clubs are expected to open later this year, Port Authority officials said.

The east and south wings of the main terminal building, consisting of 21 gates, opened to the public on Jan. 12. Completion of the second wing Is nearing, Port Authority officials said.

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