Originally Posted by as219

Hmmm. I agree with the sentiment in general that one should know the rules before throwing a fit, but frankly I'm not sure it applies in the case. UA has shuffled around the rules concerning RCC access and drink chits quite a bit over the years, so it's not that surprising that customers are confused. If UA were more transparent -- and proactive -- in terms of notifying customers about these changes it would be one thing, but burrying changes in the rules of RCC access and provision of drink chits in the fine print of various websites the casual traveler has never heard of is something else entirely. And then remember too that even when chits were handed out at non-international gateway clubs, even that policy was not followed uniformly. When UA itself doesn't seem to know and consistently follow its own rules, how can its customers be expected to keep them straight?

In the OPs situation, the proper way to handle it would have been for RCC personnel simply to give the him the vouchers with a smile, explain the change in rules, and move along. That's the cost of having an inconsistent and inconsistently enforced set of rules. Yes, some will abuse the system, but the responsible party here is UA, not the pax confused by the back-and-forth.