Like many domestic customers, I'm constantly bombarded by targeted promotions offering me the United Club Card for $0 the first year, $450/year thereafter, provided I don't already have the card and haven't used such an offer in the past 24 months. The latest promotion is at http://mpclubcard.com/.

It sounds like maybe I can get free UC membership every other year by just using this offer, then canceling before the $450 is due. I'm not particularly concerned about a hard pull on my credit at this point, so am wondering if there are other downsides. Can anyone report on experience churning this card? Anything else I should know about, seeing it's been over a decade since I last applied for a credit card? Has anyone tried alternating years with their spouse?

Next question is whether UC membership is even worth it for free, given that:

1. I already have UC access on international itineraries as a 1K,
2. As a 1K, I also have access to non-UA Star Alliance lounges, such as the LH lounge in IAD,
3. Through Amex Platinum, I have Centurion club access in my home airport of SFO and now IAH (and prefer the Centurion club to the UC), and
4. I have PriorityPass select with two free guests through Prestige (oh, and an extra PriorityPass select with no guests through Amex Platinum).

Most of the domestic UCs I've visited recently (e.g., SFO, IAH) have been utterly dismal, particularly with respect to food choices. That said, I do fly some domestic routes where I don't have post-security lounge access (e.g., EWR and BOS), or where it's a bit of a trek to get to a lounge to which I have access (e.g., LH Senator's lounge at IAD B gates and Alaska Boardroom in T6 at LAX).

Are any of the other benefits worth anything on the club card? I thought you at least got CPUs on award itineraries, but that doesn't seem to be in the terms and conditions. (Anyway I've gotten only one CPU in the last two years, so doubt it would ever happen to a 1K on an XN fare.) I guess there's also Hyatt Platinum status--is that at all interesting (I probably stay in Hyatt properties 2-3 times per year)?