Originally Posted by
fastfxr
It's all CC holders and few pro-fliers.
Was in Boston last week and met a fellow heavy flier who said the same thing. Was glad to find someone else that was aware of the problem.
United doesn't care. It's not a club for fliers, it's a perk for CC holders.
Aware of the problem? What exactly is the problem? I've never understood this argument or this logic. It's just more pure business traveler DYKWIA overinflated smugness. "Pro-fliers" must not understand how the Club card or membership works, maybe because they always pick it up through miles and don't pay cash?
A perk??! It's not like the club membership is given away "for free" with the Club card, but it seems many FT'ers think it is? I've had other smug business travelers (no doubt who expensed their membership) say the same garbage to me. As an independent contractor, I pay my own expenses, and the membership with the Club Card is not "free" by any means.
The fee for the Club card is $450/yr.
The fee for the Club itself is $550 for GM (why a GM would join the club is beyond me), then $525 for silver through $450 for 1K.
With the Explorer card, you get two passes - with an annual fee of $95.
Two one-time passes retail cost $100.
Yet, with the straight membership, you can buy it for 60,000 miles - or no cash outlay.
So please tell me again how it's "cardholders" getting some kind of free benefit here?
Why in the world would I shell out $450 for a plain Club membership as a 1K, when I can pay the same for a Club Card and get double miles -- but pay the same price for the same membership? I'm a "pro flier" - 125,000 PQM this year and the year is only 3/4 over - yet I pay for a Club Card because it makes sense - and I'd pay the EXACT SAME amount for the same membership as a 1K. Yet you're not the first person to have acted like I shouldn't be there when I pay for drinks with my club card... As if somehow you're a "real member" of the silly treehouse and I'm not?
I really wish you could elucidate what the problem is here with "cardholders" - because it's not what's causing the overcrowding when it's exactly the same price as buying a membership or two retail day passes. (Or maybe you're just being smug and think a plain membership at the exact same rate as the card membership is somehow "better"? )
Again, tell me, if I'm paying $450 for a credit card that's only different for offering club access, how am I getting a free "perk" in club access?
Originally Posted by
uastarflyer
Besides, the Club Card is $400/yr. it is pretty close to a paid membership.
(First year annual fee credits aside)
It's up to $450 now - increased $50 just like the regular club membership did.
Originally Posted by
SPLITTERZ
They do...its 2 guests per UC membership
The problem is that A) lots of times I've seen them waive the restriction for kids - even of adult age - seen plenty of times they let in someone's spouse + 2-3 kids with no issue... and B) (this is gonna get me a lot of flak from the parent crowd) people strangely think the Club is an appropriate place for young children.