Originally Posted by
WineCountryUA
UA must believe and I suspect they are right, at the moment, that would not move the needle. Sure a few, especially FT types, maybe.
The real problem is an across-the-board, all carriers, all flights, a distinct lack of HVF purchasing intercontinental preCOVID business fares. The revenues are not there. More upgraders does not help.
True it may not move the needle now but it may move it (or prevent it moving backwards) when HVF travel recovers.
It is shortsighted if UA thinks that abysmal service during COVID will have no impact post-COVID. The lounges are not going to suddenly improve the day business travel picks up. UA may end up paying dearly for the neglect and underinvestment in it's lounges through the COVID period. Once COVID is done they will be playing catch up and will be impossible game as the competition may have long left them behind. Some airlines took advantage of the pandemic to renew and refresh their lounges whereas for United it has been an even more advanced degree of decay and decline.
What I saw in the EWR lounge this weekend is without question the worst lounge I have ever witnessed in a US airport - and to imagine that this is their main hub serving a large section of the country. There is simply no excuse for such a deplorable lounge and lounge situation - regardless of what's happening with business travel. I am not sure though that business travel alone should be what drives investment in airline lounges. Lounge access is the most tangible benefit of gold status with major alliances and one that all can truly benefit from (unlike say upgrades). If there is effectively no star alliance lounge (of international standard) in EWR terminal C then that is an impetus to seek another alliance or to fly other airlines in the alliance.