We don't fly often, and when we do it's always up front, whether domestic or intl. My parents are NSRAs so if we don't use the passes, we usually give them to them.
Since we don't spend much on travel, a travel card is out of the question as well. But the 5% cash back Master Card might be worth exploring. I justified the Explorer card bu using the MileagePlus X App, MP Shopping, MP Dining, etc, but that 5.25% might be a better deal.
Taking the topic back on to the devaluation of the UC (before we get counseled for going OT), The one-time pass issue is frustrating, however there is a post or two in the new EWR Club thread, towards the beginning, about how nice of a club it is and how UA intends to use a similar model going forward, which does add value to the clubs, in fact we could say it added so much value that they're turning people away. Regardless the reason of the high attendance, the new club is at least 3X the size of the old one and they are still maxing out. Appears to be a winning situation for UA. (Now if they can apply this logic to the Polaris Model, that would be even better).