Originally Posted by
WineCountryUA
The lifetime cards images? what about it led to the need to have a card?
About two years ago UA removed the
"physical card" statement, about when UA stop issuing cards.
And the just issue me a card and not everyone else, underestimate the costs of due a personalized card (annually). While in may feel like a $0.25 item, the cost of doing a full population or individual cards is far more than that --- we have had this discussion many times for elite status cards. These are not insignificant expenses and UA has chosen not to do -- as have the hotel programs, most airlines, ... Is it neat swag, perhaps for some, but prior discussions have suggested that most prefer the phone app solution over carrying cards.
There is a similar non-lifetime card in this post:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/35114891-post29.html. It is quite similar to the lifetime card, so I was referring to them as a group.
No need to send automatically, although it appears the above was done in that way. Even if it costs $5 to print, I think it would be reasonable UA giving up <1% of their annual revenue on a particular membership to satisfy a customer who requested. Most wouldn't request, but then all would be satisfied. It's a small thing, but it seems to typify the general approach — cut all the costs they can find.