First-Half 2012 MP Elite Cards will be Stickers (confirmed and stickers sent mid-Jan)
Nov 22, 2011, 4:56 am
#46
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Programs: UA-1k, 1mm, Marriott-LT Platinum, Hertz-Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,355
Nov 22, 2011, 5:08 am
#47
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: United Plat 2MM, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,727
The color they are today - not sure what else to call them.
About seven or eight years ago, 2Ps were silver, 1Ps were gold and white, and 1Ks were white and gold - the reverse of the 1P pattern. When they went to the modern color, the LH lounge deniers-of-access had a hard time believing they were gold. (It does say "Star Gold" on them, in microscopic type)
I have about a 40% success rate with my BP alone in Senator lounges. It works without fail in GVA. In FRA, even when it works, they often want to take a look at the card.
About seven or eight years ago, 2Ps were silver, 1Ps were gold and white, and 1Ks were white and gold - the reverse of the 1P pattern. When they went to the modern color, the LH lounge deniers-of-access had a hard time believing they were gold. (It does say "Star Gold" on them, in microscopic type)
I have about a 40% success rate with my BP alone in Senator lounges. It works without fail in GVA. In FRA, even when it works, they often want to take a look at the card.
Nov 22, 2011, 5:09 am
#48
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: CHI
Programs: UA 1K, MR Titanium, IHG Gold, National Exec
Posts: 3,841
Anyone who thinks the lack of a 2012 *G card won't affect their lounge access obviously does not do enough travel outside the US. No matter what UA tries to tell other airlines, you can't seriously expect not to get rejected many times during the few months we'll have stickers. Why should other airlines have to alter their lounge access policy for UA elites just because of UA's incompetence? Every *A lounge I've been to (including so-called "safe" ones listed earlier like the SFO and TPE SKL, NRT/HND NH lounge, etc.) has wanted a card. Your 2011 card's mag stripe isn't going to magically encode itself with 2012 validity. For flying UA this will be fine, but good luck to you if you're flying a partner.
Nov 22, 2011, 5:35 am
#49
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Washington, D.C.
Posts: 282
For all of you who think your boarding pass is good enough.. It wasn't from my flight from EWR - FRA and then onto Johannesburg 2 weeks ago. At the Senators lounge in Frankfurt they specifically asked for the card even though my boarding pass says *Gold; luckily I have it in my wallet.
Further I'll let you know my experience will be this evening from Johannesburg - FRA-DTW
My guess is at both locations they WILL require the card.
Big
to this decision.
I see this saving them millions in not sending out the cards -- but they should have thought about lining up their changes with the program year. Ugh this is going to get so much worse before it gets better.
Further I'll let you know my experience will be this evening from Johannesburg - FRA-DTW
My guess is at both locations they WILL require the card.
Big
to this decision.I see this saving them millions in not sending out the cards -- but they should have thought about lining up their changes with the program year. Ugh this is going to get so much worse before it gets better.
Nov 22, 2011, 6:14 am
#50
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,138
The color they are today - not sure what else to call them.
About seven or eight years ago, 2Ps were silver, 1Ps were gold and white, and 1Ks were white and gold - the reverse of the 1P pattern. When they went to the modern color, the LH lounge deniers-of-access had a hard time believing they were gold. (It does say "Star Gold" on them, in microscopic type)
About seven or eight years ago, 2Ps were silver, 1Ps were gold and white, and 1Ks were white and gold - the reverse of the 1P pattern. When they went to the modern color, the LH lounge deniers-of-access had a hard time believing they were gold. (It does say "Star Gold" on them, in microscopic type)
I've had BP alone work at MUC and FRA, but have had both ask for the card, too.
Nov 22, 2011, 6:54 am
#51
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Join Date: Dec 2009
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The color they are today - not sure what else to call them.
About seven or eight years ago, 2Ps were silver, 1Ps were gold and white, and 1Ks were white and gold - the reverse of the 1P pattern. When they went to the modern color, the LH lounge deniers-of-access had a hard time believing they were gold. (It does say "Star Gold" on them, in microscopic type)
I have about a 40% success rate with my BP alone in Senator lounges. It works without fail in GVA. In FRA, even when it works, they often want to take a look at the card.
About seven or eight years ago, 2Ps were silver, 1Ps were gold and white, and 1Ks were white and gold - the reverse of the 1P pattern. When they went to the modern color, the LH lounge deniers-of-access had a hard time believing they were gold. (It does say "Star Gold" on them, in microscopic type)
I have about a 40% success rate with my BP alone in Senator lounges. It works without fail in GVA. In FRA, even when it works, they often want to take a look at the card.
Nov 22, 2011, 7:05 am
#52
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
Join Date: Jun 2000
Programs: Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Exec Elite
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Nov 22, 2011, 7:10 am
#53
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 133
When I wanted to enter the LH SEN lounge in DUS last week, they scanned my printed at home on-line check in Y boarding pass, while I was looking for my 1P card. When I wanted to give them the card, the attendant said, "I don't need it, your boarding pass scanned and gave a green light, so you can enter".
First time for me that they did not want to see the actual card, so maybe something changed...
First time for me that they did not want to see the actual card, so maybe something changed...
Nov 22, 2011, 7:20 am
#54
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: IAH
Programs: UA GS/MM, MR PPE/LTG, TSA Pre✓, NEXUS, APEC BTC, UKBF RT, CLEAR, DXB E-GATE
Posts: 251
How about doing the reverse?
Send new cards out before then end of January under the existing program. Then when you get your act together, send out stickers with the new program name and logo that will fit nicely over the old program name and logo but not affect the *G logo or 2013 expiration date, which are what really matter in *A lounges.
May I remind you, CO/UA, that when you pulled our Elite year expiration date back by a month, it was because you assured us you could get the cards out to us by the end of January?
Send new cards out before then end of January under the existing program. Then when you get your act together, send out stickers with the new program name and logo that will fit nicely over the old program name and logo but not affect the *G logo or 2013 expiration date, which are what really matter in *A lounges.
May I remind you, CO/UA, that when you pulled our Elite year expiration date back by a month, it was because you assured us you could get the cards out to us by the end of January?
Nov 22, 2011, 7:58 am
#55
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Nov 22, 2011, 8:15 am
#56
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: ANP
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I know you cant get into the SEN lounge at IAD WITHOUT a valid card, showing status or anything, they wont let you in without a valid card....
bye bye lounges, just a way for $miskek to save money for not having to pay for us to go to other lounges
bye bye lounges, just a way for $miskek to save money for not having to pay for us to go to other lounges
Nov 22, 2011, 8:28 am
#57
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Right, Smisek himself thought of this specifically to spite us and save maybe at most thousands of dollars. While balancing new plane purchases/$500 million upgrades/etc. Give me a break.
Nov 22, 2011, 9:01 am
#58
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: ANP
Programs: UA 1k, Marriott Plat, HH gold, Avis/Hertz Pres
Posts: 1,408
well if UA pays each entrance I think its like 40 bucks or something, its way more than a couple of thousand
Nov 22, 2011, 9:05 am
#59
Join Date: Oct 2011
Programs: CO (now UA) 1K / Hyatt Platinum / UMPPPC / SLH Honoured
Posts: 108
This indeed is a pain. Even though "*G" was on my boarding pass, the LH lounge agent in FRA this past weekend insisted on seeing a physical card before letting me in the lounge.
This was with a CO boarding pass. Interestingly, two people in front of me with UA boarding passes were sent right through without having to show a physical card.
???
This was with a CO boarding pass. Interestingly, two people in front of me with UA boarding passes were sent right through without having to show a physical card.
???
Nov 22, 2011, 9:10 am
#60
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
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Experienced this myself in FRA earlier this year; my wife's onward BP for LH was in C, and mine (having been part of a UA-LH mixed itin u/g'd with a SWU) was in Y. She got in with just a BP scan; I had to provide my 1K card when they scanned mine.