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Questions Regarding the United Club one-time pass ( OTP )

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Old Jan 4, 2015, 9:53 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: pseudoswede
Chase in conjunction with UA, as a renewal benefit for certain UA MP-branded Chase credit cards, offer one-time United Club (UC) access passes. {Hyatt also offers similar passes for their top elites.} These passes offer one-time access to the UC (with any airline same day BP) on a space-available basis. No guest privileges. The pass is only for UA operated clubs, cannot be used at non-UA operated lounges.
Note: Club member/one-time pass access changes Nov 1, 2019 (same day BP on UA or partner) BP requirements change to just UA/*A

Use of passes at a particular UC / airport can be suspended due to capacity / crowding issues. This issue seems to be most common at DEN and EWR due to United Club closures/renovations going on right now; however, all United Clubs can and have denied entry to one-time pass holders due to capacity constraints.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a boarding pass required to use a one-time pass at a United Club?
Yes, you must present a same-day United, Star Alliance, or contracted partner airline's boarding pass.

Can I use these one-time passes at partner/contract/*A lounges?
No. These one-time passes are only used at actual United Club lounges world-wide. Any lounge identified on this page as being operated by "United Club" are eligible for use with one-time passes.

Can I use one-time passes at the new United Club Fly in Denver?
Yes. Whether it's worth it to use it for a glorified grab-n-go food/drink stop is up to you.

Can I use a single one-time pass at multiple United Clubs on the same day?
No. You must surrender your day pass upon entering the club. If you plan to visit multiple United Clubs on the same day, you will need multiple day passes or purchase a United Club Day Pass which is sometimes offered through your reservation. There is anecdotal evidence of pass holders being able to use different UA Clubs at same airport -- inquire at the entry desk (it typically involves a stamp on your boarding pass and it will be very YMMV). However, no way to use the same pass at a different airports.

Are in/out privileges allowed when using the one-time pass?
Technically, no. However, it is not out of the realm of possibility if you ask the lounge attendant nicely. YMMV, though.

How many people can enter the United Club with one-time access pass?
One person per pass. Exception - UC policy is all children under 2 are not considered a formal guest.
A one-time pass admits one person, with no guests, to a United Club location. Exception: children under 2 years of age may accompany someone accessing a United Club location with a one-time pass.
Are minors allowed?
Yes, as long as they are accompanied by another person 18 or older (21 or older if the UA Club offers a self-service bar). Remember, one day pass per person (lap child excluded).

Can I be denied entry into the United Club?
Yes. If an United Club is near full capacity, it will no longer sell day passes. It will also deny entry to those with one-time passes initially and other eligible travelers ( UC member, *G, premier cabin,...) could be delayed on entering once capacity reaches local limits.

Are expired one-time passes still usable?
Expired one-time passes can be used for 50% off admission, up to 30 days after the expiration date.

Can I give my pass to a family member or friend? How?
Yes. Now you can e-mail passes (or generate a PDF) directly from the app to whomever you want. You can also take a screenshot of the pass in the United App and email/message that to your family member. Worst case scenario, you can also e-mail/text the 16-digit code to the one-time pass to your friend/family, and the United Club attendant should be able to key it in manually. The pass will remain in your United App until it is used by someone else at a club, so it remains available for your use (unlike a physical pass).

Can I upload/store the one-time pass in the United app?
As of Summer 2017, all new passes issued by the Chase United Explorer card are now loaded directly into the United app (or accessible on the website). You have the option of either e-mailing or generating a PDF of the pass to send to whomever you want. However, if you receive a pass from someone, you cannot save that to your United account.

I see these passes available for sell on eBay/Craigslist/etc? Are they valid? Is this safe?
It should be noted UA frowns on the third party trading, selling, or bartering of their coupons. As with any transaction of this type, it's always buyer beware; however, reports of issues are very rare.
The current going rate on eBay is $30-45 each for passes with a lengthy expiration date. Passes that expire in a few weeks can be had in the $20-30 range, sometimes even less, as the expiration date approaches.

I cancelled my Chase United Explorer card. Are my passes still valid?
Maybe? A user reported on 10/16/2019 that his passes remained on the United app after their UA Explorer credit card was cancelled weeks ago, and the passes worked without issue at the United Club at MCO. This goes against an earlier finding that... any unused one-time passes will be forfeited from your account--even if you printed out the barcode from the United app for later use. The time between card cancellation to pass invalidation is unknown; however, it is suggested that the passes aren't invalid until they disappear from your UA app. This is now an additional risk one needs to be wary about when buying one-time pass barcodes from eBay/Craigslist. Until there is additional proof, it's best to say: proceed with caution.

Entry is also available for $59 (as of 02/2016) at the UC itself or by purchasing within the United mobile app.

Club member/one-time pass access changes Nov 1, 2019 (same day BP on UA or partner)

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Questions Regarding the United Club one-time pass ( OTP )

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Old Jun 18, 2022, 8:29 am
  #31  
Moderator: United Airlines
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,854
Originally Posted by Ddalcard
What’s the deal with the no United Airlines lounge access for one pass holders? I have an Explorer card which gives me two one time passes annually but for the past two years they have been unusable. Do I contact my credit card company about this or United? So wrong!!!!
Which UCs have you been denied? EWR seems to be the worst for pass holders. (and in general for all due a capacity issue UA is slooowly working on)

Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jun 18, 2022 at 8:38 am Reason: (and in general for all due a capacity issue UA is slooowly working on)
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Old Jun 18, 2022, 8:51 am
  #32  
 
Join Date: Jun 2022
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Originally Posted by WineCountryUA
Which UCs have you been denied? EWR seems to be the worst for pass holders. (and in general for all due a capacity issue UA is slooowly working on)
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Old Jun 20, 2022, 6:36 am
  #33  
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
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Well, turns out all the worry about "texting/emailing" UC one-day passes as gifts to friends for their vacation was all for nothing. They were denied entrance into the EWR Terminal C UC Yesterday. Filled to capacity was the reason. Our friends took it in stride, just sad that our goal to send them off on their Italian vacation in style was a failure.
Now, they rarely fly and I don't fly UA. Is there any chance of us getting a refund on those UC one day passes?
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Old Jul 23, 2022, 2:53 am
  #34  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 185
lounge access with One Time Pass at BOM

Can I get in any lounge with an United One Time Pass at Mumbai airport?
Same question for Zurich airport. Traveling economy.

Last edited by sunrise; Jul 23, 2022 at 3:03 am
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Old Jul 23, 2022, 3:04 am
  #35  
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
No. There is no United Club there. Partner lounge does not accept this pass from UA.
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Old Jul 23, 2022, 4:21 am
  #36  
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As noted, they can only be used at actual United Clubs (no partner or third-party lounges) and there are currently only 2 outside the US50 that are open -- at LHR and MEX. There are also United Clubs in GUM, NRT, and HKG, but they are currently closed -- https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/tra...locations.html
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Old Jul 23, 2022, 12:34 pm
  #37  
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 572
Originally Posted by InfrequentFlyer2018
Well, turns out all the worry about "texting/emailing" UC one-day passes as gifts to friends for their vacation was all for nothing. They were denied entrance into the EWR Terminal C UC Yesterday.
You should have told them that those passes are only valid if you arrive at EWR UC before 7 AM (while the club is still under capacity) !
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Old Jul 23, 2022, 6:40 pm
  #38  
Moderator: United Airlines
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
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Posts: 66,854
Originally Posted by UAFAM
You should have told them that those passes are only valid if you arrive at EWR UC before 7 AM (while the club is still under capacity) !
While there are times OTPs are not usable at the new EWR UC, there have been many reports of access after 7AM -- but there are issues at some peak periods.
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Old Jul 23, 2022, 8:45 pm
  #39  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: DYKWIA, But I'm a "Diamond Guest" UA 1K/2MM
Posts: 2,257
Originally Posted by InfrequentFlyer2018
Well, turns out all the worry about "texting/emailing" UC one-day passes as gifts to friends for their vacation was all for nothing. They were denied entrance into the EWR Terminal C UC Yesterday. Filled to capacity was the reason. Our friends took it in stride, just sad that our goal to send them off on their Italian vacation in style was a failure.
Now, they rarely fly and I don't fly UA. Is there any chance of us getting a refund on those UC one day passes?
Yeah. Write or call Chase or whatever credit card company and tell them the passes are unusable. If enough people do that, United might have to give up this odious fraud.
porciuscato is offline  
Old Jul 24, 2022, 1:30 pm
  #40  
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 307
Originally Posted by InfrequentFlyer2018
Well, turns out all the worry about "texting/emailing" UC one-day passes as gifts to friends for their vacation was all for nothing. They were denied entrance into the EWR Terminal C UC Yesterday. Filled to capacity was the reason. Our friends took it in stride, just sad that our goal to send them off on their Italian vacation in style was a failure.
Now, they rarely fly and I don't fly UA. Is there any chance of us getting a refund on those UC one day passes?
Another attempt to use the passes.. My sister and her friend were traveling JFK/SFO/MFR. Obviously no JFK lounge, but no luck during her layover in SFO. SFO club has a very nice, professionally printed sign, proudly announcing "We are at capacity and aren't able to accept on-time passes" . So this is obviously a great revenue stream for United. Sell something they know will never be able to be utilized.
I've gotten a bit of a run around from United trying to get a refund. Have put a dispute in with my CC.
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Old Jul 24, 2022, 1:51 pm
  #41  
Moderator: United Airlines
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,854
Originally Posted by InfrequentFlyer2018
....So this is obviously a great revenue stream for United. Sell something they know will never be able to be utilized.
I've gotten a bit of a run around from United trying to get a refund. Have put a dispute in with my CC.
Difficult to use perhaps, "never" for all users is inaccurate as there are regular reports of the passes being used. It is not common for the sign to be up at SFO, been some time since I have seen it. Was it true for all three SFO UCs?

That said, they are harder to use than the impression in the TV ads. Your credit card is the correct avenue of remedy as its is a credit card provided benefit and that is Chase (that is who took your annual fee), not UA.
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Old Jul 24, 2022, 2:04 pm
  #42  
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,852
Originally Posted by WineCountryUA
Difficult to use perhaps, "never" for all users is inaccurate as there are regular reports of the passes being used. It is not common for the sign to be up at SFO, been some time since I have seen it. Was it true for all three SFO UCs?

That said, they are harder to use than the impression in the TV ads. Your credit card is the correct avenue of remedy as its is a credit card provided benefit and that is Chase (that is who took your annual fee), not UA.
I called into Chase and asked for an extension after a friend was turned down at ORD. The representative at Chase said I will receive a letter in 10 days because they hav to escalate. The letter did come in approximately two weeks and basically said that the passes are good until they expire. No extensions! Luckily three days before expiration another friend used it at SFO
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Old Jul 24, 2022, 6:55 pm
  #43  
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 307
Originally Posted by WineCountryUA
Difficult to use perhaps, "never" for all users is inaccurate as there are regular reports of the passes being used. It is not common for the sign to be up at SFO, been some time since I have seen it. Was it true for all three SFO UCs?

That said, they are harder to use than the impression in the TV ads. Your credit card is the correct avenue of remedy as its is a credit card provided benefit and that is Chase (that is who took your annual fee), not UA.
Fair critique on my use of "never", just bitter. Also, these were purchased with a non Chase/UA CC. This all started as a gift to a friend and his family heading to FCO. At this point, i'm trying to find anyway for the passes to get use.
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Old Jul 25, 2022, 9:05 am
  #44  
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
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Posts: 15,023
Originally Posted by InfrequentFlyer2018
Another attempt to use the passes.. My sister and her friend were traveling JFK/SFO/MFR. Obviously no JFK lounge, but no luck during her layover in SFO. SFO club has a very nice, professionally printed sign, proudly announcing "We are at capacity and aren't able to accept on-time passes" . So this is obviously a great revenue stream for United. Sell something they know will never be able to be utilized.
I've gotten a bit of a run around from United trying to get a refund. Have put a dispute in with my CC.
The Rotunda UC usually accepts passes when the E gates UC does not. Saw this again last Wednesday - pass holders were being admitted at Rotunda and E gates UC had the "No one-time passes" sign prominently situated outside. The E gates UC is undersized. Did they try the Rotunda UC or just the E gates UC?
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Old Aug 2, 2022, 6:04 am
  #45  
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 307
Received a full refund and a short apology. Well done United!
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InfrequentFlyer2018 is offline  


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