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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 Dec 15, 2022, 9:50 am
  #91  
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Join Date: Apr 2001
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Yes, you can purchase through the website or app. Once it's in your wallet, you can "print" out a PDF or send it via e-mail.

Please note, if they have long layovers in both airports, you need to purchase one per person per airport.

I think I've also heard there is some kind of option for a United Club day pass for the whole one-way itinerary, but you would need access to their reservation.
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Old Dec 15, 2022, 10:51 am
  #92  
 
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Be careful with the UCs at EWR, they sometimes don't accept day passes. Not sure if that is true at IAD.
Not sure if you can buy UC access, that is attached to your PNR, after the ticket is purchased, in reference to pseudoswede's comment.
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Old Dec 18, 2022, 10:27 am
  #93  
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
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LH lounge access with UA passes?

Hello, I've got a couple of UA lounge passes from a CHASE card benefit.

If I have a UA flight to FRA then an Air Dolomiti flight (LH flight#) from FRA to INN, can I redeem a pass at an LH lounge in FRA?

Cheers.
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Old Dec 18, 2022, 10:36 am
  #94  
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Originally Posted by povertyjetset
Hello, I've got a couple of UA lounge passes from a CHASE card benefit.

If I have a UA flight to FRA then an Air Dolomiti flight (LH flight#) from FRA to INN, can I redeem a pass at an LH lounge in FRA?

Cheers.
No, the passes state they are only for UA operated UCs. And there are no UCs at FRA
WineCountryUA is offline  
Old Dec 18, 2022, 11:36 am
  #95  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
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Originally Posted by VRFast
Be careful with the UCs at EWR, they sometimes don't accept day passes. Not sure if that is true at IAD.
Not sure if you can buy UC access, that is attached to your PNR, after the ticket is purchased, in reference to pseudoswede's comment.
Interesting! My husband and I didn't have any problem using our chase passes at EWR last November. Are the one time passes different than that?

EDIT: I meant the chase passes from my United CC
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Old Dec 18, 2022, 3:50 pm
  #96  
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Originally Posted by jmj10
Interesting! My husband and I didn't have any problem using our chase passes at EWR last November. Are the one time passes different than that?

EDIT: I meant the chase passes from my United CC
Chase passes are the same as the day passes you can buy on the app. My in-laws were denied twice at the new EWR UC (about 7-hour layover). They were finally allowed in with about 90 minutes before boarding the flight.
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Old Dec 25, 2022, 9:52 am
  #97  
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
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One time passes are of no use

Christmas Day was unable to get into the United club at Ohare. The agent said all clubs are like this. I suspect this will be an ongoing issue. I think I will cancel my United credit car and switch to the Hyatt one.
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Old Dec 25, 2022, 10:22 am
  #98  
 
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Originally Posted by Steve Weagant
Christmas Day was unable to get into the United club at Ohare. The agent said all clubs are like this. I suspect this will be an ongoing issue. I think I will cancel my United credit car and switch to the Hyatt one.
This is not a UA-specific issue. Same thing is happening over at AA and DL (which is having the most issues with this). Problem is the airlines have figured out that they make more money selling miles and club access to credit card companies than they do flying planes. So, they offer these benefits as a part of a credit card, thousands of people take advantage of it and then, shazam, the clubs are packed a@@es-to-elbows on a Tuesday mid-afternoon. Last month I was in PHL and tried to access the DL SC on a Wednesday afternoon. There was a line to get in with an expected wait of an hour...at an outstation that's not that busy for DL compared to some.

If club access matter you should consider upgrading to one of the cards where it's included in your annual fee. If it's not important I would agree that you should consider downgrading your card if the other benefits are of no value to you either.
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SOBE ER DOC is offline  
Old Dec 25, 2022, 10:46 am
  #99  
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Due to the recent storm, today isn't the slow day for travel it usually is, with all the recovery going on.
mduell is offline  
Old Dec 25, 2022, 10:50 am
  #100  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
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There's been something like 10,000 flights canceled across the country over the past few days, and even todays ORD departures/arrivals have as much yellow/red as green. It's hardly surprising that the demand on the lounges will be excessive on a day like today.
docbert is offline  
Old Dec 25, 2022, 11:17 am
  #101  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
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I fly out of Denver. They have been unusable for years.
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Old Dec 25, 2022, 11:19 am
  #102  
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Originally Posted by Steve Weagant
Christmas Day was unable to get into the United club at Ohare. The agent said all clubs are like this. ....
No, not all UCs are like this, all the time. EWR amd at times ORD are the most problematic (DEN is an issue presently due to the closed for renovation UC), But a peak holiday period with massive travel disruptions (20+% of ORD flights are delayed or cancelled today) the UC and all carrier lounges are slammed anf the OTP are the first to be cut off. If you plan to use the UCs just during a peak period, then best not to count on it as a benefit.

Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 25, 2022 at 11:25 am Reason: (20+% of ORD flights are delayed or cancelled today)
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Old Dec 25, 2022, 1:24 pm
  #103  
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,925
No problem using the Chase passes at the SFO F concourse UC today (XMAS).
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FLYMSY is offline  
Old Dec 25, 2022, 1:50 pm
  #104  
 
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Originally Posted by docbert
There's been something like 10,000 flights canceled across the country over the past few days, and even todays ORD departures/arrivals have as much yellow/red as green. It's hardly surprising that the demand on the lounges will be excessive on a day like today.
Also those using the lounges are often there for hours waiting for a delayed flight. Not just a pop in prior to a connection.

Last edited by nomad420; Dec 26, 2022 at 1:21 pm
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Old Dec 25, 2022, 2:53 pm
  #105  
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,925
Originally Posted by nomad420
Also those using the lounges are often there for hours not waiting for a delayed flight. Not just a pop in prior to a connection.
Count me as someone who’s using the lounge while waiting (still) for an almost 4 hour delay - SFO-MSY. (Operational issue) Includes one terminal change, 4 gate changes and a few aircraft changes.
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