Last edit by: J.Edward
This wiki has been moved to the 2014 thread: 2014 United Club (UC) Thread for Changes, News, Features, Competitive Position, etc.
United Club changes (drinks and Wifi) - Sept/Oct. 2013
#1036
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Up in the Air
Programs: OW Emerald
Posts: 524
Definitely canceling my Chase UA Club card when the annual fee hits. Death by a thousand cuts. Or Maybe more aptly, boiling a lobster by slowly turning up the heat.
#1037
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Washington DC
Programs: Former 1k, Lifetime UA Gold, Starwood Gold; Avis Preferred; Hertz Gold
Posts: 1,732
I could have the timeline wrong in my head, but I think it has been some years since they sold life memberships, whereas the complementary alcoholic drinks were only introduced recently (at United clubs). I understand that drinks were already complementary at CO clubs before the merger, and maybe they sold life memberships more recently, but from the United side I don't think one could have bought a life membership believing adult beverages would be of decent quality and free...
Free liquor was introduced October 1, 2010.
Last lifetime Club membership could be bought on Sep 9, 2011.
Not sure if you could buy a lifetime membership on CO but if you bought the membership when they were offering free booze and they change the booze that's free, I'd say you have a pretty good argument notwithstanding the TOS that they can change anything at anytime.
#1038
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: IAH
Programs: UA/CO-GS/PPlat,AA-Gold,SPG-Plat,Hilton-Diamond,Marriott-Plat,Hertz-Pres_Circe
Posts: 824
According to my quick Google search:
Free liquor was introduced October 1, 2010.
Last lifetime Club membership could be bought on Sep 9, 2011.
Not sure if you could buy a lifetime membership on CO but if you bought the membership when they were offering free booze and they change the booze that's free, I'd say you have a pretty good argument notwithstanding the TOS that they can change anything at anytime.
Free liquor was introduced October 1, 2010.
Last lifetime Club membership could be bought on Sep 9, 2011.
Not sure if you could buy a lifetime membership on CO but if you bought the membership when they were offering free booze and they change the booze that's free, I'd say you have a pretty good argument notwithstanding the TOS that they can change anything at anytime.
Major downgrade, I too will likely cancel my card when the next annual fee hits.
#1039
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium, UA *S, BA Fanboy
Posts: 414
You know, I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder...
A gentleman just walked up the bar at SFO-Intl UC and was delighted to learn that beer, wine, and "house" liquors are complimentary. He seemed quite excited. Possibly his first time in a UC, at least for a while.
Just thought that was funny, considering our (mine included) general "sky is falling" outlook on the changes.
A gentleman just walked up the bar at SFO-Intl UC and was delighted to learn that beer, wine, and "house" liquors are complimentary. He seemed quite excited. Possibly his first time in a UC, at least for a while.
Just thought that was funny, considering our (mine included) general "sky is falling" outlook on the changes.
#1040
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1K; *G and *A Top 1000; HHonors Diamond; *$ Gold; Global Entry
Posts: 2,272
Lots of cheese; no crackers at the LAX Terminal 7 UC last Saturday. My guess is that UC will next offer saltines to everyone as complimentary and that in order to get "premium" crackers like the Pepperidge Farm ones they had before, you'll have to pay $1 per pack.
#1041
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: CLE
Programs: UA GS+LT UC, AA EXP+LT PLT, Fairmont LT PLT, Marriott PLT, Hilton DIA, Hyatt Glob, Avis CHM
Posts: 4,671
Picked up my FIL from CLE earlier today.
He said there was Bug Light, Miller Light, and MGD for free.
Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold and Heineken were $3.
Better off in the CLE Airspace Lounge where they give a $10 food and beverage card for you and for each of your guests (even when entering for free via AMEX Plat).
Got a fantastic bottle of Great Lakes Lake Erie Monster seasonal beer last time with my card.
He said there was Bug Light, Miller Light, and MGD for free.
Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold and Heineken were $3.
Better off in the CLE Airspace Lounge where they give a $10 food and beverage card for you and for each of your guests (even when entering for free via AMEX Plat).
Got a fantastic bottle of Great Lakes Lake Erie Monster seasonal beer last time with my card.
#1043
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia
Programs: Some of this 'n some of that
Posts: 17,263
#1044
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: CLE
Programs: UA GS+LT UC, AA EXP+LT PLT, Fairmont LT PLT, Marriott PLT, Hilton DIA, Hyatt Glob, Avis CHM
Posts: 4,671
#1045
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Houston
Programs: UA - 1K, Marriott - Gold, Hilton - Gold, Global Entry,
Posts: 633
I think this might be the driver for me to even cancel my Explorer card. The two lounge passes used to be nice, but I actually lost this year's pair and haven't even noticed. I just went and bellied up to a better bar for a few hours, and got out with a $40 tab for a real lunch and good beers. Otherwise, I don't get much from the Explorer card I don't get from my Gold status. I like the lack of foreign transaction fees, but I'm sure I can find a replacement card for that. Is there any other killer app I'm missing?
$11 for a Jack Daniels and $9 for Cuervo tequila? Really?? I won't even touch Cuervo since it isn't 100% agave so I can't imagine how terrible McCormicks must be uke:
#1046
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Syd
Programs: UA 1k 1MM, VA G
Posts: 886
I've personally seen it twice now
On the other side of the coin
Here in australia where labour costs are 2x that of the USA
and Booze is 2x the cost as well
My membership to the QF club runs me $400 year (corp rate) and they have free good booze and food
I wonder just how poorly UA might be running the operation in the back end
#1047
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,422
Yeah, all of this is annoying for those of us in the US, but just imagine what these practices loom like to the European or Asian business traveler! Drink chits (in the old days)? Paying for drinks in the lounge? The very poor quality of the drinks, the food, etc.? At least the decor is getting a bit better in places, but in general our international colleagues must be shocked when they see these clubs...
Very true. And honestly, some of those LH lounges can be a bit utilitarian. Like I remember the hot food in FRA one afternoon being frankfurters. Of course, getting hot dogs in a UA Club would be practically luxurious.
Someone with a one time pass walked in and shoved everything into thier backpack
I've personally seen it twice now
On the other side of the coin
Here in australia where labour costs are 2x that of the USA
and Booze is 2x the cost as well
My membership to the QF club runs me $400 year (corp rate) and they have free good booze and food
I wonder just how poorly UA might be running the operation in the back end
I've personally seen it twice now
On the other side of the coin
Here in australia where labour costs are 2x that of the USA
and Booze is 2x the cost as well
My membership to the QF club runs me $400 year (corp rate) and they have free good booze and food
I wonder just how poorly UA might be running the operation in the back end
QF lounges are great -- even the domestic ones (in separate terminals from int'l flights). I've "eaten dinner" in one. We Americans can only dream of visiting enjoyable domestic lounges with good and plentiful free food and drink.
#1048
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Anywhere I need to be.
Programs: OW Emerald, *A Gold, NEXUS, GE, ABTC/APEC, South Korea SES, eIACS, PP, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 16,046
Someone with a one time pass walked in and shoved everything into thier backpack
I've personally seen it twice now
On the other side of the coin
Here in australia where labour costs are 2x that of the USA
and Booze is 2x the cost as well
My membership to the QF club runs me $400 year (corp rate) and they have free good booze and food
I wonder just how poorly UA might be running the operation in the back end
I've personally seen it twice now
On the other side of the coin
Here in australia where labour costs are 2x that of the USA
and Booze is 2x the cost as well
My membership to the QF club runs me $400 year (corp rate) and they have free good booze and food
I wonder just how poorly UA might be running the operation in the back end
#1049
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Here and there
Programs: General member, former 1P
Posts: 583
Non-member/CC holder chiming in. My routine was to buy a couple UC passes on a certain online auction marketplace close to their expiration date when I had travel coming up. For example, I bought a pair of passes for $13 recently expiring 9/30 for my wife and son, who are flying later this week. It's a nice surprise to hand her when I drop them off at the airport.
But... Bud Light? Really? I'm not even sure I'll bother giving her the passes, because she would rather drink nothing at all than cheap beer. I'm the same way. I understand not everyone is a drinker (or a beer drinker) but for those of us who are, this is a game changer in the wrong direction. And as others have noted it's difficult to understand -- a keg of Goose Island doesn't cost much more (if at all) than a keg of Bud Light.
Related: if you're wondering how many single-use passes UA generates compared to the other airlines, here are how many lots are active on a certain online auction site using the following phrases:
United Club pass: 205
Admirals Club pass: 19
Delta Sky Club pass: 17
US Airways Club pass: 4
Maple Leaf Lounge pass: 0
Alaska Airlines Board Room pass: 0
But... Bud Light? Really? I'm not even sure I'll bother giving her the passes, because she would rather drink nothing at all than cheap beer. I'm the same way. I understand not everyone is a drinker (or a beer drinker) but for those of us who are, this is a game changer in the wrong direction. And as others have noted it's difficult to understand -- a keg of Goose Island doesn't cost much more (if at all) than a keg of Bud Light.
Related: if you're wondering how many single-use passes UA generates compared to the other airlines, here are how many lots are active on a certain online auction site using the following phrases:
United Club pass: 205
Admirals Club pass: 19
Delta Sky Club pass: 17
US Airways Club pass: 4
Maple Leaf Lounge pass: 0
Alaska Airlines Board Room pass: 0