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
#1171
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Programs: UA PM, DL PM, Bonvoy Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 1,292
#1172
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PBI / FLL / YUL
Programs: UA 1K, Delta Plat, AA Plat, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Courtesy Card
Posts: 1,983
No, but certainly a deterrent to contributing to the Club revenue. The relationship most at risk is the UC credit card relationship with Chase. I've come to expect these enhancements from UA so while the enhancements still drive me nuts, I have a terminal case of Stockholm Syndrome so I still find myself on United planes. Since the Club changes, I've found myself trying to arrive at the airport later and later. If that is the effect of the Club downgrades, it probably isn't worth it.
#1173
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott/SPG/Hilton Gold, PreCheck + Clear
Posts: 2,306
Not even close. As another poster pointed out, it's perfectly common for well drinks and house beer/wine at an open bar to be bottom-shelf stuff. This is a tempest in a (10 oz.) beer glass.
#1174
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Programs: UA PM, DL PM, Bonvoy Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 1,292
But definitely not making me fly another airline.
#1175
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: New York City, Northern NJ
Programs: AS, AA, Hilton, Hyatt
Posts: 1,041
Same here, my membership expires at the end of October and will not be renewed. I am glad that I waited to renew it.
#1176
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: IAH
Programs: UA Premier Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Marriot Gold, National Executive
Posts: 73
I sent an email 2 weeks ago, got the normal canned response....
Dear Mr. XXXXXXX
We’re always glad to hear from Premier Platinum members like you. I'm sorry that it is because of your disappointment with the changes to the United Club lounges.
Blah, blah, blah...
Reading through this thread it doesn't appear that anyone has gotten anything more than that back from UA. Assuming UA sticks with this policy, no way am I renewing. I actually pay out of pocket for the membership. I will just go to the bar and expense my meals going forward.
Basically the only thing drinkable at the UC is a bloody mary because it kills the taste of the rock gut vodka they are serving. Now it is 9 bucks to have them top off your coffee with some Baileys.
If UA was at least honest to its customers about the changes it would be one thing, but PROMOTING this change under the guise of a new Premium Beverage Service is simply a slap in the face to anyone with a triple digit IQ.
I am gonna chop up my Presidential Platinum Card and switch over to a Hotel rewards card.
If UA wanted to add value to their members, and add new revenues, serve real food at a cost. I'd buy something nearly every time I was in there if it was an option.
At the rate they are going, I am waiting for them to start charging to use the stalls in the bathroom. Urinals are free, but the stalls will fall under their new Premium Bathroom Service.
Dear Mr. XXXXXXX
We’re always glad to hear from Premier Platinum members like you. I'm sorry that it is because of your disappointment with the changes to the United Club lounges.
Blah, blah, blah...
Reading through this thread it doesn't appear that anyone has gotten anything more than that back from UA. Assuming UA sticks with this policy, no way am I renewing. I actually pay out of pocket for the membership. I will just go to the bar and expense my meals going forward.
Basically the only thing drinkable at the UC is a bloody mary because it kills the taste of the rock gut vodka they are serving. Now it is 9 bucks to have them top off your coffee with some Baileys.
If UA was at least honest to its customers about the changes it would be one thing, but PROMOTING this change under the guise of a new Premium Beverage Service is simply a slap in the face to anyone with a triple digit IQ.
I am gonna chop up my Presidential Platinum Card and switch over to a Hotel rewards card.
If UA wanted to add value to their members, and add new revenues, serve real food at a cost. I'd buy something nearly every time I was in there if it was an option.
At the rate they are going, I am waiting for them to start charging to use the stalls in the bathroom. Urinals are free, but the stalls will fall under their new Premium Bathroom Service.
#1177
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP, UA1K/2MM, Marriott Platinum Premier Lifetime
Posts: 357
I sent an email 2 weeks ago, got the normal canned response....
Dear Mr. XXXXXXX
We’re always glad to hear from Premier Platinum members like you. I'm sorry that it is because of your disappointment with the changes to the United Club lounges.
Blah, blah, blah...
Reading through this thread it doesn't appear that anyone has gotten anything more than that back from UA. Assuming UA sticks with this policy, no way am I renewing. I actually pay out of pocket for the membership. I will just go to the bar and expense my meals going forward.
Basically the only thing drinkable at the UC is a bloody mary because it kills the taste of the rock gut vodka they are serving. Now it is 9 bucks to have them top off your coffee with some Baileys.
If UA was at least honest to its customers about the changes it would be one thing, but PROMOTING this change under the guise of a new Premium Beverage Service is simply a slap in the face to anyone with a triple digit IQ.
I am gonna chop up my Presidential Platinum Card and switch over to a Hotel rewards card.
If UA wanted to add value to their members, and add new revenues, serve real food at a cost. I'd buy something nearly every time I was in there if it was an option.
At the rate they are going, I am waiting for them to start charging to use the stalls in the bathroom. Urinals are free, but the stalls will fall under their new Premium Bathroom Service.
Dear Mr. XXXXXXX
We’re always glad to hear from Premier Platinum members like you. I'm sorry that it is because of your disappointment with the changes to the United Club lounges.
Blah, blah, blah...
Reading through this thread it doesn't appear that anyone has gotten anything more than that back from UA. Assuming UA sticks with this policy, no way am I renewing. I actually pay out of pocket for the membership. I will just go to the bar and expense my meals going forward.
Basically the only thing drinkable at the UC is a bloody mary because it kills the taste of the rock gut vodka they are serving. Now it is 9 bucks to have them top off your coffee with some Baileys.
If UA was at least honest to its customers about the changes it would be one thing, but PROMOTING this change under the guise of a new Premium Beverage Service is simply a slap in the face to anyone with a triple digit IQ.
I am gonna chop up my Presidential Platinum Card and switch over to a Hotel rewards card.
If UA wanted to add value to their members, and add new revenues, serve real food at a cost. I'd buy something nearly every time I was in there if it was an option.
At the rate they are going, I am waiting for them to start charging to use the stalls in the bathroom. Urinals are free, but the stalls will fall under their new Premium Bathroom Service.
Again....another change you will like.
#1179
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: IAH
Programs: UA/CO-GS/PPlat,AA-Gold,SPG-Plat,Hilton-Diamond,Marriott-Plat,Hertz-Pres_Circe
Posts: 824
The purchase prices for "Premium" are way out of line also, even for "airport prices". And we pay a membership fee to be there.
#1180
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Washington DC
Programs: Former 1k, Lifetime UA Gold, Starwood Gold; Avis Preferred; Hertz Gold
Posts: 1,731
#1181
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,157
Those are the two things which bug the most:
1) Spinning this as an "enhancement" that customers asked for - quit treating customers like we are stupid.
2) Going beyond cost recovery and trying to turn this into more ancillary revenue - the markups on these prices are crazy.
1) Spinning this as an "enhancement" that customers asked for - quit treating customers like we are stupid.
2) Going beyond cost recovery and trying to turn this into more ancillary revenue - the markups on these prices are crazy.
#1182
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: EWR, NJ
Programs: UA 2 MM, UA 1K
Posts: 663
I sent emails to each of the addresses in wiki and got responses from all of them. I replied to those responses specifically asking what I was actually getting as part of my membership. The last agent me a list of all the free services and benefits of the club membership. I responded with details about why these really weren't worthwhile benefits (correspondence below). I don't think these front-line agents can handle the criticisms but hopefully our comments are being passed on and reach the right ears. It doesn't seem like they are responding any longer. We can only now speak with our wallets.
Code:
Hello dogloverjb, Thank you so much for your honesty. I respect your concerns and will also share your feedback below. We appreciate your loyalty and look forward to your travel with us. Regards, UAPersonxxxxx United Club We appreciate your interest in United Club. We look forward to serving your lounge needs in the future. For United Club information, please visit www.united.com/unitedclub. Original Message Follows: ------------------------ Thank you for your response UApersonxxxxx. • The complimentary bar service is not drinkable – the brands are akin to the rot gut stuff we drank in college and I don’t want to go back there. So your complimentary drinks are worthless to me (and an embarrassment to United). Especially for those poor people who are paying for business and first class. • The light snacks are really not of any interest after 10 years of visiting UA Clubs and seeing the same items every time. But at least they are edible. • Most of the other items are good for business people who need those services, but as a leisure traveler I don’t. In fact, I never needed them as a business traveler myself. • The premium wines you offer are a nice selection but the price is certainly not attractive. My usual drink, the Rombauer chardonnay used to be $10 and is now $14. I just saw a bottle in the wine shop for $30. I can’t figure how you can justify a 40% price increase and tell me I am valued as a customer. I can get a good glass of wine in a bar in the terminal for less. • Local dining info isn’t of interest in a locale I am transiting through. • The agent assist I will certainly miss, but I would still have access to it for international trips. • Free internet is nice but many airports have this and certainly have paid Wifi available, which over the course of a year, would cost me considerable less. The bottom line for me, and probably many others, is that membership in the UA Club is now a big loss. With a decent complimentary beverage service, and a reasonably and competitively priced top shelf liquor/wine list, I could justify it for the comfort of the Club, snacks and a nice drink. Now, I conclude that I can get most of the same benefits elsewhere for those few times I don’t have access to Star Alliance lounge. So unfortunately there is no reason for me to renew my membership. The saddest part is none of the recent UA changes are positive and none make me feel that UA cares about me, a 1K flyer, or any of its other customers. Thank you for your time. dogloverjb
#1183
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Washington DC
Programs: Former 1k, Lifetime UA Gold, Starwood Gold; Avis Preferred; Hertz Gold
Posts: 1,731
Honestly, if anything makes you want to consider another airline - this report should.
http://www.ideaworkscompany.com/wp-c...nue-Top-10.pdf
#1184
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Wayne, NJ USA
Programs: UA Million Miler, Lifetime United Club member
Posts: 2,174
#unitedclubdowngrade
#1185
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: IAH
Programs: UA Premier Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Marriot Gold, National Executive
Posts: 73
And they refuse to answer any questions regarding their new "enhancements," other than to say... tough cookies. Nothing says "Friendly" like charging your customers for a service, then significantly downgrading that service and then labeling it an enhancement!
I regularly defend UA to friends and colleagues, I have had great experiences with United. This is the first time I actually wrote a letter/email to voice my displeasure (and signed up for FT). And to date, nothing but corporate mumbo jumbo in reply to any of my inquiries. Very disappointing.