Sep 10, 2013, 8:54 pm
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
Oct 2, 2013, 8:16 pm
#1291
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
I am part of this group. If I want to drink real beer, I try to find a local establishment in the terminal.
Oct 2, 2013, 8:30 pm
#1292
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: 67,129
Don't forget the "Cut off nose to spite face" group. This group is comprised of those who absolutely detest Bud Light with every fabric of their being but refuse to contribute a single extra dollar to United in the club after the downgrades, so they drink Bud Light anyway out of pure spite.
I am part of this group. If I want to drink real beer, I try to find a local establishment in the terminal.
I am part of this group. If I want to drink real beer, I try to find a local establishment in the terminal.
I suppose I could start ordering Bud Light and then just pouring it out to spite UA.
Oct 2, 2013, 8:47 pm
#1293
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: LAN, FNT, GRR, DTW
Programs: UA Plat
Posts: 346
Just in the ORD UC in Terminal C. The bartender here mentioned today that they were rethinking the beer program. She said she thought they would still charge for it, but it would be $3 for 12 oz glasses. That's at least more reasonable.
By the way, which UC here at ORD is the renovated lounge?
By the way, which UC here at ORD is the renovated lounge?
Oct 2, 2013, 9:02 pm
#1294
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Mid-Atlantic
Programs: AA Plat, UA Silver, DL Silver, Marriott Titanium, etc.
Posts: 4,210
I already contribute a chunk of change for my membership; there's no way I'm spending a dime more there until they make it worthwhile to do so--and 8 oz pours of mid-level beers (which used to be free) for $3 aren't an improvement.
I suppose I could start ordering Bud Light and then just pouring it out to spite UA.
I suppose I could start ordering Bud Light and then just pouring it out to spite UA.
The non-airline affiliated lounges in the US are becoming a MUCH better deal.
Oct 2, 2013, 10:04 pm
#1295
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K 1MM
Posts: 256
IAD and MCO wifi worked just as before today.
However I see no issues there. If you need to authenticate so that only the people with access to the club so that freeloaders sitting outside the club can't drag down my bandwidth, then this is an improvement.
The only people who should complain are the freeloaders and frankly o have no sympathy for parasites.
However I see no issues there. If you need to authenticate so that only the people with access to the club so that freeloaders sitting outside the club can't drag down my bandwidth, then this is an improvement.
The only people who should complain are the freeloaders and frankly o have no sympathy for parasites.
Oct 3, 2013, 4:09 am
#1296
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, UA Silver, AA Gold
Posts: 494
Oct 3, 2013, 4:12 am
#1297
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, UA Silver, AA Gold
Posts: 494
Here in Houston the local paper had an article touting how St. Arnolds would now be part of UC at IAH.
Truthfully I'm not surprised. Delta began charging for non Bud Light back in May. I remember being annoyed that my Sweetwater 420 was no longer free. Oh well. I don't have a UC membership anymore but if I had one, I don't think I'd be renewing.
BTW how many people actually like Heineken? I think I've met 2 or 3 people who drink it.
As to the AC MLL, I've only been in the one on the intl departure side and it is by far the best lounge I've been to in North America.
Truthfully I'm not surprised. Delta began charging for non Bud Light back in May. I remember being annoyed that my Sweetwater 420 was no longer free. Oh well. I don't have a UC membership anymore but if I had one, I don't think I'd be renewing.
BTW how many people actually like Heineken? I think I've met 2 or 3 people who drink it.
As to the AC MLL, I've only been in the one on the intl departure side and it is by far the best lounge I've been to in North America.
I enjoy it..
Oct 3, 2013, 6:32 am
#1298
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Carolina
Programs: UA LT Gold, American Kettle, Hertz #1 Presidents Circle, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 927
WIFI Authentication - EWR
Not here in the EWR UC Club on the main concourse. My BB connected automatically upon entering the club and no prompt for my notebook either.
Oct 3, 2013, 7:20 am
#1299
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Wayne, NJ USA
Programs: UA Million Miler, Lifetime United Club member
Posts: 2,175
Oct 3, 2013, 8:21 am
#1300
Suspended
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 821
I wonder how much money UC is losing from the beer that no one is purchasing. I refuse to pay for premium booze when I paid my annual fee to access the club.
Oct 3, 2013, 9:06 am
#1301
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: North Wales, PA
Posts: 253
United Club changes (drinks and Wifi) - Sept. - Oct. 2013
This is what I get for going off FT for a while. Stepped into the IAH UC, ordered a Shiner Bock and was asked for $3. Now I'm trying to decide if a small glass or $3 is a better value proposition than a larger $8 pint outside.
It's not like UC memberships are free. Well, I guess they are for people who get passes and sell them to kettles on eBay.
The selection of beer probably isn't much better at other airline clubs but there is certainly far less value in a membership at this one.
It's not like UC memberships are free. Well, I guess they are for people who get passes and sell them to kettles on eBay.
The selection of beer probably isn't much better at other airline clubs but there is certainly far less value in a membership at this one.
Oct 3, 2013, 10:35 am
#1302
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA Gold, WN Cargo, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriot Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 94
Heh ... Funny thing is, when my membership was due to renew on 8/31 I was planning on not traveling as much as I had so I thought I'd drop it and reconsider if travel increased. Travel never really decreased, so part of me missed it. Then in conversations with another co-worker who informed me of the latest change, all I can say is I'm happy I didn't bother renewing. What a joke.
Oct 3, 2013, 2:35 pm
#1303
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: LAX and LHR. UA lifetime Gold 1.9MM 1K , DL Gold Medallion, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, Avis President's Club
Posts: 3,592
Asked at LAX on 10/1 if I needed a passcode. Was told no, it's open. Didn't bother to ask at SFO. It was open there too.
Oct 3, 2013, 5:27 pm
#1304
Join Date: May 2003
Location: At This Point, Only G*d Knows!
Posts: 3,467
I have no idea if the Bar Tender's info is accurate or not but he has been around for a while (at least 7 years) and generally one of the better ones in the system.
Another customer complained about the changes and how UNITED sucks, etc. (I don't blame the pax it is annoying and I am not a big fan of UA right now) but the bartender said something that I found interesting, Blame Sodexho.
According to the Bar Tender until fairly recently (the bar tender did not give a date, etc) Sodexho simply provided the bar tenders/snacks/etc. but not the alcohol which I am guessing UA still procured. Recetly, Sodexho took over procurement of the Alcohol and apparently got much stricter with pours/etc.
He indicated that Sodexho wanted more $$$$$ from UA to keep the same level of alcohol or things had to change and apparently UA did not want to pony up the money (the not wanting to pony up the money is all on UA as far as I am concerned), so things changed.
Ultimately the bucks stops with UA, but if what the bar tender said accurate, it at least explains the changes.
Again if the info is correct this is the second time that Sodexho was the cause, it was explained to me by somebody at DL that Sodexho raised their rates and forced DL into a similar move.
Dan
Another customer complained about the changes and how UNITED sucks, etc. (I don't blame the pax it is annoying and I am not a big fan of UA right now) but the bartender said something that I found interesting, Blame Sodexho.
According to the Bar Tender until fairly recently (the bar tender did not give a date, etc) Sodexho simply provided the bar tenders/snacks/etc. but not the alcohol which I am guessing UA still procured. Recetly, Sodexho took over procurement of the Alcohol and apparently got much stricter with pours/etc.
He indicated that Sodexho wanted more $$$$$ from UA to keep the same level of alcohol or things had to change and apparently UA did not want to pony up the money (the not wanting to pony up the money is all on UA as far as I am concerned), so things changed.
Ultimately the bucks stops with UA, but if what the bar tender said accurate, it at least explains the changes.
Again if the info is correct this is the second time that Sodexho was the cause, it was explained to me by somebody at DL that Sodexho raised their rates and forced DL into a similar move.
Dan
Oct 3, 2013, 5:35 pm
#1305
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: LAX
Programs: UA1K, HH Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 212
...According to the Bar Tender until fairly recently (the bar tender did not give a date, etc) Sodexho simply provided the bar tenders/snacks/etc. but not the alcohol which I am guessing UA still procured. Recetly, Sodexho took over procurement of the Alcohol and apparently got much stricter with pours/etc...