United Club pricing increases [Effective June 11, 2015]
Jun 11, 2015, 2:00 pm
#48
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,113
Unfortunately, this is one time I wished they had copied Delta and made the price increase more significant. This increase is way too small to have an effect on crowding. A seat is the most valuable amenity, and every year that seems to be in scarcer supply.
Jun 11, 2015, 2:02 pm
#49
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: EWR
Posts: 2,112
Unfortunately, this is one time I wished they had copied Delta and made the price increase more significant. This increase is way too small to have an effect on crowding. A seat is the most valuable amenity, and every year that seems to be in scarcer supply.
Jun 11, 2015, 2:12 pm
#50
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,188
Just got the email. So $50 more? I can eat that in soup, scones and cold cuts 
As soon as they used the word "investment', I knew the price of admission was going up.
The new tables:
http://www.united.com/web/en-US/cont..._date=20150611
Had breakfast in the PHL club. Yep, that ain't worth $550 a year....
As soon as they used the word "investment', I knew the price of admission was going up.
The new tables:
http://www.united.com/web/en-US/cont..._date=20150611
Had breakfast in the PHL club. Yep, that ain't worth $550 a year....
Salami and cheese, not ham and cheese.
Jun 11, 2015, 2:13 pm
#51
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Chicago: ORD, MDW
Programs: United Million Mile Flyer, Hilton Silver, Marriott Gold, DL, AA WN
Posts: 514
Since I left my previous work position, I am not flying much - and when I do, I look around.
As a Million Miller and an Explorer card holder, I get 2 passes - like everyone else. So, if I want to go to a Club - especially during irrops or long lay overs, I use the passes or pay for a day pass if I need it - on whatever airline I am flying.
It works for me!
As a Million Miller and an Explorer card holder, I get 2 passes - like everyone else. So, if I want to go to a Club - especially during irrops or long lay overs, I use the passes or pay for a day pass if I need it - on whatever airline I am flying.
It works for me!
Jun 11, 2015, 2:49 pm
#52
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
I can't believe I'm writing this, but in United's defense, their recent food upgrades to the club actually make a membership somewhat palatable. With the previous offering of snacks (chex mix, crappy cookies, etc.) AND overcrowded clubs - it was completely insane.
It's still pricey but I could see myself paying it given my frequency of travel.
It's still pricey but I could see myself paying it given my frequency of travel.
But the real problem is that having a "club membership" is a tie in. I was a RCC then PC member, and having that was valuable, and it was a + for flying UA. Once I dropped it (due to sucky quality of the clubs, booze, food,etc) well then flying UA (vs. DL/AA/AS/VX) had no advantage. Having a Club membership was a pull factor on taking my business to United.
Why United would want to make that "pull factor" ridiculously expensive is beyond me. Every other airline I know of looks at the clubs as a way to earn/retain business, United just wants to suck a few extra $$$ out of everyone.
And cheaper than the "JeffyClub" I have (and love) my *wood Amex, but they don't do it in PLT (boo, hiss) and once the Centurion Lounge Opens in Seattle I may consider it, it also works for DL lounges when on a DL ticket.
Jun 11, 2015, 3:04 pm
#53
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: San Francisco/Tel Aviv/YYZ
Programs: CO 1K-MM
Posts: 10,762
The Centurion lounges are far better than the United clubs, its night and day.
The club card is worth it for me for the 1.5/$ since I spend a ton on the card, but if I had another card that had a competitive earning rate, I'd use that.
The club card is worth it for me for the 1.5/$ since I spend a ton on the card, but if I had another card that had a competitive earning rate, I'd use that.
Jun 11, 2015, 3:35 pm
#54
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
They're trying to find that point on the graph where the price and capacity cross so that they're getting the highest price possible on the highest number of memberships possible.
As I wrote earlier, if the clubs aren't full, that's an undesirable outcome for UA. Maybe they adjust the price or maybe they decrease the price on one-day passes. But they don't want the number of people in clubs to decrease.
Jun 11, 2015, 4:27 pm
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,810
Had the club card for a couple of years (first year free). In the end, the 1.5x wasn't all that useful since most of my spend is in 2x or 3x categories on my CSP or UA Select Visas.
Jun 11, 2015, 4:43 pm
#60
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,166
