Aug 17, 15, 2:32 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Email from United sent to United MP Club Cardmembers 18 Aug 2015
Signs were first noticed starting 13 Aug 2015 at various clubs
Posting by UA Insider 17 Aug 2015
For general questions on UC access, see Consolidated "United Club Access Questions" Thread
Update about United Club access
Dear XXXXX,
We've been working on a variety of improvements to our United ClubSM program. To provide a more productive and relaxing experience, we're investing more than $100 million in renovating existing locations and building new spaces with expanded seating areas, more power outlets and upgraded Wi-Fi. We're also investing in a brand new complimentary food menu that you can now find at our hub locations across the U.S. and will be available soon at the rest of our locations.
To maintain and further improve the United Club experience, we're announcing the following change to our program:
■ Effective August 18, 2016, a same-day boarding pass for all United Club customers, including members, will be required for United Club access.
United Club membership is a benefit of your United MileagePlus Club Card. With a United Club membership, you can still bring your spouse and children under 21, or up to two guests, into any United Club location.
Thank you for being a United MileagePlus Club Cardmember, and we look forward to creating an even more comfortable and premium United Club experience for you.
Learn More
Dear XXXXX,
We've been working on a variety of improvements to our United ClubSM program. To provide a more productive and relaxing experience, we're investing more than $100 million in renovating existing locations and building new spaces with expanded seating areas, more power outlets and upgraded Wi-Fi. We're also investing in a brand new complimentary food menu that you can now find at our hub locations across the U.S. and will be available soon at the rest of our locations.
To maintain and further improve the United Club experience, we're announcing the following change to our program:
■ Effective August 18, 2016, a same-day boarding pass for all United Club customers, including members, will be required for United Club access.
United Club membership is a benefit of your United MileagePlus Club Card. With a United Club membership, you can still bring your spouse and children under 21, or up to two guests, into any United Club location.
Thank you for being a United MileagePlus Club Cardmember, and we look forward to creating an even more comfortable and premium United Club experience for you.
Learn More
I noticed this at JFK (that's ironic...) yesterday--
Someone else noted the sign at LGA in the United Club Access Thread ....
Someone else noted the sign at LGA in the United Club Access Thread ....
Hi everyone, some answers for you on this new policy:
- What about meetings/conference rooms? Will gate passes still be issued?
Customers can still reserve a conference room to use, with or without a same-day boarding pass. We will no longer issue gate passes for other uses.
- What about access after a redeye flight? Will this qualify as a "same-day" BP?
Yes, you will still be eligible to access the United Club after arriving off of a redeye flight.
- Will I be able to come in if Im flying on another carrier?
Yes, you may use a same-day boarding pass on any carrier.
- What if my flight departs early in the morning, the following day (e.g. 12:30am)?
Yes, you will still be eligible to access the United Club.
Starting 18 Aug 2016:United Club Access (including members) Only w/ UA/*A Same-Day BP
Aug 16, 15, 6:15 pm
#151
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: UA SP, DL SM MM, AS 75K, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond.
Posts: 2,596
Instead of expanding the clubs as you suggest United do they cut benefits drastically and raised the price.
Your criticism is just as valid for DL if not more so.
Delta should have doubled the size of the clubs instead of slashing Diamond Medallion benefits by your health club logic.
UA simply matched a DL policy, avoided increasing the price for guest access, and will expand / has expanded square footage at SFO, ORD, LAX (yes it will be a net increase), EWR (expansion is coming), SAN, SEA, and more.
Your criticism is just as valid for DL if not more so.
Delta should have doubled the size of the clubs instead of slashing Diamond Medallion benefits by your health club logic.
UA simply matched a DL policy, avoided increasing the price for guest access, and will expand / has expanded square footage at SFO, ORD, LAX (yes it will be a net increase), EWR (expansion is coming), SAN, SEA, and more.
I'm certainly not saying DL hasn't made policies I don't like either, but they seem to make improvements in other areas as they cut benefits. But, Delta did expand clubs, LAX is nearly twice as large...I'm not sure what other's they've done.
The gate pass was a nice benefit, few people used, but those that did found it was a big edge on the competition, and I don't think it was a big cost center to United (or cause of crowding).
Aug 16, 15, 6:17 pm
#152
Moderator: United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.9MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 64,464
Topic Check
Peripheral discussion of the other airlines programs is to be expected but extensive discussion is best left to the other airlines forum. We focus on UA in this forum.
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
Peripheral discussion of the other airlines programs is to be expected but extensive discussion is best left to the other airlines forum. We focus on UA in this forum.
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
Aug 16, 15, 6:25 pm
#153
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CLE
Programs: UA,WN,AA,DL, B6
Posts: 4,106
Same day boarding pass on United. I often use the clubs when flying other airlines. Or is this any boarding pass. The way around this is make a reservation, cancel it within 24 hours and get a refund. Many people do this now to get airport access and even club access.
Aug 16, 15, 6:34 pm
#154
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CLE
Programs: UA,WN,AA,DL, B6
Posts: 4,106
I have done this a few times and I am sure others do this more. You fly say to EWR or ORD on Monday, your return is Wednesday and on Tuesday you meet someone at the club for business, not necessarily book a conference room, That should be a valid reason to use the club especially if one of the parties has a same day ticket. To many rules. Club membership is not cheap.
Aug 16, 15, 7:50 pm
#156
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: 10023-Central Park West
Programs: CHASE UNITED CLUB; CITI PRESTIGE； IHG SPIRE AMBASSADOR; RITZ-CARLTON GOLD; Global Entry
Posts: 227
Maybe it isn't to you, but to me, absolutely is worth the effort. It provides me the opportunity to gate pass, and here are some things I have used it for before:
-Taking my niece to see the planes, she loves that experience and it is great to be able to share that with her
-Taking my mother through the airport. She very much dislikes the airport experience and easily gets lost in airports. By me taking her directly to the gate, it relieves her stress tremendously while traveling
-Picking friends/family up at the airport. The smile and happiness on their face when they walk off the jet bridge
-Meeting colleagues while they have layovers for in person meetings (have done this a lot)
Through the majority of the above, I never really step foot in the club.
Maybe I'm the weird one, but I purchased UA Club membership for a key purpose being that it gave me access to the club when I needed it outside of just flying. By taking away this key benefit to me, it dilutes the value of the membership and I probably won't need it as much.
When I'm traveling for business, I expense everything, so the little bits of food in the lounge don't do much for me, and many airports offer free wifi now and chairs are starting to become more comfy in the seating areas as is. Given this, the value of the actual use of the club while traveling isn't the most important piece. The only time it has helped me was during IRROPS; however, majority of the time, I can get issues taken care of quicker via the app or calling UA rather than seeing an agent live, and truthfully, the agents in the club have been dis-empowered to actually fix problems IMO.
If this eliminates the gate pass option, my only other choice will be to cancel the club membership and just go to the purchase/same day cancel, and as I said above, that will actually result in costs to UA for when I have to call an agent to cancel it and them having to credit everything back....my two cents. Maybe they figure the labor costs equal out by me not having to see an agent to get a gate pass....but why piss off your fliers when there is no net gain here IMO?? Simply a lose-lose situation for UA, but I guess that is UA typical.
-Taking my niece to see the planes, she loves that experience and it is great to be able to share that with her
-Taking my mother through the airport. She very much dislikes the airport experience and easily gets lost in airports. By me taking her directly to the gate, it relieves her stress tremendously while traveling
-Picking friends/family up at the airport. The smile and happiness on their face when they walk off the jet bridge
-Meeting colleagues while they have layovers for in person meetings (have done this a lot)
Through the majority of the above, I never really step foot in the club.
Maybe I'm the weird one, but I purchased UA Club membership for a key purpose being that it gave me access to the club when I needed it outside of just flying. By taking away this key benefit to me, it dilutes the value of the membership and I probably won't need it as much.
When I'm traveling for business, I expense everything, so the little bits of food in the lounge don't do much for me, and many airports offer free wifi now and chairs are starting to become more comfy in the seating areas as is. Given this, the value of the actual use of the club while traveling isn't the most important piece. The only time it has helped me was during IRROPS; however, majority of the time, I can get issues taken care of quicker via the app or calling UA rather than seeing an agent live, and truthfully, the agents in the club have been dis-empowered to actually fix problems IMO.
If this eliminates the gate pass option, my only other choice will be to cancel the club membership and just go to the purchase/same day cancel, and as I said above, that will actually result in costs to UA for when I have to call an agent to cancel it and them having to credit everything back....my two cents. Maybe they figure the labor costs equal out by me not having to see an agent to get a gate pass....but why piss off your fliers when there is no net gain here IMO?? Simply a lose-lose situation for UA, but I guess that is UA typical.
Very well said.
A club is not just a room for people to get a few pieces of lousy food. It does have social meanings. People who go to United clubs when not flying are the most loyal customers because going to a united club is not effortless when not flying. Losing those members will NOT be revenue-positive, if I am allowed to guess.
The friendly sky is getting less and less friendly.
Aug 16, 15, 8:03 pm
#157
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,802
Aug 16, 15, 8:18 pm
#158
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
Posts: 4,599
UA hasn't cut guest benefits. I'm guessing because there was no legacy handing out of club membership to elites.
UA's guilt here is a poorly worded sign that makes it unclear you can use any airline's boarding pass.
Last edited by goalie; Aug 16, 15 at 9:03 pm Reason: repaired quote
Aug 16, 15, 8:48 pm
#159
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: LAX,SNA,SAN
Programs: UA GS, Marriott LP, Hertz Gold
Posts: 861
Very well said.
A club is not just a room for people to get a few pieces of lousy food. It does have social meanings. People who go to United clubs when not flying are the most loyal customers because going to a united club is not effortless when not flying. Losing those members will NOT be revenue-positive, if I am allowed to guess.
The friendly sky is getting less and less friendly.
A club is not just a room for people to get a few pieces of lousy food. It does have social meanings. People who go to United clubs when not flying are the most loyal customers because going to a united club is not effortless when not flying. Losing those members will NOT be revenue-positive, if I am allowed to guess.
The friendly sky is getting less and less friendly.
Aug 16, 15, 9:19 pm
#160
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: 65,752
As for OAL vs. UA, are there actually that many people who schlep over to those always-remote UA gate areas just to experience the crud that is the UA Club?
Aug 16, 15, 9:43 pm
#161
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Programs: UA PM, DL PM, Bonvoy Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 1,278
If UA wants to change the rules, that is up to them. But it does not mean that people today have NOT spent for their time in the club, even if not flying United.
Aug 17, 15, 2:59 am
#162
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA *G 1MM LT United Club & Global Entry
Posts: 2,756
The more I think about this the more I believe it is targeting the issuing of gate passes; with the possibly of some government security agency (TSA or DHS) asking UA to change it. What other airline in the US has a similar policy?
OK a lot of people are complaining about it because they use the gate pass as an easy mechanism to escort travelers in need to/from the gate. I get that, but is there a UA policy to get a gate pass to accompany the UM or elderly anyway? I don't know I never had to try it.
I imagine that any maximizing of the UC access procedure has to be miniscule. This change in and of itself will not materially effect club overcrowding. Remember when making it more difficult to qualify for elite status for 2015 would 'thin the herd' and make CPU's more frequent. How did that work out?
SunLover
OK a lot of people are complaining about it because they use the gate pass as an easy mechanism to escort travelers in need to/from the gate. I get that, but is there a UA policy to get a gate pass to accompany the UM or elderly anyway? I don't know I never had to try it.
I imagine that any maximizing of the UC access procedure has to be miniscule. This change in and of itself will not materially effect club overcrowding. Remember when making it more difficult to qualify for elite status for 2015 would 'thin the herd' and make CPU's more frequent. How did that work out?
SunLover
Aug 17, 15, 4:01 am
#163
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Washington DC
Programs: Former 1k, Lifetime UA Gold, Starwood Gold; Avis Preferred; Hertz Gold
Posts: 1,719
Aug 17, 15, 6:37 am
#164
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Central New Jersey (EWR)
Programs: UA Mileage Plus, DL SkyMiles, HHonors (Gold)
Posts: 292
The more I think about this the more I believe it is targeting the issuing of gate passes; with the possibly of some government security agency (TSA or DHS) asking UA to change it. What other airline in the US has a similar policy?
OK a lot of people are complaining about it because they use the gate pass as an easy mechanism to escort travelers in need to/from the gate. I get that, but is there a UA policy to get a gate pass to accompany the UM or elderly anyway? I don't know I never had to try it.
OK a lot of people are complaining about it because they use the gate pass as an easy mechanism to escort travelers in need to/from the gate. I get that, but is there a UA policy to get a gate pass to accompany the UM or elderly anyway? I don't know I never had to try it.
And for those who have mentioned the poor food offerings, neither one of us are interested in a full breakfast or anything like that. Just a quick bagel, some juice and coffee in a quieter place without have to pay an arm and a leg that some airport places charge.
Aug 17, 15, 6:39 am
#165
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 3,305
Very well said.
A club is not just a room for people to get a few pieces of lousy food. It does have social meanings. People who go to United clubs when not flying are the most loyal customers because going to a united club is not effortless when not flying. Losing those members will NOT be revenue-positive, if I am allowed to guess.
The friendly sky is getting less and less friendly.
A club is not just a room for people to get a few pieces of lousy food. It does have social meanings. People who go to United clubs when not flying are the most loyal customers because going to a united club is not effortless when not flying. Losing those members will NOT be revenue-positive, if I am allowed to guess.
The friendly sky is getting less and less friendly.
