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 15, 15, 5:21 pm
#121
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: UA SP, DL SM MM, AS 75K, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond.
Posts: 2,596
I don't think one can reasonably compare a health club to an airport club. One model is based on overselling with a large number of non-active, but paying, members. The other is based on serving a captive audience (quite literally) with literally no opportunity to expand in the areas where capacity is most constrained. Can you image hearing, "I'm sorry the LGA club is full. Perhaps you'd like to try our JFK location instead."
If you can't expand the clubs you have to accommodate the membership levels you have sold, isn't that a bit similar to selling something you don't have?
Aug 15, 15, 5:25 pm
#123
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: IAH
Programs: DL Plat
Posts: 190
Just a couple weeks ago I went ahead and canceled my presidential plus card, since I haven't flown united in months and have no intention to do so anytime soon. My one regret at the time was that I would lose the ability to grab a gate pass to access the club when picking people up at the airport. I guess that'll no longer be an issue. Glad I canceled the PPlus card when I did.
Aug 15, 15, 6:16 pm
#124
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: BOS
Posts: 3,534
That's very interesting.
I have been told twice in the last few months (once a week ago), once in SEA and once in ORD that I was not allowed to enter because I had a ticket on another airline. So they're thinking about it. In fact, last week they offered to sell me a pass for $35, but I blustered my way in. At the time I thought that this was quite an increase in annual membership costs - from 7 one-day passes to 15 - but maybe it's instead a way to monetize UC members: charge them $35 if they have a ticket on another airline.
I have been told twice in the last few months (once a week ago), once in SEA and once in ORD that I was not allowed to enter because I had a ticket on another airline. So they're thinking about it. In fact, last week they offered to sell me a pass for $35, but I blustered my way in. At the time I thought that this was quite an increase in annual membership costs - from 7 one-day passes to 15 - but maybe it's instead a way to monetize UC members: charge them $35 if they have a ticket on another airline.
Aug 15, 15, 6:25 pm
#125
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: GS UA+3MM
Posts: 265
Devaluation?
I almost never use the clubs anymore. Crap food. Overcrowded. So they wont allow
me in if I don't have a boarding pass? In the 30+ years travelling with UA, I have never
attempted that anyway.
Terminals in many of my frequent airports are getting pretty nice. This is just another
reason to let my "membership" lapse when they raise the rates this year
I almost never use the clubs anymore. Crap food. Overcrowded. So they wont allow
me in if I don't have a boarding pass? In the 30+ years travelling with UA, I have never
attempted that anyway.
Terminals in many of my frequent airports are getting pretty nice. This is just another
reason to let my "membership" lapse when they raise the rates this year
Aug 15, 15, 6:51 pm
#126
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,583
When the price increase was announced, it became easy.
Aug 15, 15, 10:07 pm
#127
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: UA-GS, Hyatt-Defiantly Diamond, Marriott-Platinum, SPG-Platinum
Posts: 499
When I could not get back to the gate with my elderly MIL in SFO, I used the gate pass for the club. This right was very poorly managed, to the point that I had to argue for the agent to call the club. Sad that I could not just be allowed back with her. No doubt UA will just as poorly train this process change, and we'll all be posting in the coming months about which clubs are "friendly" and which aren't.
To make the clubs really "exclusive" they'd need to disallow access to the woman in SEA that had her two feet propped up in two different chairs, blocking access to the aisle, with her luggage in the way, and an open leg wound festering for all to see. Or disallowing access to the family of 8, where 6 of them (the wife and 5 kids) were so badly behaved as to drive people from the entire south corner. Or the self-important exec that spent so much time on the phone boasting about how great he was, that no less than 10 people shhhh'd him and asked him to leave.
To make the clubs really "exclusive" they'd need to disallow access to the woman in SEA that had her two feet propped up in two different chairs, blocking access to the aisle, with her luggage in the way, and an open leg wound festering for all to see. Or disallowing access to the family of 8, where 6 of them (the wife and 5 kids) were so badly behaved as to drive people from the entire south corner. Or the self-important exec that spent so much time on the phone boasting about how great he was, that no less than 10 people shhhh'd him and asked him to leave.
Aug 16, 15, 6:11 am
#128
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: VA, USA
Programs: Marriott LTT, United Club Life Member, UA *S
Posts: 995
To make the clubs really "exclusive" they'd need to disallow access to the woman in SEA that had her two feet propped up in two different chairs, blocking access to the aisle, with her luggage in the way, and an open leg wound festering for all to see. Or disallowing access to the family of 8, where 6 of them (the wife and 5 kids) were so badly behaved as to drive people from the entire south corner. Or the self-important exec that spent so much time on the phone boasting about how great he was, that no less than 10 people shhhh'd him and asked him to leave.
Where is UAInsider? I would like to hear what problem this new policy is trying to address.
Aug 16, 15, 6:55 am
#129
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
Posts: 4,599
Oh, I know we'll just limit when people can come...great, oh, damn you mean someone will start a class action against us? Or worse they will cancel and take their membership to Golds. No, they would be intelligent enough to expand, so they could sell yet more memberships, and make yet more money.
Only the idiots at United would see the success of something as a disaster they must mitigate.
Only the idiots at United would see the success of something as a disaster they must mitigate.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Aug 16, 15 at 2:58 pm Reason: Focus on the issues, not the posters
Aug 16, 15, 7:49 am
#130
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: LAX,SNA,SAN
Programs: UA GS, Marriott LP, Hertz Gold
Posts: 861
A few points here on this topic:
1. Some of you still think that 1985=2016. The old clubs are long gone and not coming back unless you fly F on Emirates or other international big airlines.
2. CC holders > paid members, get over it. They hold a card in which interest is earned, money, and you don't. They are way more valuable than your history and buy in card. Loyalty is found in the dictionary not in the lounge.
3. As I have stated before, whoever is paying for lounge access is a fool. For some reason you still think your important or privileged but I can buy a day pass to the 'club' at anytime and UA loves to sell them to me. The food and bar choices are pathetic as airports have really stepped up to the plate with better food options than 1985 and Wendy's. While I understand the point that it's quieter and less busier and a little less stressful on long layovers I still call bologna. Keep buying your access because enjoying the 'devaluation' thread is making my Sunday morning read.
1. Some of you still think that 1985=2016. The old clubs are long gone and not coming back unless you fly F on Emirates or other international big airlines.
2. CC holders > paid members, get over it. They hold a card in which interest is earned, money, and you don't. They are way more valuable than your history and buy in card. Loyalty is found in the dictionary not in the lounge.
3. As I have stated before, whoever is paying for lounge access is a fool. For some reason you still think your important or privileged but I can buy a day pass to the 'club' at anytime and UA loves to sell them to me. The food and bar choices are pathetic as airports have really stepped up to the plate with better food options than 1985 and Wendy's. While I understand the point that it's quieter and less busier and a little less stressful on long layovers I still call bologna. Keep buying your access because enjoying the 'devaluation' thread is making my Sunday morning read.
Aug 16, 15, 8:01 am
#131
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: UA-GS, Hyatt-Defiantly Diamond, Marriott-Platinum, SPG-Platinum
Posts: 499
A few points here on this topic:
1. Some of you still think that 1985=2016. The old clubs are long gone and not coming back unless you fly F on Emirates or other international big airlines.
2. CC holders > paid members, get over it. They hold a card in which interest is earned, money, and you don't. They are way more valuable than your history and buy in card. Loyalty is found in the dictionary not in the lounge.
3. As I have stated before, whoever is paying for lounge access is a fool. For some reason you still think your important or privileged but I can buy a day pass to the 'club' at anytime and UA loves to sell them to me. The food and bar choices are pathetic as airports have really stepped up to the plate with better food options than 1985 and Wendy's. While I understand the point that it's quieter and less busier and a little less stressful on long layovers I still call bologna. Keep buying your access because enjoying the 'devaluation' thread is making my Sunday morning read.
1. Some of you still think that 1985=2016. The old clubs are long gone and not coming back unless you fly F on Emirates or other international big airlines.
2. CC holders > paid members, get over it. They hold a card in which interest is earned, money, and you don't. They are way more valuable than your history and buy in card. Loyalty is found in the dictionary not in the lounge.
3. As I have stated before, whoever is paying for lounge access is a fool. For some reason you still think your important or privileged but I can buy a day pass to the 'club' at anytime and UA loves to sell them to me. The food and bar choices are pathetic as airports have really stepped up to the plate with better food options than 1985 and Wendy's. While I understand the point that it's quieter and less busier and a little less stressful on long layovers I still call bologna. Keep buying your access because enjoying the 'devaluation' thread is making my Sunday morning read.
I LIKE Wendy's. 😀
Aug 16, 15, 8:24 am
#132
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA *G 1MM LT United Club & Global Entry
Posts: 2,756
SunLover
Aug 16, 15, 8:50 am
#133
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: 4,564
Still, I'm not happy about lose gate passes and club access. That was something that was included with my lifetime membership and now it's being taken away.
