getagb

Seems to be a theme… I wonder why UA doesn't provide these policies to GS members in writing

1015-1k

I experienced a 4-hour delay due to operations out of LAX yesterday. No benefits or compensation provided. Inquiring both at the global check-in and later at the united club check-in, my wife (also GS) and I were denied our request for complimentary entry. I realize that lounge access is not a stated perk, but with a 4-hour delay caused by UA, IMO it is the most obvious perk to grant GS.

There was an odd offer by the united club ladies for the GS agents to provide access to a separate room they sometimes use, but it would have no food or drink. When the GS agent showed up, she explained it was just the office they work out of. We politely declined as the whole thing sounded weird. Anyone else know what that was all about?

GoSh4rks

Go to the *A lounge in TBIT next time.

Ari

What is 'obvious' to United is that 10,000 (random Ari estimate of GS members who might purchase UC membership) x $500 = $5,000,000. Who would leave $5 million on the table?

If you are wondering about the 'GS room' at LAX, there are small 'secret' GS rooms at some hubs that function as GS offices but have a few leather chairs and granite side tables like in lounges but aren't lounges per se. Like you would sit there for 10 minutes while being re-booked and then leave. There is no food there; it is really just an irregular operations room most of the time.

greenpau

There is a "GS Room" at LAX that I have been in a few times - it is the same room that the GS Agents use as their operations room, and there is a screened off seating area. In the few times I have been in it, there have been packaged snacks and soft drinks, but not the full United Club spread / alcohol. It's incredibly peaceful - power points, WiFi, no fight for seating.

flyerbjorn

Do you get access to that lounge while flying UA domestic only?

1015-1k

Thanks for the reminder (truly I forgot about the maze of airside connections), but even if I was allowed access, it would've been ill-advised since UA reserves the right to move up delay timeframes and urges to stay near the gate.

*Potential* 5mil...some GS are already buying the memberships and others never would. By that logic, why is United offering any complimentary upgrades? Surely it dissuades elites from purchasing F. The answer lies somewhere in between maximizing short term profit and maintaining a long term loyal customer base.

Note that in this case I'm talking about empowering employees to provide one-off exceptions to the rules to their top customers in the case of relatively rare conditions...multi-hour delays caused by United with no alternative rebooking available.

findark

Yes. It's a wonderful lounge, but even so hard to justify what is at least a 45-minute (round trip) hike to go to TBIT.

AugustusM

I had a quick question:

Can a GS purchase more than one premium ticket and open an award for each as long as there is enough space?

villox

Quick question about the ORD GS lobby. I'm flying on OZ on an upcoming trip. I know I can't check in at the GS lobby, and OZ doesn't participate in pre-check. If I was interested in going to the Polaris lounge prior to my flight, is there any advantage of going through the GS lobby instead of the regular premier line? What happens when I get the pre-check ID checker but am not in pre-check, are you escorted? Or would you normally need the GS people to escort you (and would they still do this if you are not flying United?)

I probably won't do this anyway given the inconvenience of going to T1 and then to T5 (and would only do it if I decide to carry on and can check-in online). It's also on Thanksgiving night and I expect crowds to be sparse so may avoid GS lobby altogether. Just curious about what to expect if I wanted to.

wanderingkev

I get the the compensation point,not so much the club access,if you are a HVF and elect not to join UA or any other airline club that's your call,not reasonable to demand it as benefit . I took a few years off membership and invested in Vino Volo et al instead particularly as I was traveling through hubs with the bad cramped clubs, EWR/DEN etc. The jury is still out for me as they seemed to have missed an opportunity even with new clubs,space,facilities,food.I will review again at the end of 2018
UA has at least in my 15 years with them had the type of room you refer to .I am sure the UA vets can give you a directory , I remember a 1k room just before GS came in on B concourse at ORD, there was even a room on the A concourse at IAD I used a few times since GS, just chairs and table but at least you can grab food and get out of the mayhem down there.

getagb

If your BP doesn't have TSA Pre, the GS staff will escort you to the front of the premier line. Not 100% sure about if you're not flying United, but I find it hard to imagine them giving you a hard time about that.

That said, unless the premier line is long, it might take more time to go to the GS lobby, explain what you want, and get escorted, than to just wait in the premier line

jjmoore

I would think that as along as you are departing from the UA terminal 1 (that would be ANA/LH included), they would do that for you.

villox

Well, I would be flying OZ, departing from T5, but my purpose of being there at all would be to use the Polaris Lounge, which I'll be entitled to as a departing *A business class passenger.

If I do decide to do this and if the Premier line looks really long I will give it a shot, worst that can happen is they say no.

jjmoore

Let us know what happens.... may be useful info for many of us in the future.