I Finally Joined United Club
Aug 11, 2017, 8:06 pm
#61
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,718
Aug 11, 2017, 9:25 pm
#62
Join Date: Nov 2015
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 183
I'm on my second year of membership and feel like I've gotten my money's worth. From better service during IRROPS, a quieter place to work or relax, a drink when I need/want, or a cup of coffee for the road when I arrive at my home airport after a long day. It's rare that I end up in clubs that are overcrowded but maybe that's due to my particular travel patterns.
Aug 11, 2017, 9:28 pm
#63
Join Date: Nov 2015
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 183
I was propositioned for a "shower" by a stranger in an EWR club. I haven't even flown through EWR since. The thought of being there makes me want to puke.
Aug 11, 2017, 9:32 pm
#64
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,718
Lately I've been doing my pre-flight video downloads at the UC. Many of the clubs now have really fast speeds (in the 200 mbps range) so it's much more efficient for me than doing it at home.
Aug 11, 2017, 9:37 pm
#65
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,817
My company is pretty generous about travel (paid C, nice hotels) but clubs have never been reimbursed. And many of the high tech companies are much cheaper (nobody at Amazon flies C). But I know we have a lot of consultants on FT.
I pay for my membership and I think it's worth every cent. I fly about 150 segments a year on United and visit the UC pretty much every time I'm at the airport. My home airport is BOS which has one of the nicer clubs, so that helps.
At the end of last year United sent me an email indicating that I had visited a United Club location 147 times in 2016. So based on my $450 membership fee, it works out to about $3 per visit -- and that doesn't include all of the times I've brought family and friends as guests.
At the end of last year United sent me an email indicating that I had visited a United Club location 147 times in 2016. So based on my $450 membership fee, it works out to about $3 per visit -- and that doesn't include all of the times I've brought family and friends as guests.
For me it's < one RT (2 visits) a month including maybe 2 visits per year with family. And probably half of those would be free anyway with *G. And many of my international destinations have no UC. I find Priority Pass to be 10x more valuable. YMMV
Last edited by Boraxo; Aug 11, 2017 at 9:46 pm
Aug 13, 2017, 7:31 pm
#66
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
A ton of value? The free crackers and coffee? LOL. Of course it's my opinion. Everyone on FT has an opinion or they wouldn't be here.
My company is pretty generous about travel (paid C, nice hotels) but clubs have never been reimbursed. And many of the high tech companies are much cheaper (nobody at Amazon flies C). But I know we have a lot of consultants on FT.
You clearly missed the part where I said "If you fly domestic a lot" then it might be worthwhile. At $3 a visit - no question. I don't envy you that's a lot of segments - each one with potential for delay.
For me it's < one RT (2 visits) a month including maybe 2 visits per year with family. And probably half of those would be free anyway with *G. And many of my international destinations have no UC. I find Priority Pass to be 10x more valuable. YMMV
My company is pretty generous about travel (paid C, nice hotels) but clubs have never been reimbursed. And many of the high tech companies are much cheaper (nobody at Amazon flies C). But I know we have a lot of consultants on FT.
You clearly missed the part where I said "If you fly domestic a lot" then it might be worthwhile. At $3 a visit - no question. I don't envy you that's a lot of segments - each one with potential for delay.
For me it's < one RT (2 visits) a month including maybe 2 visits per year with family. And probably half of those would be free anyway with *G. And many of my international destinations have no UC. I find Priority Pass to be 10x more valuable. YMMV
Aug 16, 2017, 1:15 pm
#67
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: EWR
Programs: UA 1.65M , Platinum, 1K Emeritus, UC Lifetime , HHonors Gold, Presidential Plus card holder
Posts: 706
Aug 16, 2017, 1:30 pm
#68
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,644
I have found the UCs at SFO (home base) to be pretty fast but I have yet to down load video's there but would love to try. About how long does it take? (I know a bit off topic).
Aug 16, 2017, 6:56 pm
#70
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: DYKWIA, But I'm a "Diamond Guest" UA 1K/2MM
Posts: 2,272
https://www.irs.gov/publications/p463/ch02.html#en_US_2016_publink100033899
The purposes and activities of a club, not its name, will determine whether or not you can deduct the dues. You cant deduct dues paid to:
....
Country clubs,
Golf and athletic clubs,
Airline clubs,
Hotel clubs, and
Clubs operated to provide meals under circumstances generally considered to be conducive to business discussions.
....
Country clubs,
Golf and athletic clubs,
Airline clubs,
Hotel clubs, and
Clubs operated to provide meals under circumstances generally considered to be conducive to business discussions.
Aug 16, 2017, 9:20 pm
#71
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 67,161
https://www.irs.gov/publications/p46...blink100033899
The purposes and activities of a club, not its name, will determine whether or not you can deduct the dues. You can’t deduct dues paid to:
....
Country clubs,
Golf and athletic clubs,
Airline clubs,
Hotel clubs, and
Clubs operated to provide meals under circumstances generally considered to be conducive to business discussions.
....
Country clubs,
Golf and athletic clubs,
Airline clubs,
Hotel clubs, and
Clubs operated to provide meals under circumstances generally considered to be conducive to business discussions.
Aug 16, 2017, 11:35 pm
#72
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,100
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Aug 17, 2017 at 10:01 am
Aug 17, 2017, 7:19 am
#73
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver
Posts: 2,109
To me, it is really worth it for the couple of times a year there is an IRROPs and I can use the club agents, and have a place to plug in and work for a few (or more) hours. For those who say they'd rather be at the Vino Volo or somewhere, in my experience, those are likely to be the same times every restaurant or bar will be full and I would point out they usually don't have plugs.
On regular domestic trips I might only duck in to get a soda and free newspapers. But even those, at airport prices, are worth more than $10 a visit.
On regular domestic trips I might only duck in to get a soda and free newspapers. But even those, at airport prices, are worth more than $10 a visit.
Aug 17, 2017, 8:46 am
#74
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: DYKWIA, But I'm a "Diamond Guest" UA 1K/2MM
Posts: 2,272
But that raises the question of credit card annual fees. Suppose I use a United Club Card or an Amex Platinum card exclusively for my business. Then the annual card fee is a deductible expense for my business. That's a legitimate backdoor way to deduct the club lounge fee, no?
Aug 17, 2017, 9:50 am
#75
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,644
Good point: it's re-imbursable but not deductible.
But that raises the question of credit card annual fees. Suppose I use a United Club Card or an Amex Platinum card exclusively for my business. Then the annual card fee is a deductible expense for my business. That's a legitimate backdoor way to deduct the club lounge fee, no?
But that raises the question of credit card annual fees. Suppose I use a United Club Card or an Amex Platinum card exclusively for my business. Then the annual card fee is a deductible expense for my business. That's a legitimate backdoor way to deduct the club lounge fee, no?
Last edited by nomad420; Aug 17, 2017 at 9:59 am Reason: typo