Maple Leaf Club membership to get into United Clubs?
May 31, 2018, 9:54 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 249
Maple Leaf Club membership to get into United Clubs?
Perhaps this is a silly question, but you can get a Maple Leaf Club "North America" membership for about $350USD, which is much cheaper than a United Club membership, and it seems to get you into United Clubs.
Am I mistaken or is this a better way to get into the UA clubs? I'm already *G so I'm not worried about the lack of international lounge access from MLC membership.
Am I mistaken or is this a better way to get into the UA clubs? I'm already *G so I'm not worried about the lack of international lounge access from MLC membership.
May 31, 2018, 10:25 pm
#4
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,856
Yes to individual access but North American ML membership would not allow any guesting privileges vs 2 quest or dependent family for UC membership.
May 31, 2018, 10:39 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
You may also want to consider accruing *A Gold with another airline's program (i.e. Asiana or Aegean) since that too should grant you access to United clubs when flying domestically. On side note, Asiana's program allows you to earn *A Gold status for life when you fly 500,000 "miles" on *A partners (not just UA).
Safe Travels,
James
Safe Travels,
James
Jun 1, 2018, 3:27 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 249
You may also want to consider accruing *A Gold with another airline's program (i.e. Asiana or Aegean) since that too should grant you access to United clubs when flying domestically. On side note, Asiana's program allows you to earn *A Gold status for life when you fly 500,000 "miles" on *A partners (not just UA).
Safe Travels,
James
Safe Travels,
James
As far as guests, I usually travel alone so that’s not an issue for me, I just wanted to know if there was some catch to the Maple Club membership that I was missing.
Jun 1, 2018, 5:00 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,159
In addition to the guest difference already mention, ML membership will only get you into a UC if you have a departing Star Alliance flight.
UC membership will get you in with *any* boarding pass (for any airline) - including on arrival.
UC membership will get you in with *any* boarding pass (for any airline) - including on arrival.
Jun 1, 2018, 10:48 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
The issue with that though is *G status on partners doesn’t get you economy plus seats, GPUs, CPUs, or RPUs, all of which are benefits I value more than domestic UA club access
As far as guests, I usually travel alone so that’s not an issue for me, I just wanted to know if there was some catch to the Maple Club membership that I was missing.
As far as guests, I usually travel alone so that’s not an issue for me, I just wanted to know if there was some catch to the Maple Club membership that I was missing.
Safe Travels,
James
Jun 2, 2018, 7:31 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,159
There have been reports of FTers entering the UC by presenting their foreign *A Gold cards with their booking details (including mileage accrual and FFP) being tied to their UA account.
However I think the point that was being made was that for most people crediting to a foreign program means that you won't earn enough points to get UA MP status, and thus will miss the UA benefits.
If you fly enough to get status with multiple airlines then it works, but even then you're still ending up with miles split across multiple airlines, and potentially missing out on higher status with one of them. (In my case I have no trouble making 1K plus TK Elite, but doing it did cost me 2 additional RPUs with United last year)
Oct 8, 2018, 6:12 am
#10
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: BA BAEC Gold (oW Emerald), AF/KLM FB Plat (ST E+), *Alliance Nada
Posts: 299
MLL Access for UA Club Members regardless of Boarding Pass
I came across this interesting reply, and wanted to have some feedback about Docbert's assertion above: has it been tested? I am looking at the official Star Alliance lounges policy, and only found that access to *A for UA Club and AC MLL paid memberships only apply when the flight is operated by a *A carrier. Therefore, I was wondering if this is an unofficial benefit.
I will have a return trip LGA-YUL operated by DL (for work, couldn't choose), and since the MLL is the only lounge available in the U.S.-bound flight terminal, I would be really happy to be able to enjoy some comfort, despite flying on a DL-marketed/DL-metal flight.
Thanks for your feedback!
-vinnyc
Oct 8, 2018, 7:49 am
#11
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Midwest USA
Programs: BA SIL, WN A, UA SIL, Marriott TIT (LT), Hilton DIA
Posts: 1,969
Hello Docbert and fellow FT-ers -
I came across this interesting reply, and wanted to have some feedback about Docbert's assertion above: has it been tested? I am looking at the official Star Alliance lounges policy, and only found that access to *A for UA Club and AC MLL paid memberships only apply when the flight is operated by a *A carrier. Therefore, I was wondering if this is an unofficial benefit.
I will have a return trip LGA-YUL operated by DL (for work, couldn't choose), and since the MLL is the only lounge available in the U.S.-bound flight terminal, I would be really happy to be able to enjoy some comfort, despite flying on a DL-marketed/DL-metal flight.
Thanks for your feedback!
-vinnyc
I came across this interesting reply, and wanted to have some feedback about Docbert's assertion above: has it been tested? I am looking at the official Star Alliance lounges policy, and only found that access to *A for UA Club and AC MLL paid memberships only apply when the flight is operated by a *A carrier. Therefore, I was wondering if this is an unofficial benefit.
I will have a return trip LGA-YUL operated by DL (for work, couldn't choose), and since the MLL is the only lounge available in the U.S.-bound flight terminal, I would be really happy to be able to enjoy some comfort, despite flying on a DL-marketed/DL-metal flight.
Thanks for your feedback!
-vinnyc
The Maple Leaf lounge agent did not let me in. She said I had to be flying *A.
Unfortunately the priority pass lounge in YUL is not accessible if you are departing to the USA.
The gate area was comfortable, though.
Oct 8, 2018, 8:01 am
#12
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: United Plat 2MM, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,727
Oct 8, 2018, 8:17 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: BA BAEC Gold (oW Emerald), AF/KLM FB Plat (ST E+), *Alliance Nada
Posts: 299
Thanks for your replies guys.
Indeed, I mis-read in the sentence:
"UC membership will get you in with *any* boarding pass (for any airline) - including on arrival."
For some reason, I was thinking of my particular case (access to the MLL in YUL on a DL-operated flight). Reading again, I understand Docbert's assertion as applying to access to UAL Clubs, irrespective of the operating airline.
My bad!
-vinnyc
Indeed, I mis-read in the sentence:
"UC membership will get you in with *any* boarding pass (for any airline) - including on arrival."
For some reason, I was thinking of my particular case (access to the MLL in YUL on a DL-operated flight). Reading again, I understand Docbert's assertion as applying to access to UAL Clubs, irrespective of the operating airline.
My bad!
-vinnyc
Oct 8, 2018, 9:08 am
#14
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,159
1) Any United Club, at any time, as long you have any a boarding pass for a flight to/from that airport.
2) Other Star Alliance lounges (such as the MLL), but ONLY when departing on a Star Alliance carrier from that airport.
In your case, if there had been a UA Club in YUL, you would have been allowed enter. As there was only an MLL, and you were not flying *A, you were correctly denied entry.
Oct 8, 2018, 2:03 pm
#15
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: BA BAEC Gold (oW Emerald), AF/KLM FB Plat (ST E+), *Alliance Nada
Posts: 299
That's correct - With a UA Club membership you can access :
1) Any United Club, at any time, as long you have any a boarding pass for a flight to/from that airport.
2) Other Star Alliance lounges (such as the MLL), but ONLY when departing on a Star Alliance carrier from that airport.
In your case, if there had been a UA Club in YUL, you would have been allowed enter. As there was only an MLL, and you were not flying *A, you were correctly denied entry.
1) Any United Club, at any time, as long you have any a boarding pass for a flight to/from that airport.
2) Other Star Alliance lounges (such as the MLL), but ONLY when departing on a Star Alliance carrier from that airport.
In your case, if there had been a UA Club in YUL, you would have been allowed enter. As there was only an MLL, and you were not flying *A, you were correctly denied entry.