No more local & now no more papers in UC?
Jun 27, 2019, 9:20 pm
#136
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,410
No offense, but this is not at all a useful comment. United raised club rates, and now expect their members to pay for previously provided items? They don’t just appear free on your device in full, FYI. It’s simply shifting the cost burden to their customers. Another reason my Club Card is history.
Jun 27, 2019, 10:38 pm
#137
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CLE, DCA, and 30k feet
Programs: Honors LT Diamond; United 1K; Hertz PC
Posts: 4,162
No offense, but this is not at all a useful comment. United raised club rates, and now expect their members to pay for previously provided items? They don’t just appear free on your device in full, FYI. It’s simply shifting the cost burden to their customers. Another reason my Club Card is history.
Yes, there's a certain something about picking up a physical newspaper from time to time--and yes the optics are bad cutting this so close to the membership rate hike, but practically: I can't recall having ever touched one of the UC newspapers/magazines -- and I'm certainly not choosing to patronize the club for the reading material. I like the WSJ, and if I were to pick up a dead-tree publication it's probably at the top of my pick, but that doesn't mean it being available (or unavailable) has any particular bearing on my perceived value of UC membership. If I wanted something to read I'd probably bring it with me -- as I do with books, magazines, etc. in electronic or dead tree form. Aside from the historical custom, I'm honestly not sure why the UC should be providing the WSJ, USAT, NYT, or any other newspaper any more than they should be providing novels and business books.
But I also place the highest value on the tranquility and staff assistance for smooth travel. The beverages and occasional snacks are nice, but even those are ancillary to what I perceive as the main benefit of the club.
That said, I've noticed in some other lounges as well as some hotels the migration to apps/services like PressReader giving free access to electronic versions of publications. It certainly isn't the same as having dead trees between your fingers or being able to judge progress based on the thickness of the publication already read vs that yet to discover, but it sure is convenient and you don't have to worry about someone having made off with the last copy of whatever you wanted to read. If UA were to offer something along these lines, that might ease some of the strain (eyestrain notwithstanding)
Jun 28, 2019, 6:58 am
#139
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: IAH
Programs: UA Silver
Posts: 527
oh gosh, sounds like they no longer have toilet paper in the bathroom so people are left having to improvise.
Jun 28, 2019, 8:26 am
#141
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: New York / Hawaii
Programs: UA Global Services, HH Diamond
Posts: 5,178
They've been pushing guests of both the United Club and the Polaris Lounge to download the digital news viewer that lets you read newspapers/magazines digitally on your device for free. Would make sense to eliminate the paper version if more and more people were adopting to digital versions.
Jun 28, 2019, 8:39 am
#142
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Bucks County
Programs: UAL GS & Million Miler; Delta Lifetime Gold; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Platinum; Legion Etrangere
Posts: 1,609
They've been pushing guests of both the United Club and the Polaris Lounge to download the digital news viewer that lets you read newspapers/magazines digitally on your device for free. Would make sense to eliminate the paper version if more and more people were adopting to digital versions.
Jun 28, 2019, 8:45 am
#143
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,460
Definitely less convenient than grabbing a physical paper.
Jun 28, 2019, 2:41 pm
#146
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 19,502
Probably just to irritate the many FlyerTalk posters who yearn for United to get rid of "The Globe" 
Write in? Like on paper? In an envelope? With a stamp!?!
Write in? Like on paper? In an envelope? With a stamp!?!
Jun 28, 2019, 6:16 pm
#147
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: New York / Hawaii
Programs: UA Global Services, HH Diamond
Posts: 5,178
I used the app once about 8 weeks ago when in the Polaris Lounge and deleted it when I left, so I don't even remember what app it was or who the company that developed it. I figured no sense keeping an app on my device if it only works inside UA clubs.
Jun 28, 2019, 6:19 pm
#148
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PIT
Programs: OZ Diamond, UA Gold
Posts: 9,919
There have been table-top trifolds calling out the app, encouraging guests to download it for free for access to numerous newspapers and magazines. I believe as long as you're connected to the internet via the connection in the club, you have unblocked access to the publications without having to pay or log-in through paywalls. Similar to the tabletop ads for the Chase credit card.
I used the app once about 8 weeks ago when in the Polaris Lounge and deleted it when I left, so I don't even remember what app it was or who the company that developed it. I figured no sense keeping an app on my device if it only works inside UA clubs.
I used the app once about 8 weeks ago when in the Polaris Lounge and deleted it when I left, so I don't even remember what app it was or who the company that developed it. I figured no sense keeping an app on my device if it only works inside UA clubs.
Jun 28, 2019, 7:47 pm
#149
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: New York / Hawaii
Programs: UA Global Services, HH Diamond
Posts: 5,178
I honestly didn't use it enough to know all the features. I downloaded/installed it once I saw the call-out to in the lounge, played with it a bit, but then deleted it after not being in a UA lounge for a while.
Jun 28, 2019, 8:06 pm
#150
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: UA Million Miler
Posts: 1,358
How sad. The print WSJ was an important benefit of the club. I find the print and digital versions of newspapers not to be equivalent -- they are different products. The print newspaper in particular is wonderful if you peruse each page in order, getting a holistic view of the news. Online I tend to hone in on only my particular interests.