Nov 4, 2018, 10:34 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Effective November 1, 2019, United Club customers, including members and their guests, and one-time pass holders will need to provide a same-day boarding pass for travel on United, Star Alliance™ or a contracted partner for entry into all United Club locations. Admittance to United Club locations is permitted only at the departure and arrival airports for United, Star Alliance™ or a contracted partner operated flights.
"Contracted partner" appears to refer to non *A partners and those flights will need to be on a UA ticket to qualify.
*A partner flights also qualify even if not on a UA ticket.
"Admittance to United Club locations is permitted only at the departure and arrival airports for United, Star Alliance or a contracted partner operated flights" appears to mean that passengers are only permitted to access the United Club at the airport(s) at which their same-day flight either arrives or departs.
This requirement also applies to guest(s).
This thread has had two parallel discussions, which will become even more confusing as the new UC access policy is implemented, so the original thread has been split into two separate threads.
Lifetime Member Edition: UC access changes Nov 1, 2019 (same day BP on UA or partner) will be for the discussion of if UA should offer an exception to the new UC access policy (only with same day BP with UA or partners) for Lifetime United Club members.
This thread will continue as the discussion thread for the base policy and issues in its implementation. But please discuss the lifetime membership concerns in the other thread.
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
Lifetime Member Edition: UC access changes Nov 1, 2019 (same day BP on UA or partner) will be for the discussion of if UA should offer an exception to the new UC access policy (only with same day BP with UA or partners) for Lifetime United Club members.
This thread will continue as the discussion thread for the base policy and issues in its implementation. But please discuss the lifetime membership concerns in the other thread.
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
Club member/one-time pass access changes Nov 1, 2019 (same day BP on UA or partner)
Dec 10, 2018, 2:07 pm
#121
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Virtuoso Travel Agent, Commercial Pilot
Posts: 2,117
It’s pretty specifically prohibited by the contract of carriage too:
UA reserves the right to cancel bookings and/or reservations which it deems fraudulent, abusive, illogical, fictitious, which are booked and/or reserved with no intention of flying, or for which the passenger makes a misrepresentation without notice to the passenger or the individual making the booking. The types of improper reservations that UA will cancel without notice include, but are not limited to: reservations made without having been requested by or on behalf of the named passenger; reservations made to hold or block seats for the purpose of obtaining lower fares, MP award inventory, or upgrades that may not otherwise be available; reservations made to manipulate, abuse, or circumvent any of UA’s fare rules, policies or provisions; reservations made for the same passenger on flights traveling on or about the same date between one or more of the same or nearby origin or destination cities; and reservations with connections that depart before the arrival on the inbound flight.
UA’s Remedies for Violation(s) of Rules - Where a Ticket is purchased and used in violation of the law, these rules or any fare rule (including Hidden Cities Ticketing, Point Beyond Ticketing, Throwaway Ticketing, or Back-to-Back Ticketing), UA, without notice to the passenger, has the right in its sole discretion to take all actions permitted by law, including but not limited to, the following:
Invalidate the Ticket(s);
Cancel any remaining portion of the Passenger’s itinerary;
Confiscate any unused Flight Coupons;
Permanently ban or refuse to board the Passenger and to carry the Passenger’s baggage, unless the difference between the fare paid and the fare for transportation used is collected prior to boarding;
Assess the Passenger for the actual value of the Ticket which shall be the difference between the lowest fare applicable to the Passenger’s actual itinerary and the fare actually paid;
Delete miles in the Passenger’s frequent flyer account (UA’s MileagePlus Program), revoke the Passenger’s Elite status, if any, in the MileagePlus Program, terminate the Passenger’s participation in the MileagePlus Program, or take any other action permitted by the MileagePlus Program Rules in UA’s “MileagePlus Rules;” and
Take legal action with respect to the Passenger.
Invalidate the Ticket(s);
Cancel any remaining portion of the Passenger’s itinerary;
Confiscate any unused Flight Coupons;
Permanently ban or refuse to board the Passenger and to carry the Passenger’s baggage, unless the difference between the fare paid and the fare for transportation used is collected prior to boarding;
Assess the Passenger for the actual value of the Ticket which shall be the difference between the lowest fare applicable to the Passenger’s actual itinerary and the fare actually paid;
Delete miles in the Passenger’s frequent flyer account (UA’s MileagePlus Program), revoke the Passenger’s Elite status, if any, in the MileagePlus Program, terminate the Passenger’s participation in the MileagePlus Program, or take any other action permitted by the MileagePlus Program Rules in UA’s “MileagePlus Rules;” and
Take legal action with respect to the Passenger.
Last edited by Sykes; Dec 10, 2018 at 2:17 pm
Dec 10, 2018, 2:14 pm
#122
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,732
Dec 11, 2018, 6:05 am
#123
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,408
While it is true that same day changes make this less important, that is not true for heavily traveled routes that may be sold out or more importantly, be missing desired seats (especially in coach).
I have yet to hear of an airline giving those travelers heck for having multipe same day reservations (especially in the exorbitantly priced fully refundable fare class ).
And yes, add my name and Mrs Radonc1 (who has her own seperate LT membership) to the group.
Dec 11, 2018, 7:14 am
#124
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CLE, DCA, and 30k feet
Programs: Honors LT Diamond; United 1K; Hertz PC
Posts: 4,152
I read those COC rules. I know of many passengers who make multiple same day reservations at differing times (and even on different airlines) using refundable fares. This allows them to work without having to terminate an ongoing business meeting to make a specified flight time. They simply cancel the upcoming flight that is going to be missed and move on to the next reservation. Is that considered fraud?
UA reserves the right to cancel bookings and/or reservations which it deems fraudulent, abusive, illogical, fictitious, which are booked and/or reserved with no intention of flying, or for which the passenger makes a misrepresentation without notice to the passenger or the individual making the booking. The types of improper reservations that UA will cancel without notice include, but are not limited to: [...] reservations made for the same passenger on flights traveling on or about the same date between one or more of the same or nearby origin or destination cities; [...]
In the specific context of club access I don't think it's unreasonable to argue if a pattern of behavior emerges where a passenger buys a UA ticket, presents that for the sole purpose of gaining access to a UC, then cancels/refunds the ticket that the ticket purchase was made with the intent to defraud UA. Once or twice can probably make the "last minute change of plans" argument convincingly, but if every week you buy a AAA-(anywhere ticket), scan into the club, then cancel the ticket no sane person would buy that you actually had the intent to use the ticket in any way other than to contravene UA's club access rules.
Dec 11, 2018, 9:42 am
#125
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,880
I read those COC rules. I know of many passengers who make multiple same day reservations at differing times (and even on different airlines) using refundable fares. This allows them to work without having to terminate an ongoing business meeting to make a specified flight time. They simply cancel the upcoming flight that is going to be missed and move on to the next reservation. Is that considered fraud?
Dec 11, 2018, 10:15 am
#126
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,404
Ask the GS(?) member who IIRC had their account locked because they frequently booked travel for themselves +1 and then cancelled the +1 at the last minute, saying he had severe travel anxiety and could not tell until the moment of travel whether he would need help traveling or not. (Can't find a thread or post pointer handily, any inaccuracy in the retelling is the product of my faulty memory)
Dec 24, 2018, 7:44 pm
#127
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: CLE
Programs: HH Diamond,PC Plat,MR Lifetme Titanium,Ex-CO Plat,UA 1K
Posts: 99
Makes no sense for UA (or the other carriers) to offer their clubs as standalone. Probably did not matter back in the day. But, apparently there is sufficient use by those flying other carriers that it is now a factor. So, it's going away because it makes no sense.
That's a useful solution. I am certain that if people start guesting in strangers, UA will eliminate the OA restriction.
Better away to address that is to simply limit people to some number of guests per year. When you're taking your family on vacation, they can enjoy the UC. If you're guesting in strangers or colleagues who could purchase their own memberships, you'll run out of passes quickly. Be careful what you wish for.
Better away to address that is to simply limit people to some number of guests per year. When you're taking your family on vacation, they can enjoy the UC. If you're guesting in strangers or colleagues who could purchase their own memberships, you'll run out of passes quickly. Be careful what you wish for.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 24, 2018 at 8:07 pm Reason: repaired quote / formating
Jan 18, 2019, 10:35 pm
#128
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CLE
Programs: UA,WN,AA,DL, B6
Posts: 4,167
Remember the days when you could access the club when you were not flying, say for a business meeting with someone flying in. Can you still do this. I completely disagree with the new policy. I fly other aiines like Southwest which has no club. If I pay 500 bucks a year for membership I should be able to use the club whenever I want.
Last edited by buckeyefanflyer; Jan 18, 2019 at 10:36 pm Reason: Spelling
Jan 19, 2019, 9:52 am
#129
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
Jan 19, 2019, 9:59 am
#130
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 14,988
Jan 25, 2019, 7:08 pm
#131
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Washington State
Posts: 1,777
Has there been any announcements of any changes to this restrictive policy? I have not received any response to my email to Oscar.I did receive a response from the United club email but that was along the lines of quote sorry about that unquote and a pledge to refer to another department
Feb 7, 2019, 12:05 pm
#132
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
Feb 7, 2019, 12:22 pm
#133
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: 3,614
I have tried it at SFO several times and it is indeed crowded, that is why I am not quick to jump ship so to say. I also feel sorry for the LT CO club members who clearly this change effects and apparently represents a change from the initial contract when they bought in. I have a close friend who had the LT membership through CO and uses the UC all the time as he is quite a "road warrior", he states he will probably join the class action suit if it indeed happens.
Feb 7, 2019, 12:25 pm
#134
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,732
Feb 7, 2019, 1:07 pm
#135
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: 4,668
Based on DL's reversal and UAs hesitation, this may not be the same case. The courts may not toss out a case of paid club memberships like they tossed out benefits earned from flights due to the deregulation act.
