Nov 2, 2019, 11:43 pm
Last edit by: zebranz
So, is anything happening with this? Just curious (Oct 3, 2019)
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If you received a lifetime Club membership from the UA MM program and would like to join a potential class action, please post your username here:
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Related thread: Club member/one-time pass access changes Nov 1, 2019 (same day BP on UA or partner) Original thread -- focused on the basic access issue, most lifetime membership posts have been moved to this lifetime thread
If you paid cash for a lifetime Club membership and would like to join a potential class action due to this material change, please post your username here:
ctownflyer
hog Heaven
AAdmiral
nsx + 1
RichardInSF
Sykes
soartoday
lax2jfk2lax
libuser + 1
Xyzzy + 1
Buster CT1K
1K Student
Elitefreak
flyer austin + 1 (wiki-restricted member, added by IAH-OIL-TRASH)
Radonc1 + 1 (not a FT member but has LT membership)
Halo117
mikey
Mnmag
Vulcan
lateacher
kmersh
MazdaMP
bajong
sandiego1k
thesilb
HnlJay
nachosdelux
wtigerFF
a1bengal
benolaa
LeslieandDiane
SPN Lifer +1
YRKInsider
texd
IAHtraveler
nzpilot
zebranz
If you received a lifetime Club membership from the UA MM program and would like to join a potential class action, please post your username here:
deek
honmani2
lax2jfk2lax (recd 2nd lifetime for hitting 2MM which I gifted)
seacarl
Related thread: Club member/one-time pass access changes Nov 1, 2019 (same day BP on UA or partner) Original thread -- focused on the basic access issue, most lifetime membership posts have been moved to this lifetime thread
Lifetime Member Edition: UC access changes Nov 1, 2019 (same day BP on UA or partner)
Jun 10, 2019, 6:00 pm
#226
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Washington State
Posts: 1,777
It can be done with computer database, not a problem. The real issue here is why go to that extent? Grandfather in all lifetime members to all clubs. and don't offer this kind of exception to just one or two people offer it to everybody if you're going to offer it.
Last edited by Mikey; Jun 10, 2019 at 6:02 pm Reason: Typo
Jun 15, 2019, 7:54 pm
#227
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Washington State
Posts: 1,777
Again UA failed me...
And yet they expect me to fly them for access to the club.This time it was a trip to Austin Texas. I looked at United airlines first. The United airlines trips were consistently 8 to 10 hours and length with a change in planes. And the flight times were not that great. Alaska airlines had a Non-Stop to Austin from Seattle that takes 4 hours. Of course I'm going to choose Alaska rather than spend another five to six hours traveling on UA.
So yet again, after November I will be penalized by United for not using United when United is terribly inconvenient for many of the places that I go lately.
And they didn't even offer me the hometown club exception that they offered other folks.
So yet again, after November I will be penalized by United for not using United when United is terribly inconvenient for many of the places that I go lately.
And they didn't even offer me the hometown club exception that they offered other folks.
Last edited by Mikey; Jun 15, 2019 at 7:55 pm Reason: Typo
Jun 16, 2019, 1:27 am
#228
Join Date: Nov 2013
Programs: AS Gold, Hyatt Diamond, Starriott LTPP
Posts: 341
Jun 16, 2019, 11:27 am
#229
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Washington State
Posts: 1,777
"They offer enticements — lower fares, premier benefits, club access, etc. — to try to make up for their disadvantage from a schedule perspective"
UA was $700, AS was $336. UA was 8 hours, AS was 4 hours. What enticements except for a roomier seat? Not worth flying UA.
The fact is that UA stopped selling lifetime memberships years ago. The numbers of folks who have lifetime memberships and still use them are dwindling. This is a self-correcting problem. If they do nothing, there will be no more lifetime memberships active - they just have to wait. And that would not make us all mad.
UA was $700, AS was $336. UA was 8 hours, AS was 4 hours. What enticements except for a roomier seat? Not worth flying UA.
The fact is that UA stopped selling lifetime memberships years ago. The numbers of folks who have lifetime memberships and still use them are dwindling. This is a self-correcting problem. If they do nothing, there will be no more lifetime memberships active - they just have to wait. And that would not make us all mad.
Last edited by Mikey; Jun 16, 2019 at 11:27 am Reason: Typo
Jun 16, 2019, 11:31 am
#230
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,412
At those prices, I would agree with you.
When I’ve searched, UA has been competitive — usually a little cheaper than DL or AS.I agree that lifetime members should be exempted, if only due to the optics. I still think that the policy makes sense for all other members, though.
Jun 18, 2019, 10:32 am
#233
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: 4,671
So how long until UA copies Delta's club membership model where basic members don't get any guests and sticks it to Lifetime members as well?
After all, they can decide that we can only visit when flying in F class or only on Tuesdays per their terms.
After all, they can decide that we can only visit when flying in F class or only on Tuesdays per their terms.
Jun 18, 2019, 10:38 am
#234
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,461
The comparison is somewhat apples to oranges, because DL Diamonds can select a basic membership as one of their free "Choice Benefits." That's a very large number of SC memberships. With UA, everybody pays.
Jun 20, 2019, 9:04 am
#235
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA 1K 1MMer & LT UC (when flying UA); Hyatt Credit Cardist; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold via UA 1K
Posts: 6,956
This is incorrect. When I joined RCC as lifetime around 1990 a secondary purpose was to use the RCC in TPE and HKG for my frequent intra-Asian flights. That was before the time of the alliances. Almost as soon as I paid the lifetime membership UA announced that business class passengers can use RCC without membership. I wrote to UA asking refund of membership fee since I always fly business class on UA and almost all my flights during those years are TPAC and intra Asia on CI, CX, etc.. An UA executive wrote back to remind me that the value of using RCC in my intra-Asia flights at HKG and TPE (non-UA flights) are worthy of my membership fee. ..
Jun 20, 2019, 9:50 am
#236
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
In my opinion, referencing a policy from 30 years ago won't make your case.
Jun 20, 2019, 11:23 am
#237
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
In this context, the knowledge of what the airline said 30 years ago is extremely relevant.
Jun 20, 2019, 11:43 am
#238
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SFO, TPE, HNL
Programs: UA GS 4MM, RCC life member (paid), Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, CLEAR
Posts: 1,823
Unfortunately, I did not keep any paper records related to Mileage Plus (and many other travel materials). I already accumulated too much stuff when I hit 1 MM many years ago, when everything was paper. MP statements, newsletters, ticket receipts, ...etc
One other thing I did not keep was the congratulation letter from UA for reaching 1MM. That was the time they first established the MM program. The letter said that reaching 1MM means my MP miles will never expire. Some years later I became a member of the United Flyers Community (UFC) and was invited to Chicago for a dinner-hokey event at the United suite of the hokey stadium. mingling with UA executives, and met Graham Atkinson, President of Mileage Plus. I told him about this 1MM benefit letter. A couple weeks later he wrote back to say that it was before his time at UA, and that he has forwarded my question to his deputy at Mileage Plus to search the history. That was the last I heard about this issue, although Atkinson was so nice that he has personally responded to my other emails on other issues - until he was let go when CO took over.
One other thing I did not keep was the congratulation letter from UA for reaching 1MM. That was the time they first established the MM program. The letter said that reaching 1MM means my MP miles will never expire. Some years later I became a member of the United Flyers Community (UFC) and was invited to Chicago for a dinner-hokey event at the United suite of the hokey stadium. mingling with UA executives, and met Graham Atkinson, President of Mileage Plus. I told him about this 1MM benefit letter. A couple weeks later he wrote back to say that it was before his time at UA, and that he has forwarded my question to his deputy at Mileage Plus to search the history. That was the last I heard about this issue, although Atkinson was so nice that he has personally responded to my other emails on other issues - until he was let go when CO took over.
Jul 23, 2019, 2:45 pm
#240
Join Date: Jul 2019
Programs: DL, AL, SW, AA,
Posts: 10
i noticed a thread collecting usernames interested in filing a class action suit and would like to be part of it
Of particular interest is that Delta who started this restriction has since modified its rule and will honor all lifetime members, why cant united do the same and probably wont unless they get slammed in social media or the threat of a class action suit
Thanks.
agreed! we need to take this to social media or make a post with the points guy asking for all lifetime members to come forth and sign a petiton
Of particular interest is that Delta who started this restriction has since modified its rule and will honor all lifetime members, why cant united do the same and probably wont unless they get slammed in social media or the threat of a class action suit
Thanks.
agreed! we need to take this to social media or make a post with the points guy asking for all lifetime members to come forth and sign a petiton
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 23, 2019 at 2:54 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member