United Club membership now $650 effective 8/13/19
Jun 18, 2019, 6:18 am
#61
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
Posts: 4,599
The other day I had a two-hour layover at SFO. I first headed to the AMEX lounge. It was PACKED, noisy, stuffy, and had kids running all over the place. I grabbed some food, ate standing up (literally musical chairs with people hovering over those who looked like they were about to leave), and left. I then went to the rotunda UA where I had a seat, power for my laptop, a beverage, and peace and quiet. I guess MMV.
The drinks are great, but the food overrated - dark meat chicken. I'd like a Centurion bar in the terminal - just walk up, order a nice drink in a to go cup, and head to a wide open gate area.
I'm curious if this price change helps crowding at places like EWR and ORD on the United side. SFO rotunda is usually pretty easy to find something private to work and take calls. Same for most of the outstation clubs.
Jun 18, 2019, 6:19 am
#62
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,161
Yes, my theory exactly. LAX and ORD are only domestic hubs where UA doesn’t have massive market share.
Jun 18, 2019, 6:48 am
#64
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,161
What a joke. I have an Amex PLT card, SO has one too, the AMEX lounges are far, far, far better than UA's lounges, are in most of the airports I frequently, and as long as I fly AS or DL, I can use my AMEX card to access the lounges on them (or internationally) as well. Costs me $550 x2, and I get a great credit card to boot. @:-)
The package UA is offering is just inferior, to go with an inferior lounge. These kinds of things just make UA non-competitive. Faced with flying AS the other day (lounge access) vs. UA (no lounge access) guess who I flew....
The package UA is offering is just inferior, to go with an inferior lounge. These kinds of things just make UA non-competitive. Faced with flying AS the other day (lounge access) vs. UA (no lounge access) guess who I flew....
Jun 18, 2019, 6:55 am
#65
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,040
Many Centurion Lounges are packed, sometimes worse than UCs. The lounge at SFO is a particularly stellar example of overcrowding. AMEX has recently reduced access—no more entry on arrival unless connecting. And access only three hours before departure. It has helped—a little.
The United membership increase is long overdue. AMEX needs to hike the price for the platinum card too.
The United membership increase is long overdue. AMEX needs to hike the price for the platinum card too.
Would membership still "make sense" if you were actually the one footing the bill? And would you be as interested in a long overdue increase if you were footing the bill?
Regards
Looks like there are only 8 Centurion lounges in the US (Oct. 3, 2018): DFW, IAH, LAS, MIA, LGA, PHL, SFO, SEA. Out of those, only 6 are at least reasonably convenient to UA gates: IAH, LAS, LGA, PHL, SFO, SEA. Only 2 of those are UA hubs. And with restrictions of departure-only (SFO) and severe overcrowding, as good as the f&b might be, I fail to understand how AMEX Centurion is a viable alternative to UA Clubs except for those who happen to be based in that half dozen of cities. UA has clubs in 27 US airports, multiple in some...
Regards
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jun 18, 2019 at 12:28 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Jun 18, 2019, 7:01 am
#66
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
Looks like there are only 8 Centurion lounges in the US (Oct. 3, 2018): DFW, IAH, LAS, MIA, LGA, PHL, SFO, SEA. Out of those, only 6 are at least reasonably convenient to UA gates: IAH, LAS, LGA, PHL, SFO, SEA. Only 2 of those are UA hubs. And with restrictions of departure-only (SFO) and severe overcrowding, as good as the f&b might be, I fail to understand how AMEX Centurion is a viable alternative to UA Clubs except for those who happen to be based in that half dozen of cities. UA has clubs in 27 US airports, multiple in some...
Jun 18, 2019, 7:03 am
#67
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,450
The United Club experience has improved incrementally over the years, but the basic United Club concept still lags the Sky Club. I disagree with the notion that food service quality has declined over recent years... does anyone remember what it was like 3-5 years ago, and membership costs were about the same? I generally dislike price increases but I’m not about to launch a letter-writing campaign over this one.
I still have a problem with the fact that the United Club situation at EWR Terminal C is a debacle and hasn’t improved in nearly 20 years... as an EWR-based customer I don’t fly Polaris every single trip, and these days I usually just blow off the lounge at my home airport. Terminal A is adequate, but nothing special. Still, I suppose my location gives me as good a basis as any to complain about the increase.
From my perspective, two things need to change:
- Better alcohol selection. Liquor has improved marginally from the bargain-basement swill of the depths of the Smisek era, but at minimum, why can’t there be at least a complimentary local beer at each station?
- Maintenance of espresso machines. Is it just me, or are they out of service more often?
I just hope UA doesn’t follow DL with its guest access policy.
I still have a problem with the fact that the United Club situation at EWR Terminal C is a debacle and hasn’t improved in nearly 20 years... as an EWR-based customer I don’t fly Polaris every single trip, and these days I usually just blow off the lounge at my home airport. Terminal A is adequate, but nothing special. Still, I suppose my location gives me as good a basis as any to complain about the increase.
From my perspective, two things need to change:
- Better alcohol selection. Liquor has improved marginally from the bargain-basement swill of the depths of the Smisek era, but at minimum, why can’t there be at least a complimentary local beer at each station?
- Maintenance of espresso machines. Is it just me, or are they out of service more often?
I just hope UA doesn’t follow DL with its guest access policy.
Jun 18, 2019, 7:50 am
#68
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
Freedom Unlimited is strictly better than the Club Card from an earn perspective.
Jun 18, 2019, 8:04 am
#69
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
And (except apparently at LAX) the UC food options have been cut within the last six months (i.e., Kirbyized). So the price increase now is especially galling.
Jun 18, 2019, 8:05 am
#70
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
Jun 18, 2019, 8:11 am
#71
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Chicago IL US
Programs: UA 1K; National Executive Elite; Hertz PC & Hotels Galore
Posts: 946
This is 100% on-point. Though the food was improved in late 2017 and into 2018, those gains have quickly been clawed back. Nice hot entrees (such as beef sandwiches) have been exchanged for Sysco-style out-of-a-giant-can stews. Often times the quality is worse than that of a grade school cafeteria. Even the hot cocoa bars have been degraded from brand name natural offerings to generic with tons of preservatives and artificial ingredients.
Jun 18, 2019, 8:23 am
#72
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: ORD | LGA | 2E
Programs: UA GS 1.6MM UC | AA CK 0.7MM AC | Bonvoy Ambassador | Hyatt Globalist | Hertz PC
Posts: 1,053
The United Club experience has improved incrementally over the years, but the basic United Club concept still lags the Sky Club. I disagree with the notion that food service quality has declined over recent years... does anyone remember what it was like 3-5 years ago, and membership costs were about the same? I generally dislike price increases but I’m not about to launch a letter-writing campaign over this one.
I still have a problem with the fact that the United Club situation at EWR Terminal C is a debacle and hasn’t improved in nearly 20 years... as an EWR-based customer I don’t fly Polaris every single trip, and these days I usually just blow off the lounge at my home airport. Terminal A is adequate, but nothing special. Still, I suppose my location gives me as good a basis as any to complain about the increase.
From my perspective, two things need to change:
- Better alcohol selection. Liquor has improved marginally from the bargain-basement swill of the depths of the Smisek era, but at minimum, why can’t there be at least a complimentary local beer at each station?
- Maintenance of espresso machines. Is it just me, or are they out of service more often?
I still have a problem with the fact that the United Club situation at EWR Terminal C is a debacle and hasn’t improved in nearly 20 years... as an EWR-based customer I don’t fly Polaris every single trip, and these days I usually just blow off the lounge at my home airport. Terminal A is adequate, but nothing special. Still, I suppose my location gives me as good a basis as any to complain about the increase.
From my perspective, two things need to change:
- Better alcohol selection. Liquor has improved marginally from the bargain-basement swill of the depths of the Smisek era, but at minimum, why can’t there be at least a complimentary local beer at each station?
- Maintenance of espresso machines. Is it just me, or are they out of service more often?
I buy my booze in UCs and if they would upgrade to one better free beer option or drinkable house wine that would save me a few thousand dollars a year (not holding my breath for that).
The espresso machines are less than 50/50 operational at most of the hubs and agree that's a big issue for me and probably just boils down to poor maintenance by the staff as opposed to a flaw in the machines themselves.
Jun 18, 2019, 8:23 am
#73
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 120
Jun 18, 2019, 8:28 am
#74
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,460
Basically reduction in options.
As I noted off-topically in another thread, they now have only one, 'cheddar' cheese; the pepper and colby (?) jack cubes must have been fractions of cents more expensive, and they've disappeared. For some time there were two soups in several Clubs, now from what I see, everywhere is back to one at a time. The bread roll choices are also limited, but I haven't eaten a roll in years so I can only assume they are also worse. The cold meats are out for a only a short time, and maybe just one tray per day??
I think we're still ahead of the offerings from perhaps four years ago, but certainly for the past year it feels to me that it's one step forward two steps back.
As I noted off-topically in another thread, they now have only one, 'cheddar' cheese; the pepper and colby (?) jack cubes must have been fractions of cents more expensive, and they've disappeared. For some time there were two soups in several Clubs, now from what I see, everywhere is back to one at a time. The bread roll choices are also limited, but I haven't eaten a roll in years so I can only assume they are also worse. The cold meats are out for a only a short time, and maybe just one tray per day??
I think we're still ahead of the offerings from perhaps four years ago, but certainly for the past year it feels to me that it's one step forward two steps back.