United Club membership now $650 effective 8/13/19
Jun 17, 2019, 9:22 pm
#32
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
This one really stings. Hadn’t known this. I use the restaurant benefit extensively at SFO. Ouch.
Regarding Centurion Lounges. I do expect many won’t renew UA clubs and the Centurion Lounge at SFO to get even more crowded. It is a victim of its own success and Amex needs a fix.
Regarding Centurion Lounges. I do expect many won’t renew UA clubs and the Centurion Lounge at SFO to get even more crowded. It is a victim of its own success and Amex needs a fix.
Jun 17, 2019, 9:24 pm
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,021
Looks like Admirals Club is $650 as well. https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...membership.jsp
Looks like Delta upped their equivalent membership to $845.00 (Pretty sure it was in the $7 hundred range). https://www.delta.com/skyclub/purcha...Request.action
Looks like Delta upped their equivalent membership to $845.00 (Pretty sure it was in the $7 hundred range). https://www.delta.com/skyclub/purcha...Request.action
Jun 17, 2019, 9:26 pm
#34
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP. Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,129
Yeah, so? I little bit of that stir fry and some salad and a drink. All I need. I don't go there for a three course meal. I go there for a non-crowded crapper and to avoid riff-raff at the gate. A person is delusional if you're expecting a PL level of selection and menu at a UC. Never has, never will.
Jun 17, 2019, 9:48 pm
#36
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: DYKWIA, But I'm a "Diamond Guest" UA 1K/2MM
Posts: 2,250
Jun 17, 2019, 9:51 pm
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: United, American, Delta, Hyatt, Hilton, Hertz, Marriott
Posts: 14,792
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....
The United membership increase is long overdue. AMEX needs to hike the price for the platinum card too.
Jun 17, 2019, 9:56 pm
#38
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,520
Jun 17, 2019, 10:37 pm
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,000
This is another poorly thought-out piece of messaging by UA. They just lazily/incompetently put out a simple statement (paraphrasing) that “UC membership will be $650 and there will be no initiation fee as of such n such date”.
UA doesn’t bother to address how Premier discounts will (or will not) be affected. My guess is the Premier discounted memberships will still exist, but a little more expensive. If UA intends to do away with the discounts, they should address that in the announcement also.
Typical UA to make an announcement that doesn’t answer all the facets involved.
Sub-$500 Club Card is OK w/ me. $600? - no thanks - I’ll post up at the most convenient bar.
If UA raises Club prices 15-20% and they get a commensurate drop in members, I guess it’s good for them. Revenue increase would come from drop in food/bev even though membership revenue neutral.
UA doesn’t bother to address how Premier discounts will (or will not) be affected. My guess is the Premier discounted memberships will still exist, but a little more expensive. If UA intends to do away with the discounts, they should address that in the announcement also.
Typical UA to make an announcement that doesn’t answer all the facets involved.
Sub-$500 Club Card is OK w/ me. $600? - no thanks - I’ll post up at the most convenient bar.
If UA raises Club prices 15-20% and they get a commensurate drop in members, I guess it’s good for them. Revenue increase would come from drop in food/bev even though membership revenue neutral.
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Jun 17, 2019 at 10:52 pm
Jun 17, 2019, 10:46 pm
#41
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,421
This is another poorly thought-out piece of messaging by UA. They just lazily/incompetently put out a simple statement (paraphrasing) that “UC membership will be $650 and there will be no initiation fee as of such n such date”.
UA doesn’t bother to address how Premier discounts will be affected. My guess is the Premier discounted memberships will still exist, but a little more expensive. If UA intends to do away with the discounts, they should address that in the announcement also.
Typical UA to make an announcement that doesn’t answer all the facets involved.
Sub-$500 Club Card is OK w/ me. $600? - no thanks - I’ll post up at the most convenient bar.
If UA raises Club prices 15-20% and they get a commensurate drop in members, I guess it’s good for them. Revenue increase would come from drop in food/bev even though membership revenue neutral.
UA doesn’t bother to address how Premier discounts will be affected. My guess is the Premier discounted memberships will still exist, but a little more expensive. If UA intends to do away with the discounts, they should address that in the announcement also.
Typical UA to make an announcement that doesn’t answer all the facets involved.
Sub-$500 Club Card is OK w/ me. $600? - no thanks - I’ll post up at the most convenient bar.
If UA raises Club prices 15-20% and they get a commensurate drop in members, I guess it’s good for them. Revenue increase would come from drop in food/bev even though membership revenue neutral.
Jun 17, 2019, 11:04 pm
#42
Join Date: May 2001
Location: HNL
Posts: 1,013
I wish they would turn the Chase Club passes into "Special Discounted Rate Entry Coupons" allowing entry for, say, $25. I'm guessing many people would let their coupons expire rather than pay to enter, and it would certainly cut down if not nearly eliminate the on-line re-sale value.
As for the price increase, if my PP Card rate does go up, I may finally decide to do without as long as my *G status continues to get me in to the lounges at HNL, LAX, and IAD.
As for the price increase, if my PP Card rate does go up, I may finally decide to do without as long as my *G status continues to get me in to the lounges at HNL, LAX, and IAD.
Jun 17, 2019, 11:29 pm
#43
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
This is another poorly thought-out piece of messaging by UA. They just lazily/incompetently put out a simple statement (paraphrasing) that “UC membership will be $650 and there will be no initiation fee as of such n such date”.
UA doesn’t bother to address how Premier discounts will (or will not) be affected. My guess is the Premier discounted memberships will still exist, but a little more expensive. If UA intends to do away with the discounts, they should address that in the announcement also.
Typical UA to make an announcement that doesn’t answer all the facets involved.
Sub-$500 Club Card is OK w/ me. $600? - no thanks - I’ll post up at the most convenient bar.
If UA raises Club prices 15-20% and they get a commensurate drop in members, I guess it’s good for them. Revenue increase would come from drop in food/bev even though membership revenue neutral.
UA doesn’t bother to address how Premier discounts will (or will not) be affected. My guess is the Premier discounted memberships will still exist, but a little more expensive. If UA intends to do away with the discounts, they should address that in the announcement also.
Typical UA to make an announcement that doesn’t answer all the facets involved.
Sub-$500 Club Card is OK w/ me. $600? - no thanks - I’ll post up at the most convenient bar.
If UA raises Club prices 15-20% and they get a commensurate drop in members, I guess it’s good for them. Revenue increase would come from drop in food/bev even though membership revenue neutral.
The entire reason for elite programs, mileage programs, lounges, is to attract and retain high value business. United seems to be loosing sight (as to be fair are other airlines as well) the entire way one tries to retain business.
Jun 18, 2019, 12:05 am
#44
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,520
If the United Club were a stand along business yes. But its not. It is designed to drive travel to United. if 15-20% of Club members drop, and then start to fly UA less (e.g. get a AMEX card and use it flying on DL or AS or an airline at an airport that has a centurian lounge) well then UA is out what is likely to be higher value travel spending too...
The entire reason for elite programs, mileage programs, lounges, is to attract and retain high value business. United seems to be loosing sight (as to be fair are other airlines as well) the entire way one tries to retain business.
The entire reason for elite programs, mileage programs, lounges, is to attract and retain high value business. United seems to be loosing sight (as to be fair are other airlines as well) the entire way one tries to retain business.
MsHalls120 has been rabidly loyal to UA for the past 20 years, because that was the only airline we flew while going overseas, with one exception. Earlier this month we flew LH in C, and she had her eyes opened. There are other options out there, and if UA doesn't up it's game, they are going to lose those of us with the discretionary income to shop around for the best value/experience.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jun 18, 2019 at 12:09 am Reason: repaired quote
Jun 18, 2019, 12:20 am
#45
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: New York / Hawaii
Programs: UA Global Services, HH Diamond
Posts: 5,176
If they brought in complimentary cocktail offerings comparable to Polaris or at least comparable to an international UC like LHR, I'd consider renewing. But I'll just let my membership expire. Between *A access on international routes and F flights back/forth on PS, the 1-2 times I may be at some random outstation on a non-eligible itinerary I'll splurge for a single pass. Even if I buy a handful, I'm ahead of the game.