Club Membership vs Club Card?
Aug 11, 2019, 7:08 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: United 1k, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador and LT-Gold
Posts: 1,660
Club Membership vs Club Card?
For some strange reason, I am debating finding a way of getting UA club access - Denver is my primary airport - and while 1/3 of my flights are international and hence get access, I am debating getting full-time access - either with $$$, miles, or an Explorer club card......
I am currently 1K, unlikely to ever get GS, and should be at least Plat next year - hopefully 1K again
advice?
-michael
I am currently 1K, unlikely to ever get GS, and should be at least Plat next year - hopefully 1K again
advice?
-michael
Aug 11, 2019, 7:12 pm
#3
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
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If you're going to pay, I'd recommend a credit card that gives you Priority Pass. The lounges are far superior to anything United has to offer, and the membership is significantly cheaper. Even on international flights, I only use United Clubs or Star Alliance lounges when there's no Priority Pass available.
Aug 11, 2019, 7:12 pm
#4
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Excluding weird extraneous circumstances around credit cards, the Club Card is strictly superior to a normal paid UC membership.
Aug 11, 2019, 7:17 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: United 1k, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador and LT-Gold
Posts: 1,660
1) Dont think the fee is waived the first year on the Club - but will check
2) PP does not have good options at DIA (different terminal)
- had PP in past (with AmEx Plat) and used occ - but was not a big fan - not really looking for big meals/food etc
2) PP does not have good options at DIA (different terminal)
- had PP in past (with AmEx Plat) and used occ - but was not a big fan - not really looking for big meals/food etc
Aug 11, 2019, 7:32 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
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Aug 11, 2019, 7:44 pm
#7
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
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There are two flavors of intro offer, one of which is 50k miles after 3k of spend in the first three months, but another is waived annual fee for the first year. Depending how you value UA miles, 50k is worth more than saving $450.
Aug 11, 2019, 9:20 pm
#8
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,856
Regardless of status, the Chase MP Club credit card is cheaper than outright purchasing UC membership. and you can use miles for either one. The Chase card is also much cheaper with credit card miles than purchasing the UC membership with miles. So if you can get the Chase card (a USA SSN and appropriate credit score) there is no reason / advantage to purchasing the UC membership directly.
Aug 11, 2019, 11:10 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: Austin, TX
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You also need to qualify under Chase's 5/24 rule -- and you need to be sure that taking the Club card wouldn't put you at 5/24 when you were looking for a more lucrative offer. However, these are niche exceptions; in general, I agree, if you want Club access, the card is a better option than a membership.
Aug 12, 2019, 10:16 am
#10
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If this could be or is to be a business expense, credit card annual fees are tax deductible while club membership fees are not. So the credit card route would be the way t
go in that case.
go in that case.
Aug 12, 2019, 10:50 am
#11
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
If you must get a UC membership, definitely get the card instead of buying the membership. As for PP, that depends how where you fly out of. For example, at MOST UA hubs, you have no better options or no options at all. If you always fly out of SEA on UA alot, the PP option is better imo.
It is not uncommon to get an offer for the first year free.
It is not uncommon to get an offer for the first year free.