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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ctownflyer
hog Heaven
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Buster CT1K
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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)
Aug 18, 2023, 11:49 am
#1336
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
Although at the end of the day - I don't think most people want to lose the lifetime membership considering the cost nowadays.
Aug 18, 2023, 1:53 pm
#1337
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Washington State
Posts: 1,777
Well for me United has severely cut down the service out of my local airport so there aren't very many places I can go in United anyway. So I switched allegiances to Alaska and Southwest and I joined the Alaska club.
Aug 18, 2023, 5:00 pm
#1338
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SFO, TPE, HNL
Programs: UA GS 4MM, RCC life member (paid), Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, CLEAR
Posts: 1,824
Nothing will change so long as UA CEO John Scott Kirby '89 continues to ignore or forget the Honor Code he learned and practiced as a USAFA Cadet. 
At least in the early period after the announcement, UA, in responding to complaints, gave 10,000 miles to some who paid cash for lifetime membership.
Aug 18, 2023, 9:38 pm
#1340
Join Date: Nov 2013
Programs: AS Gold, Hyatt Diamond, Starriott LTPP
Posts: 341
Already talked to Mikey! Wishing the best for that lawsuit too 
Maybe @soartoday can share some information with you on how he proceeded. You are probably among the most disadvantaged by this change. Good luck.
Aug 18, 2023, 10:00 pm
#1342
Join Date: Nov 2013
Programs: AS Gold, Hyatt Diamond, Starriott LTPP
Posts: 341
I'm trying not to be too public (or specific) about my case because I still have my lifetime United Club membership despite the judgement in my favor, and I don't want that to change.
It was small claims, so this was adjudicated by a commissioner. I've shared details with everyone who's asked in DMs, but here's the general gist.
It was small claims, so this was adjudicated by a commissioner. I've shared details with everyone who's asked in DMs, but here's the general gist.
- Filed small claims case. Reached out to United to see if they wanted to meditate. I had separately reached out to two UA employee contacts via mutual contacts to see if there was appetite to carve out lifetime members (seemed like no).
- In the small claims filing, I asked for a prorated refund of the membership fee I had paid circa 2010 plus legal fees. I could have adjusted for inflation but decided not to. A lawyer who advised me said I could have also asked for additional compensation for alternate arrangements (e.g. other lounge membership fees, etc.), but I did not (despite having paid for AA lounges).
- I tried to keep my claim very simple. Rather than attach pages and pages of supporting documentation, I just wrote one paragraph with a summary of my complaint and amount. I did not include any receipts or other documentation. It's always possible to elaborate on it during the trial/hearing. Service to United was by certified mail.
- After a while, I was contacted by a person who works for United in handling these types of "cases." She seemed a bit rude and very dismissive of my plight. She confidently told me that United will fully defend the claim. Offered me a token number of miles. I refused the token settlement offer. I did not talk to her again before the trial date.
- The court date finally arrived. When my case was called, I was delighted to see that nobody from United showed up. The commissioner still asked me to summarize my complaint. He repeated parts of the claim back to me and asked a few questions. No idea if he was genuinely curious about the situation or was just going through the motions. In retrospect, I wonder if he was trying to nudge me to add additional amounts to my claim.
- I have no idea if I would have won if United showed up. Lawyers with whom I spoke told me I had a decent case because it's not just about the text terms and conditions but what was represented at time of purchase in the "adhesion contract." They told me that the legal principle is that if you don't have a chance to negotiate the agreement, then the agreement isn't as black as white as a contract that both sides knowingly sign. Based on that, I can argue that I didn't receive what should have been delivered. Furthermore, lawyers advised me that in my state, small claims commissioners can pretty much decide whatever they want, regardless of the letter of the law. They advised me to play up the fact that airlines are tough to deal with, and that this was just one more betrayal. Again, not a legal principle but anything to gain sympathy from the commissioner.
- The commissioner checked the paperwork to ensure that United was served correctly. After that, he summarized his judgement with the exact award that I had asked for, including legal fees.
- The judgement was entered, but I had to wait out the appeal period. After the appeal period expired, I reached back out to the United contact. After she realized the case was already over, she was pretty cordial. None of the previous rudeness.
- After a while I got my check in the mail! I was half hoping United wouldn't pay up on time, and I could leverage local law enforcement to seize some office furniture or something.
- My United Club membership is still active, despite United writing me a check for a large chunk of what I paid.
Maybe if you pointed to the court case online, it might help others. They'd be able to sue United and show it as a finding of court and therefore, a precedent.
Per below, are you actually unable to demonstrate your "victory"?
Seriously - documented outcome of your win would really be helpful to others.
Per below, are you actually unable to demonstrate your "victory"?
Seriously - documented outcome of your win would really be helpful to others.You've been asked a few times for details - perhaps it would help other poster with the contract you used as evidence of a breach - the State - amount of judgement - etc
Although at the end of the day - I don't think most people want to lose the lifetime membership considering the cost nowadays.
Although at the end of the day - I don't think most people want to lose the lifetime membership considering the cost nowadays.
Last edited by soartoday; Aug 18, 2023 at 10:07 pm
Aug 18, 2023, 10:11 pm
#1343
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,861
Aug 19, 2023, 1:28 am
#1344
Join Date: Nov 2013
Programs: AS Gold, Hyatt Diamond, Starriott LTPP
Posts: 341
To be honest, I've probably used my membership less than 10 times since 2019. By 2015 or so, I had already switched most of my domestic flying to AA/AS, and I was only flying UA when their schedule was significantly better. I told the commissioner that I relied on the fact that the membership allowed access when not flying United when I purchased it. This is absolutely true: the United lounge location in my home airport is easily accessible when flying other airlines.
Dec 26, 2023, 6:07 pm
#1345
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NC
Programs: AAConciergeKey/1MM, DL DM/2 MM, UA Gold,Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 11,982
So does lifetime membership to RCC still work when flying United same day? Way to many posts to sort through...maybe we can add that info to the sticky?
Dec 26, 2023, 6:14 pm
#1346
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,861
If no *A flight, no.
The main thread is Club member/one-time pass access changes Nov 1, 2019 (same day BP on UA or partner) - FlyerTalk Forums
This thread is about objections by some LT members to being subject to the same restrictions as regular members.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 26, 2023 at 6:20 pm Reason: This thread is ....