When does the (physical) UC membership card arrive after Club credit card approval?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 488
When does the (physical) UC membership card arrive after Club credit card approval?
Today I was approved for the United Club Business credit card. I have a trip planned in early September, and I'd like to have the United Club lounge card in hand so I have the option of visiting a Maple Leaf lounge. The Club membership card already appeared in my United account, but from what I understand the MLL will probably require the physical United Club card.
How soon does the Club card usually show up in real life? Documentation says 4 - 6 weeks. If it's on the earlier end of that, I'm good. If it stretches to 6 weeks, it might not arrive in time for my trip.
Is there any benefit in calling and asking for expedited processing and shipping?
How soon does the Club card usually show up in real life? Documentation says 4 - 6 weeks. If it's on the earlier end of that, I'm good. If it stretches to 6 weeks, it might not arrive in time for my trip.
Is there any benefit in calling and asking for expedited processing and shipping?
#2
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 214
I got the personal Club credit card a few months ago and never received the physical United Club membership card. Didn't think they issued one. Imagine the credit card in conjunction with the app will be good enough... I could be wrong though.
#3
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NYC suburbs
Programs: UA LT Gold (BIS), AA LT Plat (CC SUBs & BD), Hilton Dia (CC), Hyatt Glob (BIB), several others
Posts: 2,341
I don’t believe there are physical hard-copy-plastic UA Club membership cards anymore. I got the personal Club credit card 2 years ago and the biz Club credit card 10 months ago, never received a physical Club membership card and never a problem getting into a UA Club in 20-25 visits. It’s linked to your UA MP account number and thus your boarding pass, club entry (including the LGA MLL) quickly upon scanning boarding pass.
(FWIW, IME of several visits at about the same time, usually breakfast time, the refreshments in the LGA UA Club lounge are much nicer than the LGA MLL. LGA Centurion lounge refreshments are different but on par with UA.)
(FWIW, IME of several visits at about the same time, usually breakfast time, the refreshments in the LGA UA Club lounge are much nicer than the LGA MLL. LGA Centurion lounge refreshments are different but on par with UA.)
Last edited by Dr Jabadski; Aug 2, 22 at 8:33 pm Reason: FWIW added
#4
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 238
The last physical card I got was two years ago. It used to be required for Star Alliance lounges (non-UA.) I noticed the app version of the card has the Star Alliance symbol on it now, so I assume the physical card isn't needed anymore.
It's possible you can still request one. I'd try doing that if you will mostly be using it in non-UA clubs.
It's possible you can still request one. I'd try doing that if you will mostly be using it in non-UA clubs.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 488
I don’t believe there are physical hard-copy-plastic UA Club membership cards anymore. I got the personal Club credit card 2 years ago and the biz Club credit card 10 months ago, never received a physical Club membership card and never a problem getting into a UA Club in 20-25 visits. It’s linked to your UA MP account number and thus your boarding pass, club entry (including the LGA MLL) quickly upon scanning boarding pass.
The United Club member pass showed up in my United profile within a few minutes of being approved for the credit card. It does indeed have the Star Alliance logo on it, so it should be good for Star Alliance lounge entry. My wife and I are flying Air Canada in a couple months. We'll be in YVR, YYC, and YYZ. MLL will be our only lounge options (besides whatever Priority Pass lounges are available), so I am hoping for no issues.
Again, thank you all very much!
Here is a redacted screenshot of the UC pass in the United app:

#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 488
In a couple months my wife and I will be traveling with Air Canada. It is on AC metal booked on aircanada.com, with my AC number attached because they're award tickets. There is no connection at all to my UA member status. I guess the UC member pass in the app should suffice to get us into the MLL lounges, along with the boarding passes of course. Is that correct?
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend; Moderator: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, Credit Card Programs, Diners Club, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 46,774
Moderator action
Thread transferred from Chase to UA forum, because lounge credentials are issued and recognized by the airline -and- because there are more United Club members active in the UA forum.
#9
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: PHL, EWR
Programs: UA 1K; AA Platinum;Amtrak Select Plus;HH Diamond;Hyatt Exp;Hertz PC;Johnnie Walker Gold
Posts: 2,330
United pretty much does not issue any physical cards anymore. All your cards are on the United App, and can also be added to your wallet on your iPhone if you have one.
#10
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: MRY/SFO
Programs: UA Platinum; IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 408
I have a current card, received either early this year or late last year with a current expiration of January 2023. I was asked to present it at the Cdg mll in august 2021 before I was allowed entry. Just another DP.
#11
Moderator: United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.85MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 62,254
While UA stopped issuing physical elite cards over recent years, I have a physical UAC (expiring at the end of this month), so in the last year physical UC cards were issued.
#12
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: Houston, TX
Programs: UA silver, Bonvoy gold
Posts: 1,483
I don’t believe there are physical hard-copy-plastic UA Club membership cards anymore. I got the personal Club credit card 2 years ago and the biz Club credit card 10 months ago, never received a physical Club membership card and never a problem getting into a UA Club in 20-25 visits. It’s linked to your UA MP account number and thus your boarding pass, club entry (including the LGA MLL) quickly upon scanning boarding pass.
(FWIW, IME of several visits at about the same time, usually breakfast time, the refreshments in the LGA UA Club lounge are much nicer than the LGA MLL. LGA Centurion lounge refreshments are different but on par with UA.)
(FWIW, IME of several visits at about the same time, usually breakfast time, the refreshments in the LGA UA Club lounge are much nicer than the LGA MLL. LGA Centurion lounge refreshments are different but on par with UA.)
#13
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: YYZ, SFO
Programs: AS 100K, UA*S, IHG Plat, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond | Formerly: AC Super Elite
Posts: 2,445
Data point - I applied for the United Club visa around beginning of April this year. Received the physical Club membership card around middle of May
I received an email from United News & Deals <[email protected]> with the subject "How your UnitedClub membership works" on Apr 13, and within the contents of the email, it says "We’ll also send a physical membership card in the next eight weeks for you to use when visiting Star Alliance™ partner lounges."
I received an email from United News & Deals <[email protected]> with the subject "How your UnitedClub membership works" on Apr 13, and within the contents of the email, it says "We’ll also send a physical membership card in the next eight weeks for you to use when visiting Star Alliance™ partner lounges."
#14
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 238
I said earlier that I hadn't received a physical card in a couple years, but my last card only expired in April so I've only been without a valid UA membership card for about 4 months. But I also noticed that my expiration also went from being valid until the end of March to being valid until the end of July so it's possible that I may still receive a card for this year.
#15
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NYC suburbs
Programs: UA LT Gold (BIS), AA LT Plat (CC SUBs & BD), Hilton Dia (CC), Hyatt Glob (BIB), several others
Posts: 2,341
Being the masochist that I am I decided to call UA to request a card. Requested “account servicing”, 10 minutes elevator music, of course connected to reservations, asked agent to confirm Club membership (as a way of confirming that she could see that information), she confirmed stating expiration 2/28/23, requested card, 2 minute hold, agent said I must speak with “account servicing”, transferred, 5 minutes elevator music, played 20 questions again, agent verified Club membership expiring 2/28/23, requested card, agent said I must speak with “club department”, transferred, 10 minutes elevator music, asked agent to verify expiration date, she did, requested a card, agent said they do NOT mail cards anymore to Golds and higher because they don’t need a card, asked if that could be overridden, “no”. As the expression goes “half an hour of my life that I can never get back again.”😊
Last edited by Dr Jabadski; Aug 4, 22 at 5:08 pm Reason: call datapoint