UPDATE: See the update from United on the new change.
Unlike in much of the world, where airport lounge access is granted solely on the basis of traveling in premium cabins or airline loyalty, the U.S. legacy carriers have adopted a membership style of lounge access which permits paid members to access lounges regardless of status or travel class. United is changing the status quo and in doing so the definition of “member” on August 18, 2016 (copying Delta of course).
United Club Lounge Access for ALL Conditioned on Same-Day Boarding Pass
I saw this sign inside the United Club at JFK yesterday (a tad ironic since the JFK station is closing in October):
Does this beg the question, so what? Aren’t the only people who are going to be at an airport those with same-day boarding passes? The answer is no, which is why this is big news.
One of my favorite things to do is access a lounge after a redeye flight. Even United’s underwhelming lounges now have oatmeal, cappuccino, and clean bathrooms and thus are a fitting location to “wake up” after a 4.5hours of sleep(lessness) on a redeye. But per this policy change, which does not appear yet on United’s online club page, that will now be forbidden.
Further, it appears that are no exceptions for conference room/meetings access, which is an advertised benefit of club membership. Say you have someone important flying through and limited time — airport lounges are ideal venues for meetings and if United will no longer issue gate passes, one perk that business travellers could use to justify membership is gone. I’m actually surprised at how often I see these conference rooms in use, so it is not like they are just sitting empty now.
I have asked United for comment and received no feedback, but it appears that membership, thus, is really restricted membership and members who may use the lounges after overnight flights or for meetings will be hurt the most.
Chase Complimentary One-Time United Club Passes to Blame?
Chase hands out complimentary club passes like candy so this policy change, especially because United notes it is to “maintain an exclusive club experience”, may be a response to the fact that its lounges are too crowded with more “inexperienced” travelers, if you get my drift. I routinely observe singles, couples, and families gaining club access with the use of one-time passes but this change is much more likely to effect members and more savvy travelers.
The Upside: Less Crowded United Clubs
While help during irregular operations like delays and cancellations is the most important value of club access, tranquility is also a big selling point and the clubs just are not tranquil now. With fortress hubs and a glut of one-time passes, clubs can get out of hand when morning and afternoon departure banks roll around, meaning sometimes you cannot even get a seat let alone a power plug or decent wi-fi speeds when everyone is online at once. This will help the problem, albeit marginally.
My Solution: No One Time United Club Passes from Chase
One-Time passes present great value and United is certainly paid handsomely for them, but that is the source of lounge crowding, not members making trips to the airport just to use the club. The new policy penalizes those who bring value to United while continuing to reward those who have no loyalty to United beyond a Chase credit card sign-up bonus or infrequent travel.
I’m not sure it is practical to eliminate the two guest passes from Chase (a benefit of the MileagePlus Explorer Card), but I would instead issue only one pass per year, rather than two. That way, couples traveling together who would never really pay for lounge access would have a free visit every two years rather than each year. Singles would get access once per year, not twice.
Conclusion
United’s policy new policy may well have some exceptions, but if not, the new policy further disincentives the purchase of United Club membership and more narrowly restricts the definition of member. Gone will be the days of just sliding your membership card without having to present a valid boarding pass. The big notice leadtime suggests that this is not a customer-friendly change. Delta already has this policy so it should come as no surprise that United eventually be followed. Beware of what will happen to MileagePlus next.
Yup… I dropped my United Club membership this year. I’m loving the Centurion Lounges w/ Amex, and the Priority Pass mostly fills in the gap. Airport terminals have gotten so much nicer over the past ten years… more free wi-fi, more power ports, more lounging areas… Meanwhile, United Clubs have gotten more expensive and offered less and less, with a few exceptions like the recent food enhancements.
Based on this I will drop my United club membership at the end of the year. I always fly United internationally and gain access to the club with that ticket. I am currently United Gold but won’t maintain that this year. I occasionally fly United domestically but often use the club for meetings and on layovers when I am flying another carrier. I do have the Chase card so I guess I can still get access using those free passes. I guess I will need to check out other club options!
I am so enjoying your website. I just got United’s Chase Credit Card with the benefit of visiting United’s Club pass once a year. We are flying to China on Asiana Airlines in Spring, 2016. Since Asiana is a partner with United and we will earn frequent flyer miles with United, can we use our once a year United Pass in Seoul, Korea when we have a 3 hour layover? Thanks.
I am going to drop my United Club membership. The clubs are getting way too crowded and the seating in the terminals are in better shape than those with the torn upholstery in the trashy United Clubs.
Does this require a United boarding pass or ANY boarding pass? Delta requires a Delta boarding pass…
Is this Same-Day Boarding Pass on United or any airline?
@Ryan, John — appears to be any airline
@MARILYN – you will not be able to use your club pass in Seoul. In Asia, only Hong Kong and Tokyo have United Clubs.
One added benefit: meeting someone at the gate with your club access “boarding pass” that gets you thru TSA. Like things used to be pre 9/11, you can actually go to the gate with someone and/or pick them up there!!
Who wants to pay the now even higher fee for access? It surely will be less crowded but less revenue for ua too. Say goodbye to that oatmeal and good luck on the watered down spirits…
My spirits are thoroughly watered down after hearing this.
Buh Bye UC
I think I understand what they are doing, the one comment for your article – it appears you are looking for Chase cardholders as somehow being ‘freeloaders’ which could not be further from truth. Neither Chase or United are giving out passes out of goodness of their heart, and both probably split the annual fees that such cards generate along with the normal 2% cut of every purchase. United is paid and paid well for such card or they would not be doing it. Now United wants it cake (annual fees, cut of spending, brand loyalty) and eat it too (without having to pay for it). Does not work that way. I fly United out of necessity due to being close to ORD domestically , which almost any other non-US carrier is better than any US carrier internationally, and will cancel their credit card when time comes
Regarding Asiana airline and whether you can use your United Club card, the answer is yes contrary to a posted response above. Asiana is part of the “One World Alliance” and when I had a layover in Inchon, Korea, I was able to use the Asiana club lounge by presenting my United card and boarding pass.
And like some of the other folks posting comments, I am now thinking of giving up my club card in light of this new policy of requiring a boarding pass. Sometimes I fly American, and still go to the United lounge if time permits. I guess that will be not allowed going forward, although United did not expressly say that the boarding pass has to be a United or sister airline boarding pass
@Eric: Asiana is part of Star Alliance, not oneworld and using a United Club card (membership) is different than using a one-time pass. The one-time pass will not allow access to the Asiana lounge.
The one time passes from United (Chase) are not valid at partner lounges. Even the staight membership will not get you in. Foreign clubs are looking only for elite status and ignore the actual club card. I have been a member for over 20 years but it has really declined in the past few with no name brand drinks that are popular with the homeless, Achoice of 2 draft meers ( not the good stuff) and some of the worst tasting wine you can imagine. The food has improved. Keep up your membership of a good cup of cappucino and some olives will get you over. Secomd question a boarding pass on United or any airline You can always get a full fare refundabale ticket ,print your own boarding pass ,check into the club and get a immediate refund on the ticket. It may be a trick but think of all the tricks they have pulled on their loyal customers recently. Paying for a lousy overpriced drink on an international flight. If you even get pretzels the reason would be to just give you a cheaper version of a peanut. It is like a friend that wants to invite you to dinner at his his but a few days before you arrive he thinks up a new policy to charge you as a guest. It is not going to get better. The foreign carriers lay out a generous spread with quality drinks.