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Delta Air Lines made huge waves when it announced changes to Sky Club® access and limits for credit card holders and others to enter the lounge. This was announced in 2023 and went into effect on February 1st. United is now following suit with some changes of its own to the cost, guest policies, and access time limits at its United Club℠ lounges.
New Membership Tiers
United is not going to be selling just one type of membership for the United Clubs℠ going forward. There will soon be two tiers in addition to those accessing the lounge via credit cards.
Previously, United Club℠ memberships cost between $550 and $650 (or 75,000 to 85,000 miles). These memberships also allowed access for up to two guests.
Individual Membership
The individual tier offers unlimited access for the purchaser of the membership. No guests are allowed, but these members can purchase one-time passes for guests for $59 each. This level of membership costs $750 or 94,000 miles annually.
All Access Membership
The all-access tier grants admission to the purchaser and up to two guests. Additionally, access is granted for all Star Alliance lounges worldwide (essentially those that grant Star Alliance Gold members access so places like the Lufthansa First Class Terminal or Singapore Airlines Private Room would still be off limits). The cost for this membership level ranges based on elite status. If you do not have elite status with United, it costs $1,400 or 175,000 miles. For certain Premier members, the breakdown is as follows:
- Premier Platinum®: $1,300 or 163,000 miles
- Premier 1K®: $1,200 or 150,000 miles
- Global Services®: $1,000 or 125,000 miles
Existing United Club℠ members will not see any changes to their current memberships, but renewals will be offered at the costs listed above. Those holding lifetime memberships for the United Club℠ will receive the higher-level, All Access Membership.
United Club℠ Access Via Credit Card
United Airlines offers multiple cobranded credit cards issued by Chase. The following cards will still include access to the United Club℠ lounges:
- United Club℠ Infinite Card
- United Club℠ Business Card
- United℠ Presidential Plus℠ Card (no new applications are being accepted)
- United℠ Presidential Plus℠ Business Card (no new applications are being accepted)
Primary cardholders are allowed one guest (and any dependents under the age of 18). Cardmembers can upgrade to an All Access membership by earning Premier Gold status or higher or by spending at least $50,000 in eligible purchases in a calendar year. Annual fees are also increasing from $450 to $525 up to $695.
Three-Hour Time Limits
Starting May 1st, passengers using one-time passes are limited to entering the United Club℠ up to three hours before their scheduled departure time. There is no time limit for entry on connecting flights. Those with lounge memberships, travelers flying in eligible premium cabins, and those with Star Alliance Gold status will be allowed to enter the United Clubs℠ without time limits. Club Fly™ locations will no longer accept one-time passes and are open only to United Club℠ members.
Anthony’s Take: While these changes are not great for members, they will hopefully help with crowding and allow United to offer a more premium experience. The United Clubs℠ are currently packed every time I visit. I went into one in Denver International Airport (DEN) and walked out because it was overcrowded and dirty. I’m hoping that these changes allow United to better keep up with the number of guests accessing the lounges.
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
