Relaxing at United Airlines' club lounges will cost a lot more than any airline regulars.
United are reviewing their lounge membership program, reducing amenities and increasing the costs of joining dozens of United Clubs around the world, including locations in Tokyo, Chicago and Los Angeles.
When lounges are in greater demand than ever, United travelers who purchase annual memberships can now expect to pay more for less.
Membership of the United Club previously included unlimited visits to United Clubs around the world, admission for two guests, either two adults or one adult and a child under the age of 21, and access to participating lounges belonging to other airlines in the Star Alliance, the international group to which United belongs. Prices range from $550 or 75,000 to $650 to 85,000 miles, depending on your loyalty status. Club membership was free for United Club credit card holders who paid an annual fee of $525.
Currently, United is implementing a two-tier membership plan. Individual memberships that allow unlimited entries for one member only at United Club locations cost $750 or 94,000 miles. All Access membership is $1,400 or 175,000 miles, covering two adults (or adults and dependent children) and providing admission to the Star Alliance and other partner lounges. Elite Status Holder offers discounts.
In an email to customers, the airline said changes to club membership were designed to “continue to improve the experience,” and that the newer class is “adjusted to suit travel needs.” The new policy will come into effect Monday, but current members will not change immediately. Their profits remain until their membership expires.
United Club membership continues to be free for United Club or United Club business card holders, but United Club and other partner lounges will participate in United Club guests and dependents under the age of 18. Cardholders unlock all access memberships if they spend $50,000 on their cards each year or are an elite status holder for the airline.
The popularity of airport lounges has increased in recent years, perhaps supported by the pandemic and traveller desire for more physical space.
Travelers are arriving early at the airport to visit more lounges and enjoy these spaces, said Jeremy Dalkoff, vice president of Collinson International, the company that operates priority pass lounges and other lounge locations. Collinson reported a 30% growth last year with travel experience visits, including lounge and spa bookings.
Some travelers complain that the lounge is busy and they feel it is no longer exclusive. As a result, some operators now limit who can enter and how often they can visit. In February, Delta introduced new restrictions on Sky Club lounges, restricting cardholders who previously had free entry. As of January, Capital One no longer offers free lounge access to certain cardholders.
At the same time, operators such as other credit card issuing banks are entering the industry, opening more lounges, and competing with airlines for travelers. Last year, Chase Sapphire opened lounges in Phoenix and San Diego, and most recently in Philadelphia. Capital One opened a lounge in Las Vegas last month.
According to an analysis from industry consulting firm IdeaWorks in March 2024, roughly 40% of lounge visits drive co-branded credit cards, such as airlines offer, followed by 35% of entries from lounge membership. Day Pass visits generally represent the smallest slice of lounge visits.
The lounge is “increasingly becoming a branding icon for attracting premium class passengers and growing co-branded credit card portfolios,” the report said.
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