United Airlines has announced significant changes when it comes to accessing United Clubs. This announcement comes at the same time that Chase and United are overhauling their credit cards, which I’ve covered separately. Let’s cover all the details…
United Club memberships now come in two tiers
Up until now, United has sold a single type of annual United Club membership, with pricing determined by your elite status, based on the below chart.
Effective immediately, United is introducing two tiers of United Club memberships:
- A United Club individual membership offers access exclusively to United Clubs (and not partner lounges), and only for the primary member
- A United Club all access membership offers access to United Clubs and Star Alliance lounges, for the primary member and up to two guests
So, how much are these memberships? An annual individual United Club membership costs $750 or 94,000 MileagePlus miles.
Meanwhile an annual all access United Club membership costs $1,400 or 175,000 MileagePlus miles. However, for this type of membership, discounts are available for higher tier elite members. Premier Platinum members can pay $1,300 (or 163,000 MileagePlus miles), Premier 1K members can pay $1,200 (or 150,000 MileagePlus miles), and Global Services members can pay $1,000 (or 125,000 MileagePlus miles).
This new pricing applies effective immediately or on account renewal (for those who are existing members).
United Club access updated for credit card members
We’ve just seen major changes to United’s co-branded credit cards. The United Club Card and United Club Business Card each have a $695 annual fee, and offer United Club access. What’s interesting is how the United Club membership being offered with these cards has been updated.
The cards will be getting somewhere between an individual and all access membership in terms of guesting privileges. Those who have an eligible card will be able to bring one guest and any children under the age of 18.
If card members want to unlock an all access club membership (which would allow them to bring two guests, and access partner lounges), they can do so in one of two ways:
- By having United MileagePlus Premier Gold status or above
- By spending at least $50,000 on their eligible card in a calendar year
United Club three-hour time limit for one-time passes
We’ve increasing seen airport lounges introduce new access restrictions, regarding how long before departure you can access lounges. United is doing that as well, though in a limited way.
As of May 1, 2025, those using one-time passes can only access United Clubs up to three hours before departure. However, this doesn’t apply to those on connecting itineraries, and there are no new restrictions for those accessing lounges based on their class of service or elite status.
My take on these United Club changes
These changes to United Club access are unarguably negative. We’re seeing a massive increase in the cost of a membership. I mean, a basic membership that doesn’t allow guesting or partner lounge access now costs significantly more than a full membership used to cost. That’s obviously not great.
That being said, I also can’t say that I’m surprised by these changes, and this seems straight out of the Delta playbook:
- The goal is to get people to get the United Club Card or United Club Business Card, and use that to access lounges, since there’s so much more revenue potential if someone has a co-branded credit card
- Then there’s an additional incentive to either have elite status with United, or to spend on United cards, to be able to bring in guests
United has been lagging Delta when it comes to revenue from its loyalty program, and obviously wants to change that. Presumably that partly comes down to the time the contract was last renewed, and also comes down to how terms have been negotiated. United is now going full steam ahead with trying to increase revenue through its cards, and we’ll see how it works out.
One last thing stands out to me. It’s interesting how low United’s valuation is of MileagePlus miles if trying to redeem miles for a United Club membership. You get around 0.8 cents per mile, while both American and Delta let you redeem miles toward a lounge membership at the rate of 1.0 cents per mile. That sure makes you wonder…
Bottom line
United has made major changes to United Club access. The airline has greatly hiked membership fees, all while introducing two tiers of memberships. Furthermore, for those with one-time passes, lounge access is now restricted to three hours before departure.
These updates come at the same time that United is overhauling its card portfolio. The goal is to get people to access lounges through co-branded credit cards, given the potential for increased profits that way.
What do you make of these United Club changes?
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