United Airlines is hiking the cost to enter its premium United Club airport lounges with the cost of a United Club membership rising by as much as 115% and the United Club co-branded credit card getting a more modest fee rise of more than 32%.
The Chicago-based carried laid out the inflation-busting price rises in an email to frequent flyers on Monday, although United was quick to reassure existing members that their benefits would continue unaffected until they normally expire.
For new members, however, the cost of a United Club membership will increase from $650 or 85,000 miles to $750 or 94,000 for United MileagePlus members. Frequent flyers with Premier Platinum or Premier 1K status will, however, still receive a modest discount on their annual membership.
Importantly, new memberships will not include guesting privileges which previously allowed members to bring two adult guests or one adult and all dependent children guests into the lounge with them.
To gain guesting privileges, you’ll now need to buy a new All Access membership at a cost of $1,400 or 175,000 miles. This is a massive 115% increase in membership for travelers who frequently guested people into the lounge with them.
For travelers who signed up for the United Club co-branded Infinite credit card to get lounge membership, they’ll also find the cost increasing with the annual fee increasing from $525 to $695.
Of course, United Club credit card holders will also find that their membership loses guesting privileges, although, as a sweetener, the airline will give credit card holders an All Access membership once they spend $50,000 within a cardholder year.
In addition, achieving this spending threshold will unlock four United Club one-time passes and an authorized user on your account.
Small business owners will, however, still get guesting privileges for one guest with the United Club Business card, which has an annual fee of $695.
Why United Airlines is changing up membership rules and fees so dramatically is open to debate. There’s talk that United is desperate to reduce overcrowding of the popular lounges while still maintaining decent revenue from the locations.
At the same time, United is sticking firm on its premium strategy, giving it the ability to charge its richer clientele more.
