A letter has been sent out to Chase United MileagePlus Explorer cardmembers letting them know that starting Novemberd 2017 United Club passes will be automatically added to MileagePlus accounts within four weeks of card anniversary. The passes can then be printed or shown on the United app.
The passes will now be tied to a specific account, I assume this will make it more difficult to sell them (as previously the mailed out passes were not tied to a specific account). The bright side is that you no longer have to remember to bring the passes with you or worry about losing them. I personally see this as a positive change but if you’ve been reselling your passes then you might disagree.
Hat tip to Jazzy_Josh on /r/churning
Devils in the details William…fine print says that you can still print them:
1. Sign into MileagePlus account
2. Navigate to “View United Club One-Time Passes and Club Pass History”
3. Print
Still transferable
Did you read the post? We say they can be printed. The difference is that the passes are unique and the bar code is targeted towards the account, meaning if United/Chase want to crack down they can.
Hi William, any update on this? Has anyone been able to use the pass not tied to their account?
I just got the snail mail on this today. I have two physical passes from when I signed up. I didn’t know people sell them. Anyone want to buy them? I’ll never use them.
this is annoying because in the past i’ve just given these passes to friends or family if i wasn’t able to use them. with this change, it’s use it or lose it. will probably downgrade because of it to be honest
I guess friends or family can still use them?
I don’t think I will have use for them, but my friends might, so hoping thats possible.
Btw, you can use them only when one has a United ticket?
I sold them all the time.
Got $50 for both.
But this wont make me cancel or down grade the card as the perks of having the card are great.
I’ve bought passes before for family & friends.
This makes it technically possible to rescind the passes if you receive them and then cancel the card. Whether United/Chase will actually do that, I don’t know
I suspect they will, they at least threaten to do so in that mail out.
As someone who lost the paper passes last year, I’m glad to see this.
Dang it! Love being able to buy these passes third party for non-PP airports.
What stops one from simply taking screenshot and sending to 3rd party buyer?
Because the passes are tied to your account, so presumably Chase/United could buy passes and then ban users using them or similar.
Bit of a bummer for those of us that bought these online. I have PP, but that isn’t in all airports, so it was always a nice backup option to buy.