United Now Restricting Partner Lounge Access

January 15, 2020

At the start of this month (only noticed yesterday on Flyertalk) United made a big change to partner lounge access:

Beginning January 1, 2020, you’ll only be able to visit most of our partner lounges if you’re traveling in United Polaris^® business class. Use the tool below to see where these lounges are located and if you can visit them on an upcoming trip.

Thankfully this does not affect Star Alliance lounges.

Hat tip to DDG

Name*

Website

Name*

Website

11 Comments

newest

oldest most voted

GooGoo (@guest_877778)

January 16, 2020 01:14

#877778

Me not get it.
Can someone ELI5?
Thanks, Dada.

iahphx (@guest_877662)

January 15, 2020 22:51

#877662

Can anyone give me real world examples where, if you were also a Priority Pass member, this would actually matter?

DeltyShmelty (@guest_877526)

January 15, 2020 20:25

#877526

Way to stiff SA Gold… this couldn’t have been costing UA much.

I still think SkyTeam does it better, unless… they do the same to Elite Plus.

Manta (@guest_877482)

January 15, 2020 19:47

#877482

I’m confused, who was able to access these lounges that can’t now?

grrizzly (@guest_877490)

January 15, 2020 19:55

#877490

Manta

United flyers who are Star Alliance Gold members could access contract non-Star-Alliance lounges when they flew in coach. No more. It only affects airports without Star Alliance lounges like TLV. Some of these contract lounges belong to Priority Pass, so the impact is even smaller.

This Guy Gets It (@guest_877522)

January 15, 2020 20:22

#877522

grrizzly

Thank you, grrizzly.

Jason (@guest_877528)

January 15, 2020 20:28

#877528

grrizzly

What about if you have a United Club card or membership? I thought the linked page is the details for if you’re paying for a membership.

Star Alliance Gold (@guest_877473)

January 15, 2020 19:40

#877473

DoC, this may need clarification. Who does this affect, under what circumstances? Very broad, confusing notice from UA.

Particularly, does this affect Star Alliance Gold lounge access on UA or partner airlines when traveling internationally in economy?

For instance, if a passenger had an upcoming trip on Lufthansa and included my UA frequent flyer info in the reservation, as a *AG would I still be able to access United Club before an international flight?

Seems like UA/*A trying to get the masses out of the lounges, but they may be killing off loyalty members who aren’t paying business.

Venting: Can airlines, hotels, cards, etc. please stop the devaluations!