United Tightens Lounge Access: Time Limits and Gifting Ban Now in Effect

Starting May 1, United Airlines has made changes to the access policy for its airport lounges. Travelers using one-time passes will now have a time limit for their stays, and the ability to gift or resell these passes has been discontinued.

While travelers can access United’s network of 50 United Club lounges through an annual membership, by purchasing a premium cabin ticket for the same day, or by having United MileagePlus Premier or Star Alliance Gold status, many also rely on one-time passes for entry.

Photo: Courtesy of United Airlines

Good for a single lounge visit, these passes are handed out as perks for United and other premium credit cards and sometimes as promotions for Mileage Plus members. For example, travelers with The New United Explorer Card and the New United Business Card receive two one-time passes each year.

Travelers can buy one-time passes for $59 a pop

However, as of last Thursday, travelers using the passes face new restrictions. First, they can only enter the lounge three hours before their departing flight. This time limit doesn’t apply to travelers using the pass during connections.

Additionally, passholders can’t use them to visit United Club Fly locations. These are grab-and-go lounges designed for travelers who don’t have time for a buffet meal and a drink. Instead, they can help themselves with complimentary quick bites and barista-made coffee on a flying visit.

The market-style, grab-and-go club features a variety of non-alcoholic drinks, premium snacks, and even a place to order a favorite barista-made coffee beverage. Photo: Courtesy of United

United opened its first Club Fly location in Denver (DEN) in 2022, borrowing the concept from international airlines Air Canada and Lufthansa. The mini lounge has been a success, so United opened another in Houston (IAH) in February.

United ends lounge pass gifting

United one-time passes were previously transferable to anyone, even if you weren’t traveling together. So generous travelers commonly gifted expiring passes to friends and family, while more enterprising credit card holders flogged them on an internet black market for as little as $20 to $25 each.

Now, United has cracked down on the transfer of passes. As of this month, only the authorized user of the qualifying credit card and a guest accompanying them can use the passes.

Photo: Courtesy of United Airlines

These new restrictions follow the carrier’s changes to its United Club memberships in March. The airline hiked the price of annual membership to its Club lounges from $650 to $750 and stripped away some of the most popular perks: the ability to bring a guest and access to Star Alliance partner lounges. To receive those benefits now, you’ll need to spring for the All Access membership at the cost of $1,400 per year.

These changes are all designed to reduce traffic at United Club outposts, which, like other airport lounges, have often been swamped in recent years.

The carrier is spending heavily on its lounges, including a $50 million bill for renovating and expanding several lounges worldwide, including United Club locations in Denver and Hong Kong (HGK) and Polaris (international business class) lounges at Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Newark (EWR).

United will also open new lounges in new and expanded concourse sand terminals in Houston, San Francisco (SFO), and Washington, D.C. (IAD) in the coming years.

Elevating lounges doesn’t just mean fresh design and gourmet food. It also means making them more exclusive, with tougher policies on the door. Many frequent flyers won’t be happy to hear it.