United Airways will increase annual charges for lounges, rewards bank cards

A number of United Airlines passenger aircraft parked at the Gates at the International Airport Denver in Denver, Colorado.

Robert Alexander | Getty pictures

United airlines Increases fees for the annual membership of the Airport Lounge and its premium credit cards, a test of how many consumers will spend on popular travel connections.

The airlines announced the changes on Monday as well as the registration bonuses for its co-branded cards from JPMorgan Chase and new services for card holders, including carpooling and distinction flight discounts.

“Yes, there are increases in fees, but we were very, very aware that the value creation and the advantages that are delivered that outweigh the costs of these cards,” Richard Nunn, Managing Director of United's loyalty program from United, told reporters. United has been working on the changes to his card portfolio in recent years, said Nunn.

The airlines steadily increased the prices for everything, from tested pockets to seat orders, and offered advantages that used to cost free as part of a package if customers register for CO Branded credit cards.

They also increased the price and set the entry requirements to get to popular airport lounges, since the number of owners of premium credit cards and travelers grows with elite status and has led to it in some facilities. AmericanUnited and finally Delta air linesOperate separate levels of lounges for customers who travel in the long-distance business class, and all have opened larger lounges in recent years.

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United has added in the past “a few years,” said Nunn, adding about 17 million kilometers of miles plus members and considering the new card walks as one way to encourage more united flyers to register for the co-branded cards.

The loyality, including the popular reward credit cards, gave the airlines a wind case. Apart from passenger and freight revenue, United achieved “other” income of $ 3.49 billion last year, which increased the increase in map editions with CO-Branded and other nonirline partners and the airport lounge memberships last month.

Here is what changes with lounges:

• From Monday, United will offer two levels of membership for the United Club Airport Lounge Network.
• The individual memberships cost 750 US dollars a year or 94,000 United Loyalty points, only for the pass owner.
• For customers who want to take up to two guests in the lounge, it costs 1,400 or 175,000 miles for United Clubs and Star Alliance Partner Lounge.
• The Lounge memberships, including two guests, cost 650 US dollars a year, although there were discounts for customers with frequent flyers from Elite.
• Customers with existing membership will keep the conditions for which they were registered until the end of their membership.

Here are the credit card fees that change and some of the new advantages:

• The new fees will come into force with new registrations from Monday, but the advantages for existing card members are active.
• The United Explorer card is 150 US dollars of 95 US dollars, and additional services include a passage of $ 60.
• The United Quest card costs 350 US dollars a year of $ 250 and comprises $ 100 in carpooling, two upgrades for additional leg space places and 200 US dollars to United Travel Credits.
• The United Club Infinite Card amounts to $ 695 per year, which also earns an annual lounge membership, 150 US dollars of carpools and the ability to earn the first -class 1 -km elite status through map editions and bonuses.

Correction: United used “other” income of 3.49 billion US dollars with an increase of 10% compared to the previous year last year. The Timing incorrectly stated an earlier version.

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