United Is Making It Harder to Earn Elite Status in 2025 — What to Know

United Airlines is raising prices for its United Club lounge access.
The airline says the changes will help enhance investment into the product.
Travelers reported disappointment with the elimination of a guest policy for the main membership.
Travelers who have a United Club or United Club Business credit card will receive a membership that permits one guest as well as dependents under the age of 18.

The most significant update is that the main membership removes the guest feature, as well as access to Star Alliance and partner lounges. Star Alliance operates clubs in various popular travel markets such as Amsterdam (AMS), Buenos Aires (EZE), Los Angeles (LAX), and Paris (CDG).

United Airlines shared the changes in an email to customers that was viewed by Travel + Leisure.The changes take immediate effect for new club sign-ups, while existing customers will maintain their existing benefits until their subscription expires and if they choose to renew.

“It’s horrible,” one traveler shared in a United Airlines Reddit discussion thread in reaction to the news. “It’s a more than 2x price increase for the same exact thing.”

However, not all travelers were upset with the changes, with some pointing out in the discussion thread that their United Club experiences have been crowded, and the new guest policy may reduce the overcrowding. The pricing changes to the United Club come as the airline also recently increased its credit cards annual fees, with higher rates that are offset by enhancements to benefits.

For the airline industry overall, lounge access has become a hot topic and point of contention between the airlines and passengers. Delta Air Lines recently began limiting access to its Sky Club lounges, by offering credit card holders a set amount of visits per year, unless they spend $75,000 in total purchases on the American Express co-branded credit card.