It’s a pretty rare occasion for me to actually use the United Club during my travel. I tend to fly as direct a route as possible and not spend much time hanging out in some airport, but I’ve been bumped from a flight before and was stuck waiting around 4 hours for the next flight out. In that situation I wish I had a United Club pass on me. Having a place with comfortable couches, free food, drink, and wi-fi would have made the wait more enjoyable. Buying a day-pass at the door is an expensive option; $50 per person. Not really worth shelling out the cash. So let’s cover how to get United Club passes for cheap.
It basically boils down to eBay. Generally the passes are sold in pairs. Why pairs? Because, most people that sign up for the United MileagePlus Explorer credit card end up selling their complimentary passes. I can understand why; lounge access is a pretty useless perk unless you’re stuck in an airport for a while and most people aim for direct flights if they’re possible. You can get passes for about $33 a pair or about $17 per pass, and they are generally valid for about the next 12 months.
Buying a pass on eBay for about $17 dollars per pass definitely beats paying $50 at the lounge, and paying $375 – $475 for a yearly membership borders on the insane for budget travelers. I would say that for $17 you get your money’s worth since they offer free snacks, drinks, wi-fi, a place to pass out, and travel assistance.
The value of all of this really depends on how often you use an airport lounge; if you’re like me that frequency is almost never. However, If you know your itinerary has a 2 or 3 hour stop-over beforehand, and the amenities at the lounge appeal to you then grab a pass from eBay before your travel date.
