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Now in effect: New United Airlines lounge access rules begin
Zach Griff
Senior reporter
Zach Griff is a senior reporter at TPG. He writes travel and product reviews, deep dives into loyalty programs, news about the airline industry and more.
May 01, 2025
•
4 min read
Now in effect: New United Airlines lounge access rules begin
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If you're a frequent visitor to United Airlines' network of United Club lounges, a heads-up: The start of May brought tighter access rules for the airline's outposts.
As part of an overhaul announced earlier this spring, travelers with one-time lounge access passes will now face a few new restrictions.
New United Club one-time pass rules
As of May 1, travelers using a one-time pass can only enter a United Club up to three hours before their flight's scheduled departure time. This exclusively applies to departure flights; there are no time limits for entry during connections.
Furthermore, travelers can no longer share one-time passes between friends (or random travelers who purchase them on the secondary market, such as on eBay). Going forward, MileagePlus members who earn a one-time pass via a cobranded United credit card can use these passes. An authorized user or a guest accompanying the cardholder can also use them.
In the past, these passes could be shared with whomever you'd like, and there's been a fairly robust black market online for those looking to pick up one-time passes on the cheap. Some travelers had even been known to hand out these passes for free as they approached expiration.
With these new rules, United has effectively shuttered this market — but also the opportunity to share these passes with friends.
That's not the only change United is making to its one-time club passes. From now on, travelers won't be able to use these passes to visit the airline's United Club Fly locations, such as the new grab-and-go spot it recently opened at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).
A wave of lounge crackdowns
These changes are all part of a broader lounge access update United announced in March. At the time, the airline debuted a new tier-based membership option and changed how holders of cobranded credit cards can enter the lounge.
United's updates aren't as sweeping as what Delta Air Lines introduced for its (often overcrowded) Sky Clubs, but these are still some big updates that are worth keeping in mind before your next trip.
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All of the changes come as airport lounges, more broadly, have been increasingly overcrowded in recent years. With more travelers carrying eligible credit cards nowadays, lounges regularly hit capacity.
One thing that airlines can do is increase the size of their lounges — and that's indeed something that United is doing in airports where it can find the space.
But in recent years, we've seen airlines and credit card issuers that run outposts turn to new access rules in hopes of limiting access while irking the least number of travelers possible.
These changes by United are designed to do just that, and based on the feedback received after the March announcement, it seems that the airline has threaded that needle more than Delta, which faced stiff backlash after it first announced an access crackdown in late 2023.
If you want to learn more about the changes, be sure to check out TPG's full rundown of how to access United Clubs.
Related reading:
Featured image by ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Best for dining at restaurants
TPG Editor‘s Rating
Go to reviewCard Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.