Relaxing in a United Airlines Club lounge is now going to cost airline regulars much more. United is overhauling its lounge membership program, reducing amenities and increasing the cost to enter the dozens of United Clubs worldwide, including locations in Tokyo, Chicago and Los Angeles. At a time when lounges are more in demand than ever, United travelers who purchase annual memberships can now expect to pay more for less. A United Club membership previously included unlimited visits to United Clubs worldwide, entry for two guests — either two adults or one adult and dependent children under 21 — and access to participating lounges belonging to other airlines in the Star Alliance, the international group to which United belongs. Prices varied depending on loyalty status, ranging from $550 or 75,000 miles to $650 to 85,000 miles annually. Now, United is introducing a two-tiered membership plan. The individual membership, which allows one member unlimited entry only to United Club locations, will cost $750 or 94,000 miles. The All Access membership will be $1,400 or 175,000 miles and covers two adults (or an adult and dependent children) and provides entry to Star Alliance and other partner lounges. Discounts are available for elite status holders. For United Club credit card holders, who used to pay a $525 annual fee, club membership has been free. The annual fee has increased, as of today, to $695. The United Club Business Card, which previously cost $450 and also included free club membership, will also be $695. The airline said in an email to customers that the Club membership changes were designed to “keep improving your experience,” noting that the new tiers were “tailored to your travel needs.” The new policies go into effect Monday, but current members won’t see immediate changes; their benefits remain until their membership expires.<br/>
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A United Airlines 787 flying from Los Angeles to China had to turn around this weekend after it was discovered one of the pilots had taken off without their passport, the airline told CNN in a statement. Flight 198 departed LAX at 2 p.m. Saturday with 257 passengers and 13 crew onboard and headed northwest over the Pacific Ocean, bound for Shanghai. Two hours later, the plane turned around and headed for San Francisco, where it landed around 5 p.m., according to the website FlightAware. “The pilot did not have their passport onboard,” United said in a statement. “We arranged for a new crew to take our customers to their destination that evening. Customers were provided with meal vouchers and compensation.” The new crew took off around 9 p.m. and landed in Shanghai about six hours behind schedule.<br/>
A passenger aboard a flight from Bangkok to Hong Kong has been charged with violating the Aviation Security Ordinance after more than HK$10,000 (US$1,286) in cash was allegedly stolen from an overhead compartment, with the Post learning the carrier involved was Thai Airways. The force said on Monday it received a report from an airline staff member that the money in the victim’s backpack – HK$6,500 and 30,000 Philippine pesos (US$523) stored above his seat during the flight – went missing during the flight. A source said the passengers were travelling aboard Thai Airways flight 600 on Sunday, and the victim, 46, did not know the suspect. “They were seated close to each other. After boarding, the victim placed two wallets containing cash in his backpack and stored it in the overhead compartment above his seat,” the insider said. “While the victim was asleep, the victim’s niece, who was seated nearby, saw a man searching through her uncle’s belongings.” After preliminary investigations, a 58-year-old Chinese man was arrested on suspicion of theft, and charged with one count of contravention of Aviation Security Ordinance. The case was brought before the West Kowloon Court on Monday morning. Hong Kong recorded 169 cases of in-flight thefts involving HK$4.32m worth of valuables in the first 10 months of 2024.<br/>