Cineworld Unlimited Card

Cineworld in Glasgow, Scotland. The world's tallest cinema

The Cineworld Unlimited Card is a loyalty scheme operated by the Cineworld Group. This scheme allows subscribed users to go to any Cineworld cinema an unlimited number of times a for a flat monthly or yearly fee (subject to uplift fees and geographical charges). Members are also granted access to special screenings and discounts in both the chains restaurants and snack stands and select partner restaurants.

Starting prices for the membership are constantly shifting based on the popularity of the card scheme. As of 2016, the current starting price for the standard Red card is £17.40 a month (or £19.90 a month to include any location in Central London, to accommodate for the companies higher operating costs in London-based locations )

An Example of a RED Cineworld Unlimited Card

Advantages

Members receive a discount of 10% on food and drink at the cinema chains concession stands. After a customer has held the membership for a year, they are automatically upgraded to a premium Black membership, which gives 25% off concessions and uplift-free entry to 3D films (though 3D glasses are still £1). All unlimited members do not have to pay online booking fees. Customers may also enjoy discounts at branches of partner restaurants including Chiquito, Frankie & Benny's & Pizza Hut.

Disadvantages

Unlimited subscribers cannot book more than three films in advance, as with non-subscribers. Unlimited card holders have the option of seeing advanced screenings, but unless the customer holds a premium membership, they have to still pay extra for 3D movies, IMAX,D-Box and alternative content as well as having to pay for 3D glasses and VIP/Delux Seating options. Advanced screenings are also very limited, as on occasion, the group can’t get the rights to screen certain movies ahead of the release schedule (for example, The Hateful Eight. There have also been many) customer complaints about the difficulty of cancelling subscriptions, especially if the 12 month subscription was paid up front, as the terms and conditions of the 12 month contract say you can't cancel within the first twelve months without legitimate grounds.

Competitors

Odeon Cinemas have recently brought out their own monthly/annual membership scheme called Odeon Limitless. While the Odeon Limitless subscription is, as of 2016, slightly more expensive than the Cineworld Unlimited Card (£17.99 monthly exc. West End London or £19.99 monthly including West End) the cinema choice includes some more high-profile cinemas (including West End of London) and you can save 5% with them for paying yearly. However, the one advantage Cineworld Unlimited Card has over Odeon Limitless is that Odeon Limitless is that there aren’t as many added benefits of being a subscriber. As currently the only advertised benefit apart from unlimited access to films each month is that there is no booking fee which Cineworld Unlimited Card also offer. But Odeon cinemas offer/screen a lot more different films than Cineworld and this can attract more customers to the Odeon Limitless scheme than the Cineworld Unlimited Card Scheme.

Application Process

In order to apply for an unlimited card, you require:

You must also be 18 years of age or older.

Once the type of membership is chosen (Including/excluding the West End, monthy or yearly payment), the ID photo is uploaded, your details entered, any payment methods and promo codes taken, and the card is sent for manufacture and dispatch. While the user is waiting for their card to be delivered, they are immediately e-mailed a paper copy of their membership and their membership number to use in the interim. The temporary membership number is different from the permanent one, and the temporary number becomes invalid after delivery is made.

The customer is also able to "gift" an unlimited membership to another person. To do this, they will require the e-mail address (for the person to be notified), an ID photo and personal details of that person. The person will be notified immediately, and the card will be delivered to the cardholder in a gift box, or as an e-gift. This is known as the "Unlimited Gift Box" in Cineworlds current (2016) Christmas promotions.

Missed Payments

If an unlimited customer misses a monthly payment, their account is immediately made inactive, and the customer is notified by e-mail/SMS (dependent on selected preference/registered details). They are able to go online and pay the missed fee, plus admin expenses by debit, credit or charge card. Alternatively, they can call the Unlimited Helpline. The account will then be reactivated, usually within an hour. missed payment is made and, no refunds will be given for tickets purchased at full price while the card is inactive.


Current Membership Prices (as of Nov 2016)

Payment Options Exc. West End Cinemas Inc. West End Cinemas
Monthly £17.40 £208.80
Yearly £19.90 £238.80

Current Ticket Prices (as of Nov 2016)

Ticket Type MyCineworld Online Price Box Office Price
Adult £9.88 £10.90
Child £7.18 £7.90
Family (2 adults, 2 children) £31.40 £34.60
Senior £7.63 £8.40
Student £7.63 £8.40

At current membership prices, an adult cinema-goer would require to visit the cinema twice a month, and a student/senior cinema-goer three times a month in order to save money from the unlimited scheme.

Customer Service

Cineworld provides a freephone service to its' unlimited customers, for membership enquiries, ticket booking and complaints/compliments. For non-members, a premium rate 0871 number is the main method of contact for the company.

Currently, some customers are experiencing issues when attempting to use their unlimited membership online. When unlimited customers with online accounts linked to their cards attempt to make a booking, their membership doesn't automatically appear. Any attempts to enter it manually throw a "There is a problem with your membership" error, despite the account being active and payments being up to date. If a user experiences this problem, the only way to book tickets is either on the day at the cinema, or over the phone.

Purchasing and Collecting Tickets

Before subscribers’ book tickets online they must ensure they have logged into their ‘My Cineworld’ account (also ensuring they added their Cineworld Unlimited Card after they have logged in) and after then booking their tickets online they need to collect their tickets in the cinema at the counter or via one of their machines usually located on their ground floors. Subscribers’ also need to remember and always bring their Cineworld Unlimited Card with them to the cinema to access their screenings. It should also be noted new subscribers’ do not need to wait for their card to come in before they can start using their Cineworld Unlimited Card all they need to do is bring their confirmation email and presenting a temporary number (which is given in their confirmation email) at the box office. New subscribers still waiting on their Cineworld Unlimited Card to come in also need to bring with them a form of identification.

Reception

The Unlimited Card Scheme has been met with mostly positive reception, as it allows cinema goers who see films on a regular basis to save a large amount of money on cinema tickets.

Cineworld unlimited card has become widely known and due to this many people have given the Cineworld Unlimited Card a shot. Here are some different reviews:

“Unlimited Card is genius I have had an unlimited card since January and it is brilliant. You just need to go twice a month and it covers your payment!” – Reviewed 18 September 2013

“To be honest, I’m not sure what sort of saving you are making here. Would you have even gone to see half of these films if you weren’t chasing the savings? How many would you have pirated? Reminds me a bit of chasing them two for the price of one deals in Tesco. I’d no interest before they became a designated loss leader.” – reddy

Don't miss a flick with the Cineworld Unlimited Card!!! Exclusive to Cineworld Cinemas it is the ultimate movie lover's card where you get to experience unlimited tears, unlimited horror, unlimited laughter, unlimited fear, unlimited movies on any day and at any time” - Stacey

“if you go to the cinema mostly on a weekend and are particular about seeing films the opening weekend - the busiest times at the cinema - then I'd be wary of signing up.”- Mr G Kaplan

“I've seen so many films I wouldn't normally have considered and seen some amazing films because of this!” – pro1000

References/External Links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/29/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.