I bought a UA lifetime club pass and now they're messing us over with that.
Never pay for anything lifetime from an airline.
Didn't you have similar issues with your Fairmont purchase?
This is true for any significant lifetime purchase from a business. If you are costing them money and not adding to their top-line, sooner or later they will figure out a way to change their end of the deal. Especially considering the person pulling the plug usually wasn't around when the business was on the receiving end.