United Airlines raised the annual membership fees for Red Carpet Club lounge access, effective Feb. 28, 2009. And if you normally pay for a lounge membership with miles instead of cash, be prepared for higher mileage requirements.

The cost of an annual membership varies based on your Mileage Plus status. For general and Premier Associate members, the annual fee is only being raised $25 to $525 from $500 and the price to add a spouse or partner will remain $300. Premier membership rates will be going up to $500 from $400 ($250 for a spouse or partner) and Premier Executives will now need to pay $450 for an annual membership ($200 for a spouse or partner). The cost for 1K members is also increasing $100 to $400 and the cost of a spouse or partner membership for 1Ks will triple from $50 to $150.

For members using miles to pay for a RCC membership, Premier members will now need to shell out 65,000 miles (from 55,000 miles) and Premier Executive members will need to pay 60,000 miles. 1K members are also being charged an additional 15,000 miles. The cost for an annual 1K RCC membership is now 55,000 miles and 20,000 miles to add a spouse or partner (from 20,000). All other mileage rates will remain the same.