Lounge Recommendation in Chicago (ORD)
Feb 10, 2019, 8:23 am
#17
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: London | Sydney
Programs: LH HON, QF CL, SQ TPPS, AF Plat, VS Gold, VA Plat, EK Gold, HH Diamond, WoH Globalist, Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,524
Feb 10, 2019, 10:47 am
#18
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Usually seat 1A, home:Tallinn
Programs: LH -- HON Circle **, IHG Spire Elite, Hilton Diamond, 1865 Voyager
Posts: 470
Polaris lounge is strictly for departing international Business or First class ONLY regardless status of pax.
Only departing First Class passenger can bring 1 guest. For all others no guests allowed.
This information is actually visible also on LH webpage.
If some want to bring guest and not traveling in international F --> United Club.
If not departing international F/J --> United Club.
As far I know, there do not exist any exclusions.
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...es/access.html
Information on United webpage
Actually Polaris lounge is very-very nice. Much better than Senator lounges.
Of course LH First class lounges and FCT are still better
Only departing First Class passenger can bring 1 guest. For all others no guests allowed.
This information is actually visible also on LH webpage.
If some want to bring guest and not traveling in international F --> United Club.
If not departing international F/J --> United Club.
As far I know, there do not exist any exclusions.
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...es/access.html
Information on United webpage
Actually Polaris lounge is very-very nice. Much better than Senator lounges.
Of course LH First class lounges and FCT are still better
Last edited by Raul_R; Feb 10, 2019 at 10:59 am Reason: More accurate information provided
Feb 10, 2019, 12:16 pm
#19
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: DCA or IAD (originally DUB)
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM, Hertz PC, Marriott Platinum/Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,657
Flying FRA-Oklahoma City via Chicago. HON. Most likely in First on Lufthansa (maybe Business). In First Class on the connecting United flight.
I know that when leaving to Germany I can use the Polaris lounge. How about arriving in First and continuing on a domestic UA flight? Access to Polaris?
I know that when leaving to Germany I can use the Polaris lounge. How about arriving in First and continuing on a domestic UA flight? Access to Polaris?
All clearly laid out here Consolidated "Polaris Lounge Access Questions" Thread
Feb 10, 2019, 12:41 pm
#20
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: LH M&M, BA EC, DL SM
Posts: 5,626
So there are several possibilities, just very UA centered.
Feb 10, 2019, 5:55 pm
#21
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,416
UA applies *A access rules (international business class lounge variant, but excepting Canada/Mexico/latin america) for those flying on partner metal. Like most carriers, it allows broader access for passengers on its own metal.
Feb 10, 2019, 10:33 pm
#22
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: LH M&M, BA EC, DL SM
Posts: 5,626
I appreciate that UA accepts long-haul J pax of other *A partners, unlike AC in their signature suite.
Dec 18, 2019, 7:26 am
#23
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 109
Access to LX F lounge before LH flight?
I have a long layover in Chicago before a Lufthansa F flight (7+ hours).
I understand that the Polaris lounge is going to be the best option, but I may feel like wandering around. Would I have access to the LX F lounge in Terminal 5, just to check it out?
There are some threads talking about Swiss F lounges being for Swiss F only (not UA for eg) but do they allow Lufthansa F?
The transfer to T5 is not a big deal given the time.
I understand that the Polaris lounge is going to be the best option, but I may feel like wandering around. Would I have access to the LX F lounge in Terminal 5, just to check it out?
There are some threads talking about Swiss F lounges being for Swiss F only (not UA for eg) but do they allow Lufthansa F?
The transfer to T5 is not a big deal given the time.
Last edited by yrp; Dec 18, 2019 at 7:34 am
Dec 18, 2019, 7:28 am
#24
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between DM464 and DM463 on the NAPSA26 RNAV TRANS in EDDM
Programs: this and that
Posts: 1,731
I have a long layover in Chicago before a Lufthansa F flight (7+ hours).
I understand that the Polaris lounge is going to be the best option, but I may feel like wandering around. Would I have access to the LX F lounge in Terminal 5, just to check out?
There are some threads talking about Swiss F lounges being for Swiss F only (not UA for eg) but do they allow Lufthansa F?
The transfer to T5 is not a big deal given the time.
I understand that the Polaris lounge is going to be the best option, but I may feel like wandering around. Would I have access to the LX F lounge in Terminal 5, just to check out?
There are some threads talking about Swiss F lounges being for Swiss F only (not UA for eg) but do they allow Lufthansa F?
The transfer to T5 is not a big deal given the time.
Dec 19, 2019, 3:14 am
#25
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Italy
Programs: UA 1k 1MM
Posts: 84
This.... I've often hopped on the train and headed into the city for Lunch.... sometimes you even get lucky and somebody arriving to the airport will give you their all day ride ticket and you can make the trip for free.
Dec 19, 2019, 5:42 am
#26
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 109
Dec 19, 2019, 10:09 am
#27
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: London, Paris
Programs: LH HON, AF Platinum
Posts: 2,001
Not sure if the interterminal train is working. Assuming it isn’t:
Getting to the international terminal is going to be hectic. To avoid the bus queues, I’ve just taken an Uber from one to the other.
Depending on the crowd in the international terminal, you might also find it hectic to get airside. I’m not sure if they will give escort and line jumping, which is huge when leaving during rush hour.
Finally, the first class side of the LX lounge isn’t really remarkable at all. The Polaris lounge is good enough and much better.
Others ITT suggesting to go in town, I would consider it if the layover was long enough and had a concrete plan. The airport is quite far from the city FWIW. Not quite like having a long layover in a city like Zürich or Geneva or Munich or even SF.
Getting to the international terminal is going to be hectic. To avoid the bus queues, I’ve just taken an Uber from one to the other.
Depending on the crowd in the international terminal, you might also find it hectic to get airside. I’m not sure if they will give escort and line jumping, which is huge when leaving during rush hour.
Finally, the first class side of the LX lounge isn’t really remarkable at all. The Polaris lounge is good enough and much better.
Others ITT suggesting to go in town, I would consider it if the layover was long enough and had a concrete plan. The airport is quite far from the city FWIW. Not quite like having a long layover in a city like Zürich or Geneva or Munich or even SF.
Dec 19, 2019, 12:22 pm
#28
Join Date: May 2013
Location: YYZ/YTZ/YUL
Programs: BA Gold, TK Elite
Posts: 1,558
Very similar to Munich I'd say - it's roughly an hour to get into town...
Dec 19, 2019, 4:08 pm
#30
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Silver, whatever the Amex plat gets me and somehow still IHG Diamond after 3 years of no nights
Posts: 693
The train ride is just about 40 mins to the Loop (downtown), but I'd agree with the hour assessment after you factor in walking to station, buying ticket, waiting for train...
If I had a long layover, the Polaris lounge is the only lounge that would keep me from going into the city. If it's a REALLY long layover, I'd probably still go into the city and then visit the Polaris lounge.
The international terminal security is pretty poor, by US standards. There is a priority line, but it's often quite busy and past that you just get funneled back into the masses for screening. Even if you have TSA pre-check it doesn't really do you any good. I think they put a big X on your BP so they know not to make you remove your shoes, which isn't really saving you any time at that point since you'll be waiting for the TSA staff's inability to deal with the international passengers (they all seem to think that yelling louder at someone in english will make them understand better).
There is an airside transfer from the domestic terminal that a lot of people really dislike, but I don't think it's too bad. It does involve a bus across the tarmac.
If I had a long layover, the Polaris lounge is the only lounge that would keep me from going into the city. If it's a REALLY long layover, I'd probably still go into the city and then visit the Polaris lounge.
The international terminal security is pretty poor, by US standards. There is a priority line, but it's often quite busy and past that you just get funneled back into the masses for screening. Even if you have TSA pre-check it doesn't really do you any good. I think they put a big X on your BP so they know not to make you remove your shoes, which isn't really saving you any time at that point since you'll be waiting for the TSA staff's inability to deal with the international passengers (they all seem to think that yelling louder at someone in english will make them understand better).
There is an airside transfer from the domestic terminal that a lot of people really dislike, but I don't think it's too bad. It does involve a bus across the tarmac.
