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Consolidated "Polaris Lounge Access Questions" Thread {Archive}

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Old Jan 8, 2024, 1:06 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
The Polaris Lounge is United's Business class lounge for passengers in premium cabins on long-haul flights only. It is separate from the United Club locations and the arrivals lounge in SFO.

Currently there are PLs in EWR, IAD, IAH, LAX, ORD, and SFO.

Quick Guide to "Do I get access?"

Are you in Polaris (Business) class on a long-haul United metal flight to/from Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa, French Polynesia, or one of these South American countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Peru?
  • You get access at all airports the same-day. It does not matter if your flights are on the same ticket or same cabin.
  • "Same-day" is ambiguous and is interpreted differently by different agents with respect to itineraries that include an overnight connection. YMMV and this thread has examples both ways.
  • No guests. Unless on F on a partner.
  • Though not stated by United, includes AKL (Auckland, New Zealand) when service begins.
  • Examples:
    • EWR-SFO-NRT, if SFO-NRT is on UA you get access in EWR and SFO
    • NRT-SFO-EWR, if NRT-SFO is on UA you get access in SFO and EWR, even if SFO-EWR is a separate Y ticket.

Are you in Business/First class on a long-haul *A partner metal flight to/from Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Africa, Middle East, or one of these South American countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Peru?
  • You get access only at the airport where the long-haul flight departs.
  • At other airports along your route, you may have access to the United Club or other *A lounges. See here: Consolidated "United Club Access Questions" Thread
  • Though not on United's stated list, access includes long-haul partner flights to Africa, Middle East, New Zealand, etc.
  • Guests: First Class (on flights with both First and Business cabins) only: you can bring 1 guest. Business class 0 guests.
  • Examples:
    • EWR-SFO-NRT, if SFO-NRT is on NH you get access only in SFO, not at EWR
    • NRT-SFO-EWR, if NRT-SFO is on NH you don't get any Polaris Lounge access because there is no Polaris Lounge in NRT, and you aren't eligible for SFO or EWR.

Are you on a United or partner short-haul international flight to/from Guam, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, or Ecuador?
Are you in Premium Economy, Economy Plus, or Economy on any flight?
  • You do not get access, unless you are connecting to/from a flight that gets access as described above.

Are you on a United domestic flight, including P.S. flights EWR-LAX, EWR-SFO, BOS-SFO?
  • You do not get access to the Polaris Lounge, even if you're flying in First on a wide-body plane with lie-flat "Polaris" style seats, unless you are connecting to/from a flight that gets access as described above.

Can I get access through status, membership, one-time pass, or any other method?
  • No.
What else do it need for access?
  • Reports indicate that most PL's require a passport in addition to boarding pass for access. Some locations may accept other forms of ID (driver's license, etc.). This appears to be a response to possible fraudulent attempts at access (e.g., double printing BPs for friends).
If eligible for access, who can I guest?
  • Only those departing on a *A airline in long-haul Int'l First on a plane w/ First and Business classes has guesting privileges. One guest only, and that guest must be departing on same flight, in any class..
  • Those in Polaris or qualifying International Business cannot guest another passenger.
  • If you are in an old Global First seat in United Polaris class, you cannot guest another passenger. No longer relevant

More info

UA website outlining access for Polaris Lounge access

Photo ID required?There have been numerous reports from all Polaris Lounges of a photo ID being requested upon entry. Apparently, there have been some attempts to enter the PL with another person's BP (such as a traveling companion's). Recently there are reports that only a passport (not driver's license) is accepted at some lounges.

Related Threads:
Polaris Lounge Roadmap 2017-2018 (wiki) (thread)
ORD Polaris lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..
SFO Polaris Lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..
EWR Polaris lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..
IAH Polaris lounge (E11/12 - top fl) -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ...
LAX Polaris Lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..
IAD Polaris Lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..
United Polaris-New Business Class seats & in-flight service and new Polaris Lounges(wiki) (thread)}

Consolidated "United Club Access Questions" Thread

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Old Mar 24, 2022 | 7:23 am
  #1111  
omxfl
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Before I make a costly mistake, I'm planning on booking a business class ticket with miles through UA's website. It'll be with Swiss Airlines in business class (I fare class, lowest) to ZRH. Can I still access the polaris lounge in ORD upon departure? I'm worried about the language on UA's website: "Access is not allowed for customers with discounted industry, airline or staff travel tickets, unless specifically stated."

Thanks!
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Old Mar 24, 2022 | 7:31 am
  #1112  
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Originally Posted by omxfl
Before I make a costly mistake, I'm planning on booking a business class ticket with miles through UA's website. It'll be with Swiss Airlines in business class (I fare class, lowest) to ZRH. Can I still access the polaris lounge in ORD upon departure? I'm worried about the language on UA's website: "Access is not allowed for customers with discounted industry, airline or staff travel tickets, unless specifically stated."

Thanks!
Your award ticket is not any of that.

Do keep in mind LX departs from a different terminal as the location of the Polaris lounge. Not sure if the airside bus has restarted yet; if you, you should budget additional time for landside transfer and reclearing security.
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Old Mar 24, 2022 | 8:55 am
  #1113  
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Originally Posted by phkc070408
Traveling MEL-SFO-EWR - 1 ticket. Due to transportation limitations after arriving in EWR in the evening, we might make a long connection usb SFO and take a red-eye SFO-EWR.

Dep MEL 4-Aug-22 0930
Arr SFO 4-AUG-22 0705
Dep SFO 4-AUG-22 Evening
Arr EWR 5-AUG-22 Morning

We will probably leave the airport for part of our long layover - might get a day room or go into the city if we're able to.

So PL in SFO on 4-AUG-22 in the evening is not an issue
How about in EWR arriving on 05-AUG-22?
Please report back the outcome if you keep the SFO-EWR redeye flight. Same-day change to an earlier daytime flight is an option.

Originally Posted by omxfl
Before I make a costly mistake, I'm planning on booking a business class ticket with miles through UA's website. It'll be with Swiss Airlines in business class (I fare class, lowest) to ZRH. Can I still access the polaris lounge in ORD upon departure? I'm worried about the language on UA's website: "Access is not allowed for customers with discounted industry, airline or staff travel tickets, unless specifically stated."

Thanks!
AA forum is a better place to ask about the airside shuttle from AA concourses to LX departure (Terminal M).
Edit: UA App gives a direction from PL to gate M7. The total time is 65 min, with 30 min budgeted for security check.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 24, 2022 at 10:46 am
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Old Mar 24, 2022 | 6:37 pm
  #1114  
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Apologies if this has already been covered. Due to potential work meeting scheduling, I had to buy two separate tickets: LAX-EWR and EWR-NCE for an upcoming trip in May. LAX-EWR is economy, but I paid revenue Biz on the EWR-NCE flight, same day. Can we use the Polaris lounge at LAX since we hold a same day UA ticket in biz out of another hub?
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Old Mar 24, 2022 | 7:00 pm
  #1115  
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Originally Posted by globetraveler
Apologies if this has already been covered. Due to potential work meeting scheduling, I had to buy two separate tickets: LAX-EWR and EWR-NCE for an upcoming trip in May. LAX-EWR is economy, but I paid revenue Biz on the EWR-NCE flight, same day. Can we use the Polaris lounge at LAX since we hold a same day UA ticket in biz out of another hub?
Scan your EWR-NCE boarding pass in LAX, forget your LAX-EWR exists when scanning at the machines for entry
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Old Mar 25, 2022 | 12:08 am
  #1116  
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I'm looking at option to fly business SYD-NYC on UA in May, so I have a choice of LAX or SFO as transit points. I realise that I'm entitled to Polaris lounge access at my transfer point, so my question is which airport makes that more easy/straightforward, especially if my layover is not super long? As a general rule, I usually prefer arriving into SFO, but I assume that with the Polaris lounge located in the international terminal and my transcon flight departing from terminal 3, would that actually be easier in LAX or are both fine in that regard?
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Old Mar 25, 2022 | 12:26 am
  #1117  
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Originally Posted by mad_atta
I'm looking at option to fly business SYD-NYC on UA in May, so I have a choice of LAX or SFO as transit points. I realise that I'm entitled to Polaris lounge access at my transfer point, so my question is which airport makes that more easy/straightforward, especially if my layover is not super long? As a general rule, I usually prefer arriving into SFO, but I assume that with the Polaris lounge located in the international terminal and my transcon flight departing from terminal 3, would that actually be easier in LAX or are both fine in that regard?
While I would normally suggest LAX for the more intimate lounge and ease of T7, lately more LAX-EWR planes are 757-200s which I would avoid.

Additionally, SYD flights land at the Tom Bradley International Terminal and its a long walk to T7 from there so SFO may be the better option.
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Old Mar 25, 2022 | 12:33 am
  #1118  
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Originally Posted by FoxFlyer
While I would normally suggest LAX for the more intimate lounge and ease of T7, lately more LAX-EWR planes are 757-200s which I would avoid.

Additionally, SYD flights land at the Tom Bradley International Terminal and its a long walk to T7 from there so SFO may be the better option.
Ah, now that is VERY useful information, thanks so much FoxFlyer. I didn't realise that SYD flights land at TBIT as a matter of course. That does indeed change the equation.
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Old Mar 25, 2022 | 8:31 am
  #1119  
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If i am booked on united metal AMS-IAD (award booking) and seperately booked a positioning flight home (united economy IAD-jax) the same day, 4 hrs later... Just confirming I can still enter the Polaris lounge at IAD even with a continuing flight on a separate booking
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Old Mar 25, 2022 | 9:17 am
  #1120  
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Originally Posted by jsteinberg
If i am booked on united metal AMS-IAD (award booking) and seperately booked a positioning flight home (united economy IAD-jax) the same day, 4 hrs later... Just confirming I can still enter the Polaris lounge at IAD even with a continuing flight on a separate booking
You do. Just show AMS-IAD boarding pass.
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Old Mar 25, 2022 | 11:28 am
  #1121  
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Originally Posted by jsteinberg
If i am booked on united metal AMS-IAD (award booking) and seperately booked a positioning flight home (united economy IAD-jax) the same day, 4 hrs later... Just confirming I can still enter the Polaris lounge at IAD even with a continuing flight on a separate booking
You get access based on Polaris arrival from AMS. IAD-JAX is irrelevant other than getting you back through security.
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Old Mar 26, 2022 | 3:37 am
  #1122  
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I'm flying Polaris from DBV-EWR-CLT. It will be the first time I've had to clear customs in a connecting airport in a while. Normally we just fly straight home. Where is the Polaris lounge in relation to where we will be landing? Do I have to clear customs and go back through security to get to the lounge?
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Old Mar 26, 2022 | 5:30 am
  #1123  
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Originally Posted by fluffybunnt22
I'm flying Polaris from DBV-EWR-CLT. It will be the first time I've had to clear customs in a connecting airport in a while. Normally we just fly straight home. Where is the Polaris lounge in relation to where we will be landing? Do I have to clear customs and go back through security to get to the lounge?
You will arrive at either Concourse B or C. If it is the former, you need to take AirTrain to C first, then go through security. The lounge is located between C2 and C3 piers (Check airport map on App). It is a short walk after security.
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Old Mar 26, 2022 | 5:19 pm
  #1124  
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Originally Posted by Kmxu
You will arrive at either Concourse B or C. If it is the former, you need to take AirTrain to C first, then go through security. The lounge is located between C2 and C3 piers (Check airport map on App). It is a short walk after security.
Or walk. After enduring another packed AirTrain ride over to C after arriving at B earlier this year, on my most recent arrival I attempted to walk over to C and discovered the clearly marked path outside between B and C.

I don't think I'll ever want to take the AirTrain from B to C again.
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Old Mar 27, 2022 | 10:49 pm
  #1125  
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Sfo - OGG (First class)
Flying in first class (Polaris configuration). Do I have access to Polaris lounge or United Club?
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