Jul 25, 2018, 12:08 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

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.

NEW *A Partner rules (14 April 2026)

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.
[As of 14 April 2026] You must travel on the following partner airlines:
- First Class on Lufthansa, Swiss, or ANA
- Business Class on ANA, Air New Zealand, or ITA
- Basic and Flex Business Class on Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, or Brussels.
[As of 14 April 2026] Travelers on other Star Alliance and partner airlines First or Business class do not have access.
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?

You do not get access to the Polaris Lounge. However, you may qualify for access to the United Club. See here: Consolidated "United Club Access Questions" Thread

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?

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. More recent reports are UA has dropped the passport id requirement

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

Archive: Consolidated "Polaris Lounge Access Questions" Thread {Archive}

Consolidated "Polaris Lounge Access Questions" Thread (New *A restrictions)

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Mar 12, 2023 | 9:59 am

#181

hirohito888

Join Date: Jul 2005

Location: NYC

Programs: UA-1K MM, AA-Gold, DL-Silver, AS-Silver

Posts: 3,276

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kmxu

Or take SFO-SAN nonstop on another airline whether or not OP has a checked luggage. There is plenty of opportunity to visit LAX PL in future. (I will route to LAX in future. I have not set my feet at LAX PL yet, but have visited other PLs multiple times).

Checked luggage wouldn't affect anything since OP would need to collect them at SFO for customs. So OP can take SFO-SAN on AS or WN, which would mean skipping PL in SFO and LAX.

Mar 12, 2023 | 10:10 am

#182

Kmxu

Join Date: May 2012

Location: ORF, RIC

Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium, LTP; IHG Platinum

Posts: 7,940

Quote:

Originally Posted by hirohito888

Checked luggage wouldn't affect anything since OP would need to collect them at SFO for customs. So OP can take SFO-SAN on AS or WN, which would mean skipping PL in SFO and LAX.

OP can still access to PL @ SFO.

Mar 12, 2023 | 10:23 am

#183

hirohito888

Join Date: Jul 2005

Location: NYC

Programs: UA-1K MM, AA-Gold, DL-Silver, AS-Silver

Posts: 3,276

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kmxu

OP can still access to PL @ SFO.

Yes, but not sure if it's worth the risk of being flagged as intentional no-show since the system will show them in the lounge. But that's up to the OP to decide if they do this often or not and how much they value their UA account.

SPN Lifer likes this.

Mar 12, 2023 | 10:55 am

#184

IAH-OIL-TRASH

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Sep 2003

Location: Honolulu Harbor

Programs: UA 2MM 1K

Posts: 16,568

Quote:

Originally Posted by FoxFlyer

…And if you really get bored take a walk to the Star Alliance lounge!

OP can walk there, but does not have admittance solely based on Polaris arrival. Access is based on departure flight and OP is Y to SAN. He/she will require some other means of entrance other than the United Polaris arrival.

Repooc17 likes this.

Mar 12, 2023 | 4:09 pm

#185

italdesign

Join Date: Nov 2006

Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum

Posts: 4,676

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kmxu

There is plenty of opportunity to visit LAX PL in future.

Not for me. I rarely fly Star Alliance / UA over the ponds, so this might be my only chance.

Mar 12, 2023 | 4:59 pm

#186

moondog

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Dec 2000

Location: Shanghai

Posts: 46,283

Quote:

Originally Posted by Repooc17

Somewhere interesting at LAX? There are definitely interesting things to do at LA but not at LAX, at least not for 8 hours, especially for a 20 minute flight on a separate ticket.

UA flight from HND arrives in the morning at SFO, then the OP has a mid-day flight to LAX? And then a late night flight to SAN? Spending all day and into the late night transiting from SFO to SAN is not something I would do at airports, speaking personally, of course.

What part of the post that you quoted lead you to assume that I was advocating 8 hours at LAX?

Mar 13, 2023 | 5:22 am

#187

Repooc17

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2017

Posts: 12,047

Quote:

Originally Posted by italdesign

Not for me. I rarely fly Star Alliance / UA over the ponds, so this might be my only chance.

For sure you can visit, but I am not sure if it is worthy of the time until your flight to SAN.

Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 13, 2023 at 7:09 pm Reason: split post

Mar 16, 2023 | 12:19 pm

#188

flamingos

Join Date: Jan 2013

Posts: 45

I have a Star Alliance partner F seat departing SFO and am wondering if my one guest has to show a same day boarding pass for access. My guest’s flight is a red eye departing, technically, the day after mine at 1am.

Mar 16, 2023 | 12:34 pm

#189

Lifestyle Design

Join Date: Dec 2015

Posts: 26

Why not take the long but worthwhile walk to the Star Alliance Lounge at LAX?

Quote:

Originally Posted by italdesign

I'm 99% sure I'll get PL access, but just to be 100% sure.

I'm on HND-SFO-LAX-SAN, all on UA. Arrive SFO in the morning on UA J, arrive LAX early afternoon, have about 8 hours layover in LAX, and LAX-SAN is a separate Y ticket.

I can access LAX PL during entire 8 hour layover, right?

mid take the walk underground to the International Terminal and enjoy the *A Lounge. Especially after all the flying… fresh air for a few hours and wonderful food and drinks!

enjoy!!

Mar 16, 2023 | 1:20 pm

#190

HkCaGu

Join Date: May 2006

Location: PMD

Programs: UA*G, NW, AA. WR-G, HH-S, IHG, ALL. TT-GE.

Posts: 3,115

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lifestyle Design

mid take the walk underground to the International Terminal and enjoy the *A Lounge. Especially after all the flying… fresh air for a few hours and wonderful food and drinks!

enjoy!!

LAX-SAN in Y without status won't get you into Star Alliance Lounge.

Mar 16, 2023 | 2:21 pm

#191

WineCountryUA

Moderator: United Airlines

Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: SFO

Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat

Posts: 73,036

Quote:

Originally Posted by flamingos

The formal *A lounge Policy for International First Class Customers is

Quote:

You are entitled to bring one guest travelling on any Star Alliance flight departing from the same airport on the same day. As of May 3, 2021, the guest must be traveling on the same flight.

PLs are not *A lounges but tend to follow *A rules for non-Polaris customers

Mar 16, 2023 | 2:34 pm

#192

flamingos

Join Date: Jan 2013

Posts: 45

Quote:

Originally Posted by WineCountryUA

The formal *A lounge Policy for International First Class Customers is

PLs are not *A lounges but tend to follow *A rules for non-Polaris customers

Ah sad. Thank you for this info.

Mar 16, 2023 | 4:56 pm

#193

flamingos

Join Date: Jan 2013

Posts: 45

Quote:

Originally Posted by WineCountryUA

The formal *A lounge Policy for International First Class Customers is

PLs are not *A lounges but tend to follow *A rules for non-Polaris customers

I have a follow-up question, if I may. I failed to mention that my aforementioned guest departing at 1am has his own J seat on a *A partner.
Based on what I’m seeing on the *A policy site, it says for business class passengers:

Quote:

Your flight departs on the same day of your visit or latest by 05:00 AM the next morning

So it seems like the guest can enter the PL with his own ticket the day before. Is there a rule or restriction regarding how early he can enter?

Mar 16, 2023 | 5:36 pm

#194

WineCountryUA

Moderator: United Airlines

Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: SFO

Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat

Posts: 73,036

Quote:

Originally Posted by flamingos

Caution PL is not a *A lounge and can have its own rules
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...es/access.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by flamingos

... So it seems like the guest can enter the PL with his own ticket the day before. ...

Believe 1AM will qualify although the lounge will close far earlier.

Quote:

Originally Posted by flamingos

... Is there a rule or restriction regarding how early he can enter?

Same day, no X hours rule

flamingos likes this.

Mar 16, 2023 | 7:46 pm

#195

flamingos

Join Date: Jan 2013

Posts: 45

Quote:

Originally Posted by WineCountryUA

Caution PL is not a *A lounge and can have its own rules
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...es/access.html

Believe 1AM will qualify although the lounge will close far earlier.

Same day, no X hours rule

Thank you for the note about the other rules. I read through the United ones and it was unclear as to whether you needed a same-day boarding pass. We will have a plan B in place.