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LHR Terminal 2 UA UC (with GS / sometimes 1K area) & Arrivals Lounge

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Old Jul 25, 2014, 8:21 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
related thread: Consolidated connection time/logistics at LHR

Comparative Review of Five Different Star Alliance Lounges at Heathrow T2

United Club Hours 5:00 a.m. 10:00 p.m. daily (as of October 2023) (standard UC access policies0
​​​​​​Global First Class GS / VIP lounge (newly open May 2022) (GS and at time 1K Polaris customers -- based on space)

Arrival Lounge Hours 6:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. (open as of June 13, 2022)
The arrivals lounge at London Heathrow, located immediately after immigration and customs, is a shared space with shower suites, breakfast items and more. This lounge is exclusively available for United Polaris business class travelers.
Eligible travelers must be flying on a same-day ticket arriving before noon and cannot bring guests. Additionally, United Club memberships and one-time passes dont grant access to this lounge.


Although the requirement is to enter before 12PM for arrivals, there have been reports of entry up until 1:30PM.
Archive thread: LHR Terminal 2 United Club, GS Lounge (was GFL) & Arrivals Lounge Discussion[Archive]


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LHR Terminal 2 UA UC (with GS / sometimes 1K area) & Arrivals Lounge

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Old Jan 18, 2023 | 4:58 am
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LHR Terminal 2 UA UC (with GS / sometimes 1K area) & Arrivals Lounge

Jan 2023
Another visit to the Arrivals lounge. No shower this time as my hotel room was already available, but had to get something to eat as the on-board catering was simply inedible this time.


Very good! Got my bacon roll / brown sauce craving fixed, then onward to hotel.

Short weekend visit for a football match. On the return, was invited again to the VIP/GS side of the United Club.
Overall was great, but re-discovered the one downside to this section: Probably due to the skill of the bartender (me), or lack of some ingredients, the do-it-yourself Bloody Mary was not a winner. Should have popped over to the other side for a proper one. Haha
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Old Jan 18, 2023 | 2:12 pm
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I flew LHR-LAX yesterday in Polaris upgraded with PP’s, and was invited to the VIP/GS side. It was my first time on that side. When I flew back in October, my upgrade failed. It seems from this thread that the (unofficial?) policy for 1K’s is that they are invited if flying in Polaris. I was never invited while flying in Polaris during the pre-Covid “Surprise and Delight” days.
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Old Jan 18, 2023 | 2:26 pm
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Originally Posted by SS255
I flew LHR-LAX yesterday in Polaris upgraded with PPs, and was invited to the VIP/GS side. It was my first time on that side. When I flew back in October, my upgrade failed. It seems from this thread that the (unofficial?) policy for 1Ks is that they are invited if flying in Polaris. I was never invited while flying in Polaris during the pre-Covid Surprise and Delight days.
From my recollection, any time a 1K has been invited into the VIP side, they have been in Polaris. But not every 1K in Polaris is given the invite. I am sure it is monitored to balance occupancy between the 2 sides.

It can be a bit quieter, but I don't perceive it to be MUCH better experience. Restrooms are a bit nicer, but no full, staffed bar.
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Old Jan 18, 2023 | 2:47 pm
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Originally Posted by goodeats21
From my recollection, any time a 1K has been invited into the VIP side, they have been in Polaris. But not every 1K in Polaris is given the invite. I am sure it is monitored to balance occupancy between the 2 sides.

It can be a bit quieter, but I don't perceive it to be MUCH better experience. Restrooms are a bit nicer, but no full, staffed bar.
Yesterday seemed like a light travel day. There were no GSs and only two 1Ks at the gate when boarding started. So, I guess I got lucky.
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Old Jan 18, 2023 | 4:11 pm
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My 10 year old and I were invited to the VIP side on Jan 7, as a 1K flying Premium Plus. The hosts in there will get you cocktails etc from the other side, so I prefer it.. Table service.
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Old Jan 19, 2023 | 3:09 am
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Originally Posted by simong
My 10 year old and I were invited to the VIP side on Jan 7, as a 1K flying Premium Plus. The hosts in there will get you cocktails etc from the other side, so I prefer it.. Table service.
Interesting. Thanks for the data point!
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Old Jan 19, 2023 | 6:14 am
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Originally Posted by goodeats21
Jan 2023
Another visit to the Arrivals lounge. No shower this time as my hotel room was already available, but had to get something to eat as the on-board catering was simply inedible ..
I have visited the LHR Arrivals Lounge several times lately and have mainly found breads and sweets as food offerings, no hot foods. Am I missing something or is that basically it?

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Old Jan 19, 2023 | 6:26 am
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Originally Posted by DEN
I have visited the LHR Arrivals Lounge several times lately and have mainly found breads and sweets as food offerings, no hot foods. Am I missing something or is that basically it?

DEN
Hot foods are available as "made to order" items. There is a menu book, usually on the table. Just ask a staff member to put your order in. I have posted a couple of pics above. Tasty, good quality items.
Added: I actually posted the menu a bit back. The A la carte section is the part you order...


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Old Jan 19, 2023 | 6:35 am
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Originally Posted by goodeats21
Hot foods are available as "made to order" items. There is a menu book, usually on the table. Just ask a staff member to put your order in. I have posted a couple of pics above. Tasty, good quality items.
Added: I actually posted the menu a bit back. The A la carte section is the part you order...


D’oh! I never paid attention to the book. Thanks for the info. Now I have another reason to skip the inflight breakfast!

DEN
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Old Jan 19, 2023 | 10:14 am
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Originally Posted by goodeats21
Hot foods are available as "made to order" items. There is a menu book, usually on the table. Just ask a staff member to put your order in. I have posted a couple of pics above. Tasty, good quality items.
Added: I actually posted the menu a bit back. The A la carte section is the part you order...


Is the lounge open late enough for "supper food yoghurt"? (Guessing that's a typo and not a BrE thing going over my head ).

If memory serves, the "breakfast bowl" was posted upthread and was more like those items from a full breakfast, simply on a plate.
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Old Jan 19, 2023 | 11:17 am
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Originally Posted by findark
Is the lounge open late enough for "supper food yoghurt"? (Guessing that's a typo and not a BrE thing going over my head ).

If memory serves, the "breakfast bowl" was posted upthread and was more like those items from a full breakfast, simply on a plate.
The lounge closes at 2 pm.
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Old Jan 19, 2023 | 11:24 am
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Originally Posted by findark
Is the lounge open late enough for "supper food yoghurt"? (Guessing that's a typo and not a BrE thing going over my head ).

If memory serves, the "breakfast bowl" was posted upthread and was more like those items from a full breakfast, simply on a plate.
I think you are correct about the "bowl", but I am a sucker for a bacon roll, so no first hand experience.

Originally Posted by iluv2fly
The lounge closes at 2 pm.
Thanks. I was looking for their hours on a previous trip. The arrivals lounge is not shown at all when searching for United Club locations in the app. The only time note on the website section I found indicated you must arrive at the lounge before 12PM Noon.
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Old Jan 19, 2023 | 11:31 am
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Originally Posted by goodeats21

Thanks. I was looking for their hours on a previous trip. The arrivals lounge is not shown at all when searching for United Club locations in the app. The only time note on the website section I found indicated you must arrive at the lounge before 12PM Noon.
Please look in the signature book for iluv2fly's many entries. You can spot them with the smiley face that I put there. They go back many years. The lounge agents always get a kick of my signing it.
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Old Jan 19, 2023 | 11:44 am
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Originally Posted by simong
My 10 year old and I were invited to the VIP side on Jan 7, as a 1K flying Premium Plus. The hosts in there will get you cocktails etc from the other side, so I prefer it.. Table service.
I have also had the staff in the VIP side offer to make me a cocktail or espresso drink from the self serve bar or espresso machine, respectively.
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Old Jan 24, 2023 | 8:24 pm
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Did the plans to combine the LHR United Club and Global Services Lounge into one big Polaris Lounge wind up getting abandoned? I remember that was the plan before the pandemic, and I thought that was merely paused because of the pandemic, but the United site still lists a Club at LHR and there are very recent reviews of the Club available online.
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