Dec 3, 2016, 9:22 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Access to Polaris lounges (source):
Hour 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. daily
A la carte dining, last seating 8 p. m.
United flights with the premium cabin class listed as 'Polaris Business' qualify for deaparture, connecting and arrival of a United Polaris flight.
UA premium cabin flights not marketed as Polaris, such as Domestic First or International Business (Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, northern South America, ... ) are not eligible for Polaris lounge access.
For partner, Business or International First, access only at departure airport and same destination restrictions as UA (roughly at least 8+ hours long haul international - TATL, TPAC, yes any UA Polaris destination but no trans-border).
No Guests (except 1 guest for International First partner flights)
{Similar Threads:
Polaris Lounge Roadmap 2017-2018 (wiki) (thread)
EWR Polaris lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ...
IAD Polaris lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ...
IAH Polaris lounge (E11/12 - top fl) -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ...
SFO Polaris Lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ...
LAX Polaris Lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ...
United Polaris-New Business Class seats & inflight service and new Polaris Lounges (wiki) (thread)}
Consolidated "Polaris Lounge Access Questions" Thread
International T5 ORD partner *G lounges
Hour 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. daily
A la carte dining, last seating 8 p. m.
United flights with the premium cabin class listed as 'Polaris Business' qualify for deaparture, connecting and arrival of a United Polaris flight.
UA premium cabin flights not marketed as Polaris, such as Domestic First or International Business (Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, northern South America, ... ) are not eligible for Polaris lounge access.
For partner, Business or International First, access only at departure airport and same destination restrictions as UA (roughly at least 8+ hours long haul international - TATL, TPAC, yes any UA Polaris destination but no trans-border).
No Guests (except 1 guest for International First partner flights)
{Similar Threads:
Polaris Lounge Roadmap 2017-2018 (wiki) (thread)
EWR Polaris lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ...
IAD Polaris lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ...
IAH Polaris lounge (E11/12 - top fl) -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ...
SFO Polaris Lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ...
LAX Polaris Lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ...
United Polaris-New Business Class seats & inflight service and new Polaris Lounges (wiki) (thread)}
Consolidated "Polaris Lounge Access Questions" Thread
International T5 ORD partner *G lounges
ORD Polaris lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..
Jan 3, 2018, 2:55 pm
#631
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Amabassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,589
Jan 3, 2018, 3:35 pm
#632
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
+1. I never show my boarding pass to the person outside. I just walk past the person looking like I know what I'm doing. I do smile and say hello to that person so nobody can accuse me of being rude.
Jan 7, 2018, 1:07 pm
#634
Moderator: United Airlines
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
Status has no bearing on the use of the Polaris lounge -- it is not a *A Gold lounge. J travelers have no guest privilege (just like International F lounges in *A)
Jan 17, 2018, 2:01 pm
#635
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Chicago
Programs: Bonvoy Gold, United Silver
Posts: 219
Polaris Lounge Access in ORD?
I'm flying SFO-ORD-ZRH on Sunday, both legs in C (the ORD-ZRH flight is on SWISS).
I've never really been a United flier, so I'm not 100% familiar with the details of the offering.
Given that it's a 6AM flight from SFO, I'd kill for a shower and a place to relax/work until my evening flight. Does anyone know if I'll have access to the polaris lounge (which I see as the only one with a shower?)?
Thanks!
I've never really been a United flier, so I'm not 100% familiar with the details of the offering.
Given that it's a 6AM flight from SFO, I'd kill for a shower and a place to relax/work until my evening flight. Does anyone know if I'll have access to the polaris lounge (which I see as the only one with a shower?)?
Thanks!
Jan 17, 2018, 2:04 pm
#636
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
I'm flying SFO-ORD-ZRH on Sunday, both legs in C.
I've never really been a United flier, so I'm not 100% familiar with the details of the offering.
Given that it's a 6AM flight from SFO, I'd kill for a shower and a place to relax/work until my evening flight. Does anyone know if I'll have access to the polaris lounge (which I see as the only one with a shower?)?
Thanks!
I've never really been a United flier, so I'm not 100% familiar with the details of the offering.
Given that it's a 6AM flight from SFO, I'd kill for a shower and a place to relax/work until my evening flight. Does anyone know if I'll have access to the polaris lounge (which I see as the only one with a shower?)?
Thanks!
Jan 17, 2018, 2:12 pm
#637
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: CLE
Programs: UA 1K MM, DL Plat
Posts: 982
Yes, you will have access. When you arrive in Terminal 1, you can go straight to the Polaris lounge, show them your ORD-ZRH boarding pass, and you'll be allowed in.
Make sure that you leave yourself sufficient time, however, as you will have to transit over to Terminal 5 for your LX flight. That involves a train ride and re-clearing security, w/o PreCheck available. You'll have plenty of time, just don't cut it too finely, since O'Hare is notoriously unpredictable.
Make sure that you leave yourself sufficient time, however, as you will have to transit over to Terminal 5 for your LX flight. That involves a train ride and re-clearing security, w/o PreCheck available. You'll have plenty of time, just don't cut it too finely, since O'Hare is notoriously unpredictable.
Jan 17, 2018, 2:30 pm
#638
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
Yes, you will have access. When you arrive in Terminal 1, you can go straight to the Polaris lounge, show them your ORD-ZRH boarding pass, and you'll be allowed in.
Make sure that you leave yourself sufficient time, however, as you will have to transit over to Terminal 5 for your LX flight. That involves a train ride and re-clearing security, w/o PreCheck available. You'll have plenty of time, just don't cut it too finely, since O'Hare is notoriously unpredictable.
Make sure that you leave yourself sufficient time, however, as you will have to transit over to Terminal 5 for your LX flight. That involves a train ride and re-clearing security, w/o PreCheck available. You'll have plenty of time, just don't cut it too finely, since O'Hare is notoriously unpredictable.
Jan 17, 2018, 2:37 pm
#639
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: CLE
Programs: UA 1K MM, DL Plat
Posts: 982
)http://www.flychicago.com/ohare/myfl...s/default.aspx
However, in all honesty, I'm not entirely certain that the walk from the Polaris club to Gate G17 or K20 is going to be any faster than taking the train!! Does avoid the additional trip through TSA security, though. Learn something new everyday...
Jan 17, 2018, 5:28 pm
#641
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
Jan 17, 2018, 6:03 pm
#642
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Amabassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,589
NO
Last spring (2017) pilot program was BA only
Last summer 2017 program extended to AA and OW
Last fall open to EVERYONE and will be coming to T1 probably sometime in Spring 2018
I took the bus Nov 29th from T3 to T5 to fly EVA with no issues
I talked to both the person checking boarding passes and the Bus attendant and they both mentioned quite a few Star Alliance people taking the bus
The Bus ends service at 8PM though
EDIT: - Be sure to checkin with the LX desk as soon as it opens. EVA was ill prepared to deal with someone who bypassed the check in desk in T5. They took the time to make sure our luggage was on the flight etc, but bypassing the check in in T5 meant they had no idea we were there. I am not sure if LX is the same way, but *A seems to be a bit behind in catching up to the bus service.
Jan 17, 2018, 6:03 pm
#643
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Maine
Programs: UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Plat, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 706
It's now a bus that's available for anyone connecting to a flight out of T5 and not restricted to AA partners.
Jan 17, 2018, 6:18 pm
#644
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
Thank you for letting us know. And also thank you Hipplewm. It will be really helpful for the OP as I think that before a long haul flight it's better to walk to the bus (exercise before sitting down for many hours) rather than taking the train and getting stuck in the security line. The last time we had to enter in Terminal 5 on a Saturday at 3 PM, the line was so long that my wife asked me to go to the BA counter and ask the price of the TODs. I came back without having taken the TODs offered. My wife then went to the BA counter and 5 minutes later came back with 2 Business Class boarding passes. And the BA agent pointed to her the other agent that was helping BA Business Class passengers to the front of the line.
Last edited by StuckinITH; Jan 17, 2018 at 6:22 pm Reason: Had not seen that another FTer also gave the information
Jan 17, 2018, 7:47 pm
#645
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Amabassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,589
Thank you for letting us know. And also thank you Hipplewm. It will be really helpful for the OP as I think that before a long haul flight it's better to walk to the bus (exercise before sitting down for many hours) rather than taking the train and getting stuck in the security line. The last time we had to enter in Terminal 5 on a Saturday at 3 PM, the line was so long that my wife asked me to go to the BA counter and ask the price of the TODs. I came back without having taken the TODs offered. My wife then went to the BA counter and 5 minutes later came back with 2 Business Class boarding passes. And the BA agent pointed to her the other agent that was helping BA Business Class passengers to the front of the line.
A few tips:
Most likely, no one in the PL will know jack .... about the bus
When you get to the end of T3 where the bus supposedly is, there are stair on your left - go down, the bus pick up is on the ground level
You need BP and passport to board
As I said earlier, be sure to check in at the desk when LX mans it or they may not know you are there....