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, ...
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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 9, 2020, 11:28 am
#976
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: HHonors Diamond
Posts: 731
Was flying through ORD Polaris back home to PDX and have to say I think it’s the best Polaris I have used yet. Nicer layout than EWR and SFO. Shawn in the restaurant was helpful in showing me where they kept the hot chocolate powder so I could a cup for myself.
Jan 23, 2020, 2:21 pm
#977
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: PSC
Programs: Hilton Diamond/IHG Platinum/DL Plutononium
Posts: 1,728
Access to ORD Polaris lounge when flying LOT
Will be flying ORD-KRK in J on LOT this summer originating right out of ORD. Will I be able to access the polaris lounge without re-clearing security? I read online that there is an airside shuttle bus, but with all the construction on the trains/roads I'm not sure if I'll be able to pull this off. I've never used the Polaris lounge before and looking forward to checking it out with my wife.
Jan 23, 2020, 3:53 pm
#978
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,314
Yes you are, its very easy, provided you are arriving on a flight in the main terminal. Its a one way bus to terminal 5
So you cant check in at terminal 5, then go to the lounge, and then come back
https://www.flychicago.com/ohare/myf...s/default.aspx
So you cant check in at terminal 5, then go to the lounge, and then come back
https://www.flychicago.com/ohare/myf...s/default.aspx
Jan 24, 2020, 10:40 am
#979
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
Will be flying ORD-KRK in J on LOT this summer originating right out of ORD. Will I be able to access the polaris lounge without re-clearing security? I read online that there is an airside shuttle bus, but with all the construction on the trains/roads I'm not sure if I'll be able to pull this off. I've never used the Polaris lounge before and looking forward to checking it out with my wife.
(1) no checked bags: check in online, print at home or digital boarding pass, go straight to Terminal 1, clear security, visit lounge, leave plenty of time before boarding starts, take airside shuttle bus to Terminal 5. If you want to check your carry-on-legal bags you can check them at the gate.
(2) with checked bags you can't take through security: (this may not be worth it) check in in person at T5 at when they open 3 hours before departure, take train to T1 (or bus if the train is not up yet), clear security, visit lounge for maybe 1 hour, leave plenty of time before boarding, take airside shuttle bus to T5.
Note that in T5, near your gate, you'll have access to Air France, SWISS, and SAS lounges, which may be a better option if you have checked bags.
Jan 24, 2020, 11:19 am
#980
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: PSC
Programs: Hilton Diamond/IHG Platinum/DL Plutononium
Posts: 1,728
ATS (the people-mover train) should be up and running by summer, so:
(1) no checked bags: check in online, print at home or digital boarding pass, go straight to Terminal 1, clear security, visit lounge, leave plenty of time before boarding starts, take airside shuttle bus to Terminal 5. If you want to check your carry-on-legal bags you can check them at the gate.
(2) with checked bags you can't take through security: (this may not be worth it) check in in person at T5 at when they open 3 hours before departure, take train to T1 (or bus if the train is not up yet), clear security, visit lounge for maybe 1 hour, leave plenty of time before boarding, take airside shuttle bus to T5.
Note that in T5, near your gate, you'll have access to Air France, SWISS, and SAS lounges, which may be a better option if you have checked bags.
(1) no checked bags: check in online, print at home or digital boarding pass, go straight to Terminal 1, clear security, visit lounge, leave plenty of time before boarding starts, take airside shuttle bus to Terminal 5. If you want to check your carry-on-legal bags you can check them at the gate.
(2) with checked bags you can't take through security: (this may not be worth it) check in in person at T5 at when they open 3 hours before departure, take train to T1 (or bus if the train is not up yet), clear security, visit lounge for maybe 1 hour, leave plenty of time before boarding, take airside shuttle bus to T5.
Note that in T5, near your gate, you'll have access to Air France, SWISS, and SAS lounges, which may be a better option if you have checked bags.
Air France partners with LOT? I can access that with my Priority Pass card, was surprised a *A biz ticket would get me access.
Is the Polaris lounge a big step up from SWISS/SAS? I got the feeling it was and was worth doing the inter-terminal shuffle.
Jan 24, 2020, 12:16 pm
#981
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
Air France partners with LOT? I can access that with my Priority Pass card, was surprised a *A biz ticket would get me access.
I was surprised too, given that there are two *A lounges within a 5-minute walk, but that's what the *A website says:
https://www.staralliance.com/en/airp...irportCode=ORD
I was surprised too, given that there are two *A lounges within a 5-minute walk, but that's what the *A website says:
https://www.staralliance.com/en/airp...irportCode=ORD
Is the Polaris lounge a big step up from SWISS/SAS? I got the feeling it was and was worth doing the inter-terminal shuffle.
Feb 6, 2020, 7:51 am
#982
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 2,509
I have to move a BR flight from JFK by a day, looking at an option through ORD. When the Polaris lounge says a 9pm closing, is it like Centurion lounges (at least what I've experienced at PHL) where they stop serving drinks at 8:30, start removing dishes and closing up shop at that point and have essentially pushed everyone out by 9, or is it where they do last call around 8:45-9p and then start pushing people out once the lounge is closed at 9?
I'd prefer ORD if I could do an hour or so of Polaris first, but probably not if I would walk into them closing up.
I'd prefer ORD if I could do an hour or so of Polaris first, but probably not if I would walk into them closing up.
Feb 14, 2020, 5:11 pm
#984
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,471
Feb 15, 2020, 1:28 pm
#985
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Francisco, California
Programs: Amex Centurion, United Global Services
Posts: 847
I fly out of SFO so I'm a regular at the Polaris lounge there. Sounds like I'm one of the few people that really like the Polaris burger, I actually get excited on the ride to the airport about downing one.
Last few times I was there the buffet actually looked really good and I grabbed some pasta and garlic bread after my burger.
That place is never super busy. There are huge swaths of that lounge opposite the food on both floors that nobody ever sits in.
Last few times I was there the buffet actually looked really good and I grabbed some pasta and garlic bread after my burger.
That place is never super busy. There are huge swaths of that lounge opposite the food on both floors that nobody ever sits in.
Feb 17, 2020, 5:58 am
#986
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 28
Thank you! No matter how much the food has gone downhill, the lounge still has value if it continues to serve premium liquor!
Feb 17, 2020, 11:39 am
#987
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,471
I fly out of SFO so I'm a regular at the Polaris lounge there. Sounds like I'm one of the few people that really like the Polaris burger, I actually get excited on the ride to the airport about downing one.
Last few times I was there the buffet actually looked really good and I grabbed some pasta and garlic bread after my burger.
That place is never super busy. There are huge swaths of that lounge opposite the food on both floors that nobody ever sits in.
Last few times I was there the buffet actually looked really good and I grabbed some pasta and garlic bread after my burger.
That place is never super busy. There are huge swaths of that lounge opposite the food on both floors that nobody ever sits in.
Did you intend to post this in the SFO thread, by the way?
Comparing SFO to ORD, I think the burger is better at ORD.
)
Apr 13, 2020, 7:37 pm
#988
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: Delta Gold, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold, IHG Plat, AMEX Plat
Posts: 220
SInce I can't actually travel, may was well do some planning - and the requisite obsessing.
I booked a trip to London for early December - on the 9 PM ORD - LHR flight (J). Since I work near ORD, seems the best plan would be to get there early enough to have dinner at the Polaris lounge, and then have a glass of wine and get as much sleep as possible on the flight over. Is there a case to be made for doing the opposite - drinks in lounge, and then dinner (~10 PM) on the plane?
I booked a trip to London for early December - on the 9 PM ORD - LHR flight (J). Since I work near ORD, seems the best plan would be to get there early enough to have dinner at the Polaris lounge, and then have a glass of wine and get as much sleep as possible on the flight over. Is there a case to be made for doing the opposite - drinks in lounge, and then dinner (~10 PM) on the plane?
Apr 13, 2020, 7:51 pm
#989
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,447
SInce I can't actually travel, may was well do some planning - and the requisite obsessing.
I booked a trip to London for early December - on the 9 PM ORD - LHR flight (J). Since I work near ORD, seems the best plan would be to get there early enough to have dinner at the Polaris lounge, and then have a glass of wine and get as much sleep as possible on the flight over. Is there a case to be made for doing the opposite - drinks in lounge, and then dinner (~10 PM) on the plane?
I booked a trip to London for early December - on the 9 PM ORD - LHR flight (J). Since I work near ORD, seems the best plan would be to get there early enough to have dinner at the Polaris lounge, and then have a glass of wine and get as much sleep as possible on the flight over. Is there a case to be made for doing the opposite - drinks in lounge, and then dinner (~10 PM) on the plane?
And only UA knows what the service levels will be available even by December
