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)
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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)
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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
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Dec 5, 2016, 2:01 am
#121
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
Yes this is exactly what was shown to me. I wasn't clear by that language so I wasn't really in a place to contest further as what was being explained was long haul from the originating airport or the connecting airport. Since this says connecting airports is where the confusion now exists. Hopefully clarity will come back from 1K Voice or maybe UA Insider??
I'm going to be disappointed if I can't use Polaris at ORD on my ORD-EWR-DEL flights.
Dec 5, 2016, 4:41 am
#122
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: United Premier 1K 1MM; AA Plat Pro; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Platinum; Avis President's Club
Posts: 2,529
I wanna be clear about the access issue. If I'm flying IAD-ORD-NRT and the IAD-ORD is on UA but ORD-NRT is on ANA it seems I would NOT have access. Is that a correct assumption? ORD is technically the connection point in that reservation even though I would be departing ORD in business class. Or am I missing something?
Dec 5, 2016, 5:10 am
#123
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,437
I wanna be clear about the access issue. If I'm flying IAD-ORD-NRT and the IAD-ORD is on UA but ORD-NRT is on ANA it seems I would NOT have access. Is that a correct assumption? ORD is technically the connection point in that reservation even though I would be departing ORD in business class. Or am I missing something?
, that flight is longhaul on a *A carrier departing from the airport you will be at so you should have access. The conflicting information and experiences concern flights that are short and flights where the ticketed longhaul business segment departs from a different airport.
Dec 5, 2016, 9:13 am
#124
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: IAH
Programs: UA GS, TK Gold
Posts: 304
I was there between 3-6 pm yesterday. It was fairly empty until 4pm, and got really crowded around 6pm with almost every seat taken.
IMHO, Probably the best lounge by domestic carrier including Centurion and AA FL. And it will only get better with more food options going forward. Wifi speed was off the charts.
IMHO, Probably the best lounge by domestic carrier including Centurion and AA FL. And it will only get better with more food options going forward. Wifi speed was off the charts.
Dec 5, 2016, 9:21 am
#125
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,029
I wanna be clear about the access issue. If I'm flying IAD-ORD-NRT and the IAD-ORD is on UA but ORD-NRT is on ANA it seems I would NOT have access. Is that a correct assumption? ORD is technically the connection point in that reservation even though I would be departing ORD in business class. Or am I missing something?
Dec 5, 2016, 9:47 am
#126
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
You get access at ORD, but not IAD (as long as ANA flight is in a front cabin). You get access at ORD because you're departing point a *A flight in a front cabin. The "connecting airport" language applies to UA flights and some UA staff seem to be befuddled by it's meaning, or the language befuddles travelers. Either way, it needs to be cleaned up.
After all if the lounge was really meant to be simply a bookend to your long haul flight (meal for departure, shower for arrival) there would be a certain logic to it, albeit disappointing. But still weird considering it would deviate from the rules they used for GFL.
Edit: but then the "or departure" language wouldn't make sense either. Hmm.
Dec 5, 2016, 9:56 am
#127
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,029
Is it possible that connecting airports was meant to simply distinguish final destination vs your long-haul arrival? Like they DON'T want people to use the lounge at ORD if they aren't actually leaving from there?
After all if the lounge was really meant to be simply a bookend to your long haul flight (meal for departure, shower for arrival) there would be a certain logic to it, albeit disappointing. But still weird considering it would deviate from the rules they used for GFL.
After all if the lounge was really meant to be simply a bookend to your long haul flight (meal for departure, shower for arrival) there would be a certain logic to it, albeit disappointing. But still weird considering it would deviate from the rules they used for GFL.
Dec 5, 2016, 10:02 am
#128
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: United Premier 1K 1MM; AA Plat Pro; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Platinum; Avis President's Club
Posts: 2,529
You get access at ORD, but not IAD (as long as ANA flight is in a front cabin). You get access at ORD because you're departing point a *A flight in a front cabin. The "connecting airport" language applies to UA flights and some UA staff seem to be befuddled by it's meaning, or the language befuddles travelers. Either way, it needs to be cleaned up.
Are you flying in business class ORD-NRT? If s, that flight is longhaul on a *A carrier departing from the airport you will be at so you should have access. The conflicting information and experiences concern flights that are short and flights where the ticketed longhaul business segment departs from a different airport.
, that flight is longhaul on a *A carrier departing from the airport you will be at so you should have access. The conflicting information and experiences concern flights that are short and flights where the ticketed longhaul business segment departs from a different airport.
Dec 5, 2016, 6:50 pm
#129
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Haze gray and underway
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, HH Diamond, Marriott 'clink clink' Titanium
Posts: 1,784
I like the pre-flug love letter. Inviting me to enjoy the ORD lounge. The best part was listing the amenities, even those that aren't available.
Dec 5, 2016, 7:11 pm
#130
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: East Coast, USA
Posts: 1,032
IF access is granted at prior connecting airports AND all of the Polaris Lounges are up and running, we may see some adventurous FTers try something like LAX-SFO-ORD-IAH-IAD-EWR-INTL to maximize the lounge visits 
This will be like the new mileage run
This will be like the new mileage run
Dec 5, 2016, 7:17 pm
#131
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,484
Dec 5, 2016, 7:54 pm
#132
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Platinum, Starwood Platinum
Posts: 89
So help me out - I'm not tracking the admittance rules and need to know if it's worth showing up extra early in the am to check out the new lounge before my trip to Seoul...
I'm flying ORD-SFO-ICN all on United metal. ORD-SFO is in first (P class). SFO-ICN is "Polaris Business" (P class).
It's the 6am flight to SFO, so I'm not sure that I'd even get there early enough to have time to check the lounge out (or if it's even open that early), but would my ticket allow me access?
I'm flying ORD-SFO-ICN all on United metal. ORD-SFO is in first (P class). SFO-ICN is "Polaris Business" (P class).
It's the 6am flight to SFO, so I'm not sure that I'd even get there early enough to have time to check the lounge out (or if it's even open that early), but would my ticket allow me access?
Dec 5, 2016, 8:00 pm
#133
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LA
Posts: 1,281
So help me out - I'm not tracking the admittance rules and need to know if it's worth showing up extra early in the am to check out the new lounge before my trip to Seoul...
I'm flying ORD-SFO-ICN all on United metal. ORD-SFO is in first (P class). SFO-ICN is "Polaris Business" (P class).
It's the 6am flight to SFO, so I'm not sure that I'd even get there early enough to have time to check the lounge out (or if it's even open that early), but would my ticket allow me access?
I'm flying ORD-SFO-ICN all on United metal. ORD-SFO is in first (P class). SFO-ICN is "Polaris Business" (P class).
It's the 6am flight to SFO, so I'm not sure that I'd even get there early enough to have time to check the lounge out (or if it's even open that early), but would my ticket allow me access?
Dec 5, 2016, 8:12 pm
#134
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 2,509
Depending on the hours of each lounge, you are best off going the other way due to the time zones. LHR-IAD-EWR-ORD-IAH-LAX-SFO-NRT-HKG to hit all 9 and with 2 Polaris flights, all legs should be within the connection time limits to qualify!
Dec 5, 2016, 8:14 pm
#135
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: UA GS 4MM
Posts: 583
On that note, however, I wonder if anyone can fill in what happened last night with all the weather delays. I see UA845 departed to GRU 2.5 hours late at 11:13. I wonder if they kept Polaris open past the scheduled 9PM closing time. I've seen them do that at the SFO GFL when an Australia flight was delayed.