Polaris lounge ORD - opened 01 Dec 2016

Mar 17, 18, 5:46 pm - Wikipost

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Last edit by: WineCountryUA
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Access to Polaris lounges (source):

update 29 Sept 2017, effective 1 Oct, 2017

Departure: The airport you are leaving on an international J/F flight* from, i.e. EWR-ORD-NRT
Connecting: The airport to or from which you have a short-haul flight to connect to a longer flight, i.e. EWR-ORD-NRT or NRT-ORD-EWR
Arrival: The airport you arrive at after your long-haul flight, i.e. EWR-ORD-NRT

Hours-0715-2100

*Currently it appears that any departing international flight on a *A partner qualifies (except AC operated transborder flights ), but only United flights with the premium cabin class listed as 'Polaris Business' or 'Polaris First' will qualify for entrance after arriving off a United Polaris flight.
UA premium cabin flights not marketed as Polaris, such as Domestic First or International Business (Canada, Mexico, Caribbean ... ) are not eligible for Polaris lounge access.

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Mar 11, 18, 1:19 pm

#751

onthesam

Join Date: Dec 2008

Location: Chicago IL US

Programs: UA 1K; Hertz PC & Hotels Galore

Posts: 253

Quote:

Originally Posted by trvlr70

What if it was bought on United.com? The NH flights are code shares.

Still no. Must be in Polaris Class on UA metal to use Polaris Lounge on arrival. Customers may only access a United Polaris lounge at the departure airport for their international [*A] business class flight - https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...ge/access.aspx.

Mar 11, 18, 1:36 pm

#752

WineCountryUA

Moderator: United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist

Original Poster

Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: SFO

Programs: UA Gold 1.7MM, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver

Posts: 41,177

Quote:

Originally Posted by trvlr70

I'm flying Al Nippon in business class. Will I have access upon arrival before my connecting flight on UA?

With the exception of a few "arrival' lounges, most lounges are considered "departure" lounges and access is based on the departure flight. That was the original concept of lounges, places you waited until departure.
This is also the standard *A rule for departure lounges.

Then some were extended to those willing to pay for a membership and then for those that achieve certain FF status. (note neither oif these apply to Polaris Lounges)

An exception is some carriers allow their arriving premium cabin passengers into their departure lounges regardless of departure flights.

Who sold the ticket does not matter.

Mar 12, 18, 1:05 am

#753

In2ishn

Join Date: Sep 2006

Location: MSP

Programs: DL MM (thanks PMNW!), DL PM, UA PLT, just about every darn hotel program-generally GOLD type level

Posts: 590

Data point- arrival on non-United metal, granted access

Quote:

Originally Posted by onthesam

Perhaps the rules have changed for 2018, or my experience was an anomaly, but I had no problem accessing the Polaris lounge when I arrived on ANA metal with United code-share ticket last December

Mar 12, 18, 1:51 am

#754

Kacee

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Apr 2013

Location: SFO

Programs: UA 1K 1MM; DL Plat; Marriott/SPG Plat; Hilton Gold; Hyatt Refugeeist

Posts: 31,582

Quote:

Originally Posted by In2ishn

or my experience was an anomaly

Yes, it was agent error. Only a UA Polaris arrival should grant Polaris lounge access.

Mar 12, 18, 1:14 pm

#755

trvlr70

Join Date: Mar 2003

Location: Greensboro, NC USA

Posts: 1,011

Quote:

Originally Posted by In2ishn

Perhaps the rules have changed for 2018, or my experience was an anomaly, but I had no problem accessing the Polaris lounge when I arrived on ANA metal with United code-share ticket last December

I hope this is the case. It's one of the reasons I booked United. My itinerary list all United flights. The only reason I figured it out was that I wasn't able to select seats online. Also, the agent that assisted with the booking said I'd be able to access....which was a concern because the layover is 5 hours!

Mar 12, 18, 5:34 pm

#756

onthesam

Join Date: Dec 2008

Location: Chicago IL US

Programs: UA 1K; Hertz PC & Hotels Galore

Posts: 253

Quote:

Originally Posted by trvlr70

I hope this is the case. It's one of the reasons I booked United. My itinerary list all United flights. The only reason I figured it out was that I wasn't able to select seats online. Also, the agent that assisted with the booking said I'd be able to access....which was a concern because the layover is 5 hours!

Most posts on these forums that start out with those words don't end well...

Have you considered switching to the UA flight? You'll assure yourself access...

Mar 13, 18, 7:03 am

#757

Tillmark

Join Date: Dec 2017

Posts: 7

United Polaris Lounge

I will fly MSP-ORD-ARN with the first leg in UA First and with SAS Business class ORD-ARN. Im also Star Alliance Gold if that helps.

Can i access United Polaris Lounge at ORD? I got around 3 hours to kill I was hoping to be able to try out the Polaris Lounge, or is there any other lounge worth a visit?

Mar 13, 18, 7:11 am

#758

awu25

Join Date: Mar 2013

Programs: UA 1K; SPG Plat; Marriott Plat

Posts: 564

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tillmark

Polaris lounge ORD - opened 01 Dec 2016

Yes, you will have access

Mar 13, 18, 7:34 am

#759

goodeats21

Join Date: Mar 2010

Location: DAY

Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott Plat Premier/SPG Plat; Amex MR; Hertz PC; Global Entry

Posts: 6,556

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tillmark

Yes, you will have access. Note that SAS will depart from Terminal 5, so you will need to allow enough time to transit to the other terminal. There is a new shuttle bus service which may be available. This will allow you to stay air-side and not have to re-clear TSA.

T3 to T5 ORD transfer bus now available for all airlines (not just BA and QR)

EDIT: Found better thread for *A flight transfers:
ORD T1, T2, T3 to T5 busing being looked at for connecting pax

Once you arrive at Terminal 5, you can use the SAS lounge. It isn't as nice as Polaris, but is better than hanging out at the gate.

Last edited by goodeats21; Mar 13, 18 at 9:12 am

Mar 13, 18, 8:18 am

#760

Tillmark

Join Date: Dec 2017

Posts: 7

is 3 hours enough for a quick stop in Polaris lounge before I need to head for the T5?

Mar 13, 18, 8:20 am

#761

jsloan

Join Date: Oct 2001

Location: Austin, TX

Posts: 3,733

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tillmark

is 3 hours enough for a quick stop in Polaris lounge before I need to head for the T5?

Sure, assuming that your MSP-ORD flight is anywhere near on-time.

Mar 17, 18, 11:42 pm

#762

tryathlete

Join Date: Oct 2009

Location: Chicago, IL

Programs: UA 1K MM, HHonors Diamond,PC, Marriott Rewards Gold

Posts: 717

Waitlist gripe

OK— here’s my gripe. I pay $400 extra for a W fare so I can waitlist for Polaris business first using a GPU. I’m in Chicago where there happens to be the nearly one and only Polaris lounge. My upgrade is battlefield and finally it clears or it doesn’t but because it doesn’t clear at the window, I don’t get to use the lounge.

To me, I either way, UA is keeping some of the value. Why not give access to anyone who is eligible for the UG?

Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 18, 18 at 1:47 am Reason: Moved to appropriate thread

Mar 18, 18, 12:52 am

#763

narvik

Join Date: May 2010

Location: AVP & PEK

Programs: UA 1K MM, Hertz PC

Posts: 892

Quote:

Originally Posted by tryathlete

This is quite a big issue that I agree with.
Well, except that it never applied to me yet, as I am EWR based and it takes them -what seems to be forever- to build the EWR Polaris lounge. Took a quick peek last week when the construction door was open, and they are still working on framing and drywall. Some drywall is up in the entrance area, and it has been "stopped" already, but not painted.
I will join in your frustration, once "I" have a lounge I can't access for the reason you describe! ��

Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 18, 18 at 1:48 am Reason: cleanup after moved