How to maximize the value in this itinerary?
 

I booked a reservation for myself and a partner traveling from EWR - BKK via NRT. I had some questions regarding maximizing my itienerary.

1) Will I have access to the EWR Polaris lounge? I am a 1K and my upgrade was confirmed for EWR - NRT on Polaris. My ticket was bought in the W class.
2) What time should I get to EWR to enjoy the new Polaris lounge? Flight leaves at 11AM on 7/4 on UA79.
3) The only upgrade currently confirmed is EWR - NRT, is there anything I should order/request beforehand? I understand Polaris has been going through some cuts and some things are now "on-demand".
4) Which lounge is the best to enjoy in Tokyo? There is a 3 hour layover from !:55PM to 5PM.
5) What's the best way to select seats on ANA? At the check in counter in Japan?
6) I selected seats 5D and 5G, can I do better?
7) Anything I can do to improve my chances on the NRT - EWR leg? I am wait-listed currently.

Thanks again everyone and please do let me know if there is anything else I should look out for or be aware of.

1) Yes, you are confirmed in the upgraded class already so you have access to the Polaris lounge.
2) Whenever you want that morning. The lounge probably opens at 630 or 700am. The website has not been updated with the Newark Polaris lounge yet because it doesn't open for two more weeks.
3) You cannot order/request anything beforehand. It's all done on the plane. Ask for the gel pillow and mattress pad and slippers. Although you're on a flight to NRT so slippers may be at your seat already.
4) The NH lounges are a bit nicer than UA IMO. Hit up the NH lounge and enjoy.
5) You can do this by calling NH in the US now or waiting until you get to the airport. UA may be able to change your seat at check-in in EWR but I'm not sure.
6) xx
7) Nothing to improve your chances. You have to sit back and wait.

-RM

Since you booked your ticket with a partner, I think that your question should have been: "Will we have access to the EWR Polaris Lounge? Our upgrade was confirmed EWR-NRT on Polaris". If it's on the same reservation, and both of you are upgraded, you both will have access to the Polaris Lounge in EWR. If for some reason, your reservation was split and only you were upgraded, only you will have access to the Polaris Lounge.

Unless you have *A status, you will be limited to the United Club. Which I think is now actually better than the NH lounges.

On the NH website.

UA lounge will likely be pretty crowded at that time. It's nice, though. Depending on which gate NRT-BKK is out of, it may also be more convenient to get to than NH lounges.

You can select seats on ANA's website. In my experience with this, I've had to enter my first and middle name without a space to access booking preferences. Keep that in mind.

Thanks guys, that's really helpful!

Why do you prefer the United Club 'now'? The furniture refresh?

Just curious.

Yes. I hadn't been in for several years and they've done a nice job updating it. Some tasty sushi, too.

NH lounge had nothing I wanted to eat except the noodles, an hour wait for a shower, and inadequate AC. So at NRT it was UC ftw.

Yeah, the UC at NRT is great.. the foreign clubs always make me wish they would lift a finger to make any of the domestic ones even half as nice.

Yes, shower room warmth is perennially an issue at NRT (and HND, for that matter). Even in the winter, I have to optimise efficiency to avoid needing a second shower. Between NH lounge and UC, I never felt one was heads and shoulders above the other. Both are pleasant in my experience, but the UC has definitely been improved by replacing the worn out furniture. That sushi goes fast!

Indeed, the quality UC makes NRT transit something I sort of look forward to. Honestly I might prefer it to LHR, even.

Not sure how much added value there is waking up early and getting to EWR early am to experience the lounge. Personally, for a morning flight, I would spend that extra hour or two at home, and plan to spend as minimum time at the airport as is safe (for me that usually would be arriving EWR around 9.15 to 9.30 but given that travel is on July 4th, roads will be empty so might even not get there till 10 am if not checking bags). Unless one is a heavy breakfast eater, or drinks alcohol early in the morning, or prefers to shower in an airport, rather than home or hotel, I really can't see the utility in getting to an airport early in the morning to 'enjoy' the lounge - or am I missing something? Your journey is already 23h 40 minutes, plus whatever time it takes from your home/hotel to EWR and from BKK to your hotel/home - why looking to make it longer?

As of 7/1 gel pillows should be on every seat, but yeah, this is United
Ask for PJ's if you want them, they have 2 sizes S/M and L/XL

The quality can be variable, but I would suggest reserving the Japanese meal by calling the 1K line or online via reservation management (under edit traveler information and scroll down to flight preferences)

I prefer the NH lounge to the UC lounge at NRT. I have never had to wait for a shower, and while the shower room can get steamy, turning on the fan helps mitigate that, as does finishing off the shower with a nice cool rinse. Plus, I love the Shishido products the NH lounge gives, especially the facial wash/rinse/oil/milk stuff.

I find the back room of the NH lounge quieter and darker than the UC, which I prefer to the louder and lighter vibe of the UC. Both have the beer machines that I get such a kick out of, but the hot offerings at NH (both the food bar and the noodle bar -- LURV the pork udon) do it for me more than does the sushi at the UC. And you have several sake offerings in the NH lounge that I don't recall seeing at the UC.

To be fair, it's been about 2 years since I've been to the UC at NRT so it may have changed, but I'm happier with NH -- and can't wait to transit through there this weekend.

I agree that calling NH to get seat assignments done is a good one, especially for people who want to sit together.

I always order Japanese meal on flights to/from Tokyo. They are the only route specific meal offerings in the network, but I could be wrong.

On the UC vs NH Lounge debate: I have stopped using UC altogether if I don’t get access to the United International First Lounge. NH lounge is my choice. There are two of them, and can be crowded depending on the time of the day. Better food and shower amenity.

On using Polaris Lounge: if you have not used it, go about 30 min before boarding. I have found lounge access before long haul international flights to be less appealing to me. Unless I don’t plan to eat and drink on board, it is hard to eat a whole meal before the flight. Lounge is great if I need to work and have decent internet access. I love using the lounge during transit after deplaning the long haul international flights. Take a nice shower, eat a decent meal (because UA’s pre- arrival meals are typically not good), then sleep on my domestic connecting flights.