Last edit by: SPN Lifer
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- 4:30a - 10:45p
*Currently it appears that any departing international flight on an *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.
Similar / Related Threads:
Polaris Lounge Roadmap 2017-2018 (wiki) (thread)
IAD Polaris lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ...
ORD 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
Status of new permanent EWR United Clubs?
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- 4:30a - 10:45p
*Currently it appears that any departing international flight on an *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.
Similar / Related Threads:
Polaris Lounge Roadmap 2017-2018 (wiki) (thread)
IAD Polaris lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ...
ORD 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
Status of new permanent EWR United Clubs?
EWR Polaris lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..
#331
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: UA-1K MM, AA-Gold, DL-Silver, AS-MVP
Posts: 2,495
#332
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,627
Oooo I like the look of the brekky items! Also have never been there in the morning and unlikely to ever do so.
#333
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,435
Im at EWR Polaris now. While not as full as it often is during the EU departure bank, its certainly not the ghost town I expected. One difference is only half the buffet is stocked (vs duplicates of everything as usual)
#335
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,842
When I was there last month, in the late afternoon early evening. I thought the service was quite nice even though the club was fairly full. I was able to be seated in the restaurant with a nice window seat, service was cordial and efficient, and the food was very good
The buffet items seemed a little bit lacking in quality presentation. I was speaking with one of the servers near the buffet about the chicken Parmesan or that they had a while back. She goes oh you remember that she goes I loved it! It was probably one of the better renditions that I had in quite some time. Too bad I didn’t have a loaf of Italian bread, otherwise I would’ve made a sandwich and skipped dinner on the plane :-)
The buffet items seemed a little bit lacking in quality presentation. I was speaking with one of the servers near the buffet about the chicken Parmesan or that they had a while back. She goes oh you remember that she goes I loved it! It was probably one of the better renditions that I had in quite some time. Too bad I didn’t have a loaf of Italian bread, otherwise I would’ve made a sandwich and skipped dinner on the plane :-)
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 6, 2020 at 8:45 am Reason: repaired quote
#336
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,327
I made the same order earlier this year; found the beignets to be a bit leaden in texture, but with a decent flavour; and found the hash to be delicious. My server was very friendly, and food was brought promptly (10 minutes or under).
edit: Somehow the more recent posts did not load for me initially (thank you flyertalk interface). I see now I am late to the party!
#338
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 258
Pictured below:
Overnight Oats
Pork Belly BLT (double portion, extra pork belly, runny egg)
Honeycomb Crepes
Benedict Hash
We thought everything was delicious including service! Only critique would be that the pork belly should of been more rendered.
Waitress mentioned that the new menu was suppose to be rolled out yesterday and she was surprised to see the old one when she got to work. She said the salmon lox bagel and spinach quiche would be returning to the menu.
I am on the way to BKk via NRT. Currently booked 12 out of 60 in polaris. We are the only ones in the back cabin, but there are 6 non-revs on standby/upgrade list.
6 people in the dining room. 2 more at the bar. Couple more scattered throughout the lounge.
Overnight Oats
Pork Belly BLT (double portion, extra pork belly, runny egg)
Honeycomb Crepes
Benedict Hash
We thought everything was delicious including service! Only critique would be that the pork belly should of been more rendered.
Waitress mentioned that the new menu was suppose to be rolled out yesterday and she was surprised to see the old one when she got to work. She said the salmon lox bagel and spinach quiche would be returning to the menu.
I am on the way to BKk via NRT. Currently booked 12 out of 60 in polaris. We are the only ones in the back cabin, but there are 6 non-revs on standby/upgrade list.
6 people in the dining room. 2 more at the bar. Couple more scattered throughout the lounge.
#339
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAH/EWR-LGA/MIA
Programs: UA Global Services 3.2 MM, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 2,477
11 March 630-830 am
Very quiet though I suppose that's to be expected even in a non-COVID 19 world. I was on the morning LHR flight and based on overheard languages, I'm guessing most of the others were inbound from GRU, BOM or DEL on connections.
I had the beignets and pork belly BLT from the restaurant and then tried the pumpkin pancake, the hash browns and the ham and cheddar biscuits from the buffet. All were good, as was service and the plentiful Piper champagne. No complaints.
I had the beignets and pork belly BLT from the restaurant and then tried the pumpkin pancake, the hash browns and the ham and cheddar biscuits from the buffet. All were good, as was service and the plentiful Piper champagne. No complaints.
#340
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 30
Was there this morning as well st530. On GRU flight that arrived right after 4, agreed on the food and it was very quite the entire time I was there (on 10:00am flight to SFO).
Was surprised that they didn't bring out the buffet hot food until 6:30, I could have sworn last time I flew in from Del we got in early and was in the lounge before 6 with food out already.
Was surprised that they didn't bring out the buffet hot food until 6:30, I could have sworn last time I flew in from Del we got in early and was in the lounge before 6 with food out already.
Last edited by bslepko; Mar 12, 2020 at 7:40 pm
#341
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,327
Very quiet though I suppose that's to be expected even in a non-COVID 19 world. I was on the morning LHR flight and based on overheard languages, I'm guessing most of the others were inbound from GRU, BOM or DEL on connections.
I had the beignets and pork belly BLT from the restaurant and then tried the pumpkin pancake, the hash browns and the ham and cheddar biscuits from the buffet. All were good, as was service and the plentiful Piper champagne. No complaints.
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I had the beignets and pork belly BLT from the restaurant and then tried the pumpkin pancake, the hash browns and the ham and cheddar biscuits from the buffet. All were good, as was service and the plentiful Piper champagne. No complaints.
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#342
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAH/EWR-LGA/MIA
Programs: UA Global Services 3.2 MM, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 2,477
#343
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 20
Very poor experience at the United Polaris Lounge EWR and at the Gate
Very poor experience at the United Polaris Lounge EWR (Newark Airport) pre-COVID and at the Gate
Arrived around 2050 hrs on 26 Dec. Lounge did not seem that busy.
However, they were no longer serving a sit down dinner and maybe 3-4 folks left in this area.
Buffet was of poor quality with warm dry salmon and room temperature turkey.
Would be nice to let folks know food service hours in advance and to have proper buffet items when full service is not available. One solution, perhaps to make this very clear on the UA, Star Alliance, etc. websites that mention various lounges. If I would have known limited service hours and how poor the buffet was, I would have eaten at city of origin.
Bar tender lady was nice.
Half of the employees were too busy doing social media on their cell phones to work.
This was in the middle of the lounge.
The other half appeared to be doing their job.
Where I sat to eat the buffet food was mostly empty. Despite this, the person cleaning the tables cleared the dirty dishes from the other tables onto my table and left them there before loading the dirty dishes cart which was 1/2 blocking where I was sitting. Unsupervised and clueless.
Compared to my prior experience at the United Polaris Lounge in Chicago (ORD), this was very poor indeed.
Lounges at Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa are usually far superior. Yes, we do have a choice in airlines, and sometimes Lounges.
The signage for the gate was almost non-existent as the only entry to the gate was not clearly noted with a long walk from the opposite direction. The entry restrictions were due to Security (no issue about that). Almost missed my Duty Free pick up at gate never have seen a DF person trying to hide so well.
The flight out of EWR was pleasant. The crew staff that worked Polaris were great.
Goals of this 4 month belated posting:
When things improve post COVID, to improve the poor EWR Lounge experience and to hire supervisors and employees to do a proper job.
Improve signage directions for gates when means of entry will be limited.
From NOLA with love
Arrived around 2050 hrs on 26 Dec. Lounge did not seem that busy.
However, they were no longer serving a sit down dinner and maybe 3-4 folks left in this area.
Buffet was of poor quality with warm dry salmon and room temperature turkey.
Would be nice to let folks know food service hours in advance and to have proper buffet items when full service is not available. One solution, perhaps to make this very clear on the UA, Star Alliance, etc. websites that mention various lounges. If I would have known limited service hours and how poor the buffet was, I would have eaten at city of origin.
Bar tender lady was nice.
Half of the employees were too busy doing social media on their cell phones to work.
This was in the middle of the lounge.
The other half appeared to be doing their job.
Where I sat to eat the buffet food was mostly empty. Despite this, the person cleaning the tables cleared the dirty dishes from the other tables onto my table and left them there before loading the dirty dishes cart which was 1/2 blocking where I was sitting. Unsupervised and clueless.
Compared to my prior experience at the United Polaris Lounge in Chicago (ORD), this was very poor indeed.
Lounges at Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa are usually far superior. Yes, we do have a choice in airlines, and sometimes Lounges.
The signage for the gate was almost non-existent as the only entry to the gate was not clearly noted with a long walk from the opposite direction. The entry restrictions were due to Security (no issue about that). Almost missed my Duty Free pick up at gate never have seen a DF person trying to hide so well.
The flight out of EWR was pleasant. The crew staff that worked Polaris were great.
Goals of this 4 month belated posting:
When things improve post COVID, to improve the poor EWR Lounge experience and to hire supervisors and employees to do a proper job.
Improve signage directions for gates when means of entry will be limited.
From NOLA with love
#344
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Didn't you post recently about the quality of UA staff at FRA? You understand that you are unlikely to reach UA this way, and we do not have the power to improve your lounge experience. You should write to UA directly with your suggestions.
#345
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 20
Thank you folks. I have just contacted UA regarding EWR Polaris and FRA staff via separate messages via:
https://www.united.com/en/us/customercare
Comments from you are appreciated.
https://www.united.com/en/us/customercare
Comments from you are appreciated.