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Old Jun 3, 2018, 2:29 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
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.

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Old Feb 8, 2023, 12:52 pm
  #571  
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
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It's a fluke if you get seated and served!
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Old Feb 8, 2023, 1:05 pm
  #572  
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Originally Posted by seanp7
Is 10:30pm new? It has been 10pm sharp closures on my recent visits. I believe the restaurant won't seat you after 9.30pm, perhaps earlier if staff is trying to close it down. It makes the 11pm EWR-LHR flight unattractive (especially if it's delayed!) - it's definitely worth turning up to EWR 2-3 hours before to ensure you get fed in the PL...
I think it might be last seating at 9pm IIRC, assuming the lounge as a whole still closes at 10pm.
And yes, agreed about that 11pm flight, I won't pay for J on that one for this reason.
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Old Feb 8, 2023, 1:26 pm
  #573  
 
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Originally Posted by fumje
Kind of reads like it's halal cart chicken. Which sounds good to me! 😁
Me too, that's why I wonder what it really is

Originally Posted by kirkwoodj
It's a fluke if you get seated and served!
It's that a joke about the menu item?
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Old Feb 8, 2023, 1:32 pm
  #574  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Somewhere in EWR
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Originally Posted by eng3
Me too, that's why I wonder what it really is
It's that a joke about the menu item?
I think about the time it takes to get served in the sit-down restaurant. Last two times there for me it took about an hour to get a seat and over another hour to get the meal, two guests the first time and four the second.
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Old Feb 8, 2023, 2:36 pm
  #575  
 
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Originally Posted by eng3

It's that a joke about the menu item?
Yup!
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Old Feb 10, 2023, 5:17 am
  #576  
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Sweden
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Does anyone have any recent data point of using Polaris on a terminal B departure? Someone said he was recently denied terminal C access on a SAS business class boarding pass. Only United boarding passes were allowed?! This happened in February 2023.
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Old Feb 10, 2023, 8:30 am
  #577  
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
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Originally Posted by Henrik_B
Does anyone have any recent data point of using Polaris on a terminal B departure? Someone said he was recently denied terminal C access on a SAS business class boarding pass. Only United boarding passes were allowed?! This happened in February 2023.
Have never tried to use a B to enter C, but I've used a C to enter B many times. As far as I know (and from many anecdotes in various threads), any EWR terminal BP should be accepted at any other terminal. Barring a recent change in policy.
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Old Feb 10, 2023, 8:35 am
  #578  
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Originally Posted by Henrik_B
Does anyone have any recent data point of using Polaris on a terminal B departure? Someone said he was recently denied terminal C access on a SAS business class boarding pass. Only United boarding passes were allowed?! This happened in February 2023.
Originally Posted by st530
Have never tried to use a B to enter C, but I've used a C to enter B many times. As far as I know (and from many anecdotes in various threads), any EWR terminal BP should be accepted at any other terminal. Barring a recent change in policy.
Agreed. The experience widely reported is that any valid (same day) BP can be used to clear TSA at any terminal. With the recent opening of the new Terminal A, I would think it is even more common.
And would expect many posts if they recently changed the "rules" on that.

Was the report of being denied on FlyerTalk somewhere? Would bet there was something unusual in their attempt.
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Old Feb 10, 2023, 8:40 am
  #579  
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Originally Posted by Henrik_B
Does anyone have any recent data point of using Polaris on a terminal B departure? Someone said he was recently denied terminal C access on a SAS business class boarding pass. Only United boarding passes were allowed?! This happened in February 2023.
Originally Posted by st530
Have never tried to use a B to enter C, but I've used a C to enter B many times. As far as I know (and from many anecdotes in various threads), any EWR terminal BP should be accepted at any other terminal. Barring a recent change in policy.
Originally Posted by goodeats21
Agreed. The experience widely reported is that any valid (same day) BP can be used to clear TSA at any terminal. With the recent opening of the new Terminal A, I would think it is even more common.
And would expect many posts if they recently changed the "rules" on that.

Was the report of being denied on FlyerTalk somewhere? Would bet there was something unusual in their attempt.
I also did not see the report. Best guess reading between lines is the contract staff guarding TSA queue either turned person away or advised that terminal C is UA only / terminal B is SAS and the person misunderstood it to be a denial. PL access is permitted for long haul *A J departure.

If anyone questions and you simply say you'll use the lounge at C and bus to B, there should be no issue.
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Old Feb 10, 2023, 11:04 am
  #580  
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
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Originally Posted by fumje
I also did not see the report. Best guess reading between lines is the contract staff guarding TSA queue either turned person away or advised that terminal C is UA only / terminal B is SAS and the person misunderstood it to be a denial. PL access is permitted for long haul *A J departure.

If anyone questions and you simply say you'll use the lounge at C and bus to B, there should be no issue.
The report was published on a Swedish forum, Here is the Google translation:

Unfortunately, no luck for me and my partner in visiting the Polaris lounge today in Newark. We were refused entry to security in Terminal C because we did not have United boarding passes. As I understand it, it is a company whose task is to check exactly that before security. They didn't have a machine to scan the boarding pass with unfortunately.
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Old Feb 10, 2023, 11:41 am
  #581  
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Originally Posted by fumje
I also did not see the report. Best guess reading between lines is the contract staff guarding TSA queue either turned person away or advised that terminal C is UA only / terminal B is SAS and the person misunderstood it to be a denial. PL access is permitted for long haul *A J departure.

If anyone questions and you simply say you'll use the lounge at C and bus to B, there should be no issue.
Originally Posted by Henrik_B
The report was published on a Swedish forum, Here is the Google translation:

Unfortunately, no luck for me and my partner in visiting the Polaris lounge today in Newark. We were refused entry to security in Terminal C because we did not have United boarding passes. As I understand it, it is a company whose task is to check exactly that before security. They didn't have a machine to scan the boarding pass with unfortunately.
Ah, interesting. I would wager fumje has it correct. I wouldn't be surprised if the EWR contract staff were brusque and dismissive, making it seem they were flatly denying access.
Telling staff you are aware of the terminal setup and are going to C to use a lounge should be no problem.
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Old Feb 14, 2023, 3:39 am
  #582  
 
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Originally Posted by goodeats21
Ah, interesting. I would wager fumje has it correct. I wouldn't be surprised if the EWR contract staff were brusque and dismissive, making it seem they were flatly denying access.
Telling staff you are aware of the terminal setup and are going to C to use a lounge should be no problem.
If that still doesn't work maybe there's a way to get a "gate pass" from the info center like in TPA. Or go-to B. Is there a shuttle to C?
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Old Feb 14, 2023, 3:43 am
  #583  
 
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Originally Posted by AugustusM
I think about the time it takes to get served in the sit-down restaurant. Last two times there for me it took about an hour to get a seat and over another hour to get the meal, two guests the first time and four the second.
I usually wait around 0-30 min, never had to wait an hour. It does often take 20-30 min to get the first course. Usually I'm not sitting there an hour. I guess I'm flying at better times
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Old Feb 14, 2023, 5:14 am
  #584  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
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Originally Posted by eng3
I usually wait around 0-30 min, never had to wait an hour. It does often take 20-30 min to get the first course. Usually I'm not sitting there an hour. I guess I'm flying at better times
Last two times I was on the 10:00PM LHR flight. I don't want to eat on the plane at 12-ish so I opt for the menu in the PL. It was jammed both times at around 7:30-8PM when I put my name on the waitlist.
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Old Feb 14, 2023, 5:22 am
  #585  
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Originally Posted by eng3
If that still doesn't work maybe there's a way to get a "gate pass" from the info center like in TPA. Or go-to B. Is there a shuttle to C?
No way to get a "gate pass" that I am aware of. There is no shuttle from B to C, only the reverse.

If someone is really worried about this, they could clear security in the new Terminal A, which United and other airlines all fly out of, then take the shuttle from A to C to visit the Polaris Lounge.
I wouldn't bother though. This is a one-off report from someone who had a bad experience with a Newark employee. If this was wide-spread, there would be posts all over the United Forum about it.
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