Jun 3, 2018, 2:29 pm
Last edit by: sonyeoshin
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- 5:00a - 10:30p
*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- 5:00a - 10:30p
*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, ..
Dec 17, 2023, 12:43 pm
#766
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: RSW & HDS (Naples, Florida & Hoedspruit, South Africa); frequently flying via JNB, EWR, IAD, ORD
Programs: UA Platinum, Star Alliance Gold, Hilton Silver, AA
Posts: 396
At 10:30AM they would not let us order anything off the small plates or lunch/dinner menu (despite the fact that as we were seated they were rolling out all of the lunch food for the buffet), so we each ordered a breakfast sandwich which was supposed to be bacon, egg, and cheese on an everything bagel. As plated it was egg and a bit of bacon on a plain bagel with no cheese. We should have just made our own at the buffet and spared ourselves the lengthy wait for service and food. The menu makes clear that breakfast is served only until 11AM and not after that, but does not make clear that the small plates etc. cannot be served before 11AM. Taking into account that many diners are arriving after lengthy international flights from different time zones, it is inconvenient to offer only a breakfast menu. Disappointing experience, considering that this is the third time we have tried to eat in the Polaris dining room and the first time we were actually able to get a table.
Dec 17, 2023, 8:28 pm
#767
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: UA- 1K, DL-DM, AA-G, BON-T
Posts: 348
Why is the EWR always so crowded in the evenings? They should have designed the lounge to handle the crowd. Can people not flying J enter the Polaris lounge…like GS? If so I think it is time to end that benefit. I was just in the club a few days back at 4pm and it was crazy crowded. Long wait for dinner. No phone booths were free so I took a call in the shower area lobby (the agent laughed but said 5 other people had already done the same this evening). UA can do better and they should do better. Oh and I agree what is the deal on not letting people sit down when you have open tables in the dining area (which is already small). Hire more staff then.
Dec 17, 2023, 8:47 pm
#768
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium, LTP; IHG Platinum
Posts: 7,180
Why is the EWR always so crowded in the evenings? They should have designed the lounge to handle the crowd. Can people not flying J enter the Polaris lounge…like GS? If so I think it is time to end that benefit. I was just in the club a few days back at 4pm and it was crazy crowded. Long wait for dinner. No phone booths were free so I took a call in the shower area lobby (the agent laughed but said 5 other people had already done the same this evening). UA can do better and they should do better. Oh and I agree what is the deal on not letting people sit down when you have open tables in the dining area (which is already small). Hire more staff then.
The overcrowding is due to too many TATL flights departing from EWR. More flights will be added next summer.
Dec 17, 2023, 8:49 pm
#769
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,635
Dec 17, 2023, 9:40 pm
#770
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: UA- 1K, DL-DM, AA-G, BON-T
Posts: 348
Ok totally hear you. Given the lounge is fairly new and UA knows its schedule, shouldn’t they have built a lounge that can accomodate the people? Also is proper staffing really that hard (month after month? In the 20 years I have flown VS upper class, never once did I have an issue at the LHR clubhouse in getting a sit down meal when I connected onward or arrived for a flight back to NYC. If VS can have a properly sized and staffed lounge in London, I think UA can have one in Newark.
Dec 17, 2023, 9:45 pm
#771
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: UA-1K MM, AA-Gold, DL-Silver, AS-MVP
Posts: 2,531
Same goes for IAD and ORD Polaris lounges. And SFO gets crowded due to all the added Oceania and Asia flights.
Dec 17, 2023, 9:50 pm
#772
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 67,771
.... In the 20 years I have flown VS upper class, never once did I have an issue at the LHR clubhouse in getting a sit down meal when I connected onward or arrived for a flight back to NYC. If VS can have a properly sized and staffed lounge in London, I think UA can have one in Newark.
It has been speculated that people are spending far longer time in the PL than anticipated.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 17, 2023 at 10:21 pm Reason: UA does not have Intl F, just Business
Dec 17, 2023, 10:03 pm
#773
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,635
Dec 20, 2023, 2:06 pm
#774
Join Date: May 2022
Location: EWR/AMS/CHC
Programs: UAL
Posts: 74
12/20, here now. Entered at 15.10hrs with the college age daughter. Not too busy. We even managed to get two spots by the window, it's our thing since she was little , watching planes take off from the Ikea restaurant by the airport. She had the piri piri chicken from the buffet and it was good. I sampled the brussels sprouts with butternut squash, delicious. Barman mixed me a perfect gin martini. Shirley temple for the kid. Restaurant busy but not crazy. We decided to eat on the plane. My only gripe is being too far from the bar with my foot in a cast....
Dec 21, 2023, 6:55 am
#775
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,767
Tuesday evening (late departure), lounge was rather empty. Buffet was kind of sad, but I have seen worse.
Their new cheap champagne was terrible - yuck. Luckily they still had Prisoner, so at least a decent red to drink
Their new cheap champagne was terrible - yuck. Luckily they still had Prisoner, so at least a decent red to drink
Dec 21, 2023, 7:33 am
#776
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium, LTP; IHG Platinum
Posts: 7,180
Dec 21, 2023, 7:57 am
#777
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,767
Dec 21, 2023, 4:05 pm
#778
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAH/EWR-LGA/MIA
Programs: UA Global Services 3.2 MM, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite, AA Exec Plat, BA Gold
Posts: 2,576
Dec 21, 2023, 7:14 pm
#779
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: EWR, PHL
Programs: UA1k 3MM, AA Plt, peasant on everybody else, elite something or other at a bunch of hotels.
Posts: 4,637