Jun 3, 2018, 2:29 pm
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, ..
Jun 24, 2018, 9:03 am
#91
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,501
At any rate, using the PL as an arrival lounge would require an onward same day departure ticket, unless TSA allows re-entry.
Jun 24, 2018, 9:13 am
#92
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: YYZ
Programs: UA1K2MM ACMME50 SQPPS HHDiamond Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 4,391
Was connecting to YYZ having arrived from Polaris International flight with domestic connection LAX-EWR.
Will book future international flights from YYZ connecting in EWR .
Jun 26, 2018, 2:31 am
#93
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 102
I have to admit UA really did a nice job on this lounge -- few to Shanghai last week and lounge was empty in morning - I would imagine it is much more crowded in the late afternoon but was very impressed.
Jun 26, 2018, 3:53 am
#94
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: WAS-ish
Programs: UA 1K-MM + UC, Marriott Plat, National Exec
Posts: 1,341
I got to visit the EWR PL for the first time last Sunday (6/24), coming in from Europe (AMS-EWR-SYR). A few observations.
1. To state the obvious, it's a lovely lounge and generally well done. Every other observation is necessarily relative to other PLs (in my case, the ORD lounge).
2. Even though my connecting flight left from Terminal A, I arrived at Terminal B, cleared customs, took the AirTrain to C, went through security, and entered the PL with zero problems. Didn't even have to tell anybody why I was clearing security in Terminal C. No cause for stress if you're doing this.
3. The shower suites are great, although I was surprised to be asked to wait for about 5 minutes while an attendant cleaned one out for me. Particularly since I was there at noon, and the lounge was almost entirely empty.
4. The a la carte food was good -- no complaints relative to ORD. However, the service was... spotty? Friendly service when I got it, but not attentive. I spent quite a long time, after I finished my first course, trying to get somebody's attention to order another.
5. I was slightly disappointed with the spirits selection -- it's similar to ORD, but I think slightly fewer options.
My main takeaway was that, while I'm always happy to visit a PL, the EWR location has a noticeable service issue. All the staff were nice when I interacted with them, but I had trouble getting help... and I saw a lot of staff hanging around in small groups chatting. This is sort of consistent with my experience of EWR in general. Maybe the lounge management will make an effort to influence the staff culture?
1. To state the obvious, it's a lovely lounge and generally well done. Every other observation is necessarily relative to other PLs (in my case, the ORD lounge).
2. Even though my connecting flight left from Terminal A, I arrived at Terminal B, cleared customs, took the AirTrain to C, went through security, and entered the PL with zero problems. Didn't even have to tell anybody why I was clearing security in Terminal C. No cause for stress if you're doing this.
3. The shower suites are great, although I was surprised to be asked to wait for about 5 minutes while an attendant cleaned one out for me. Particularly since I was there at noon, and the lounge was almost entirely empty.
4. The a la carte food was good -- no complaints relative to ORD. However, the service was... spotty? Friendly service when I got it, but not attentive. I spent quite a long time, after I finished my first course, trying to get somebody's attention to order another.
5. I was slightly disappointed with the spirits selection -- it's similar to ORD, but I think slightly fewer options.
My main takeaway was that, while I'm always happy to visit a PL, the EWR location has a noticeable service issue. All the staff were nice when I interacted with them, but I had trouble getting help... and I saw a lot of staff hanging around in small groups chatting. This is sort of consistent with my experience of EWR in general. Maybe the lounge management will make an effort to influence the staff culture?
Jun 29, 2018, 4:01 pm
#95
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Port St Lucie, FL, UA1K since 1994 and 3mm, Delta 1mm
Programs: Marriott Titanium Life, Hilton Gold
Posts: 566
I got to visit the EWR PL for the first time last Sunday (6/24), coming in from Europe (AMS-EWR-SYR). A few observations.
1. To state the obvious, it's a lovely lounge and generally well done. Every other observation is necessarily relative to other PLs (in my case, the ORD lounge).
2. Even though my connecting flight left from Terminal A, I arrived at Terminal B, cleared customs, took the AirTrain to C, went through security, and entered the PL with zero problems. Didn't even have to tell anybody why I was clearing security in Terminal C. No cause for stress if you're doing this.
3. The shower suites are great, although I was surprised to be asked to wait for about 5 minutes while an attendant cleaned one out for me. Particularly since I was there at noon, and the lounge was almost entirely empty.
4. The a la carte food was good -- no complaints relative to ORD. However, the service was... spotty? Friendly service when I got it, but not attentive. I spent quite a long time, after I finished my first course, trying to get somebody's attention to order another.
5. I was slightly disappointed with the spirits selection -- it's similar to ORD, but I think slightly fewer options.
My main takeaway was that, while I'm always happy to visit a PL, the EWR location has a noticeable service issue. All the staff were nice when I interacted with them, but I had trouble getting help... and I saw a lot of staff hanging around in small groups chatting. This is sort of consistent with my experience of EWR in general. Maybe the lounge management will make an effort to influence the staff culture?
1. To state the obvious, it's a lovely lounge and generally well done. Every other observation is necessarily relative to other PLs (in my case, the ORD lounge).
2. Even though my connecting flight left from Terminal A, I arrived at Terminal B, cleared customs, took the AirTrain to C, went through security, and entered the PL with zero problems. Didn't even have to tell anybody why I was clearing security in Terminal C. No cause for stress if you're doing this.
3. The shower suites are great, although I was surprised to be asked to wait for about 5 minutes while an attendant cleaned one out for me. Particularly since I was there at noon, and the lounge was almost entirely empty.
4. The a la carte food was good -- no complaints relative to ORD. However, the service was... spotty? Friendly service when I got it, but not attentive. I spent quite a long time, after I finished my first course, trying to get somebody's attention to order another.
5. I was slightly disappointed with the spirits selection -- it's similar to ORD, but I think slightly fewer options.
My main takeaway was that, while I'm always happy to visit a PL, the EWR location has a noticeable service issue. All the staff were nice when I interacted with them, but I had trouble getting help... and I saw a lot of staff hanging around in small groups chatting. This is sort of consistent with my experience of EWR in general. Maybe the lounge management will make an effort to influence the staff culture?
Much nicer feel than the ultra crowded UC.
Jun 30, 2018, 2:24 pm
#96
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: EWR
Programs: Latam Pass Black; UA 1K, 1MM; Marriott LT
Posts: 300
Sitting in the lounge at the moment.
Scooted through security to get here for the first time, expecting that I could catch the last 5 minutes of a World Cup football match, only to be told that there are no TVs in the lounge.
What kind of civilized lounge is this???
:
All kidding aside, yes it is a million times better than the UC it replaced (albeit starting from a very low bar).
The food was edible, you can get something other than Bud without having to pay, and it's a much more pleasant atmosphere. Weirdly enough, it reminded me a little of the Virgin Clubhouse at LHR, or maybe that's the Belvedere vodka talking.
Scooted through security to get here for the first time, expecting that I could catch the last 5 minutes of a World Cup football match, only to be told that there are no TVs in the lounge.
What kind of civilized lounge is this???
:
All kidding aside, yes it is a million times better than the UC it replaced (albeit starting from a very low bar).
The food was edible, you can get something other than Bud without having to pay, and it's a much more pleasant atmosphere. Weirdly enough, it reminded me a little of the Virgin Clubhouse at LHR, or maybe that's the Belvedere vodka talking.
Jun 30, 2018, 4:06 pm
#97
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
Would you rather have no TV or a TV blaring CNN's latest episode of Trump says the darnedest things? IMHO no TV is a welcome addition.
Jul 12, 2018, 4:54 am
#99
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,019
Just got off HNL-EWR. GPU to LHR actually cleared, so sitting in Polaris dining room waiting on eggs Benedict. More staff than customers. The “workstation chairs” won’t last six more months - the tabletops are breaking. At least 4 are broken. Design doesn’t match requirements of actual use
Jul 12, 2018, 5:28 am
#100
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 9,005
Not surprising that there is hardly anyone in the lounge in the morning (which is why I think early p.s. TCON passengers in J should have access...but I digress). As for the design - I bet that the issue is that too many folks lean on the tables, causing them to break. It’s not UA’s fault that folks have terrible seating posture, but it does seem like they designed these in a similar fashion to the fold-out tables on the plane - and people treat it like a regular desk.
Jul 12, 2018, 5:50 am
#101
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,019
Not surprising that there is hardly anyone in the lounge in the morning (which is why I think early p.s. TCON passengers in J should have access...but I digress). As for the design - I bet that the issue is that too many folks lean on the tables, causing them to break. It’s not UA’s fault that folks have terrible seating posture, but it does seem like they designed these in a similar fashion to the fold-out tables on the plane - and people treat it like a regular desk.
Other notes: Newspapers (WSJ) stored under reception desk. You have to ask for one. Staff is amazingly friendly and attentive in early morning. Probably goes downhill as it fills. Shower has neat push buttons for rain nozzle and regular shower nozzle. Most popular choice at ala crate dining are the eggs Benedict - I noticed at least 50% of the people were ordering it.
The occupied/unoccupied lights for the restrooms are a nice touch (probably especially so when crowded).
Jul 12, 2018, 8:31 am
#102
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,662
I went there last Saturday with very little time as my INTL flight came in late. It's the best US airline lounge I've been to. Buffet food was on par if not better than AA Flagship.
Jul 12, 2018, 11:30 am
#103
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: EWR
Programs: UA Gold, BA, HHonors, Avis
Posts: 192
Not surprising that there is hardly anyone in the lounge in the morning (which is why I think early p.s. TCON passengers in J should have access...but I digress). As for the design - I bet that the issue is that too many folks lean on the tables, causing them to break. It’s not UA’s fault that folks have terrible seating posture, but it does seem like they designed these in a similar fashion to the fold-out tables on the plane - and people treat it like a regular desk.
Jul 12, 2018, 11:58 am
#104
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
Jul 12, 2018, 12:06 pm
#105
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,450
It would seem a support on the underside might solve this issue. The "v1" of the chair at ORD had a retractable table, which appears to be of a more robust design (though the narrower chair is not quite as comfortable for more robust, ahem, passengers...).