Jul 25, 2018, 12:08 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

The Polaris Lounge is United's Business class lounge for passengers in premium cabins on long-haul flights only. It is separate from the United Club locations and the arrivals lounge in SFO.

Currently there are PLs in EWR, IAD, IAH, LAX, ORD, and SFO.

Quick Guide to "Do I get access?"

Are you in Polaris (Business) class on a long-haul United metal flight to/from Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa, French Polynesia, or one of these South American countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Peru?

You get access at all airports the same-day. It does not matter if your flights are on the same ticket or same cabin.
"Same-day" is ambiguous and is interpreted differently by different agents with respect to itineraries that include an overnight connection. YMMV and this thread has examples both ways.
No guests. Unless on F on a partner.
Though not stated by United, includes AKL (Auckland, New Zealand) when service begins.
Examples:
- EWR-SFO-NRT, if SFO-NRT is on UA you get access in EWR and SFO
- NRT-SFO-EWR, if NRT-SFO is on UA you get access in SFO and EWR, even if SFO-EWR is a separate Y ticket.

Are you in Business/First class on a long-haul *A partner metal flight to/from Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Africa, Middle East, or one of these South American countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Peru?

You get access only at the airport where the long-haul flight departs.
At other airports along your route, you may have access to the United Club or other *A lounges. See here: Consolidated "United Club Access Questions" Thread
Though not on United's stated list, access includes long-haul partner flights to Africa, Middle East, New Zealand, etc.
Guests: First Class (on flights with both First and Business cabins) only: you can bring 1 guest. Business class 0 guests.
Examples:
- EWR-SFO-NRT, if SFO-NRT is on NH you get access only in SFO, not at EWR
- NRT-SFO-EWR, if NRT-SFO is on NH you don't get any Polaris Lounge access because there is no Polaris Lounge in NRT, and you aren't eligible for SFO or EWR.

Are you on a United or partner short-haul international flight to/from Guam, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, or Ecuador?

You do not get access to the Polaris Lounge. However, you may qualify for access to the United Club. See here: Consolidated "United Club Access Questions" Thread

Are you in Premium Economy, Economy Plus, or Economy on any flight?

You do not get access, unless you are connecting to/from a flight that gets access as described above.

Are you on a United domestic flight, including P.S. flights EWR-LAX, EWR-SFO, BOS-SFO?

You do not get access to the Polaris Lounge, even if you're flying in First on a wide-body plane with lie-flat "Polaris" style seats, unless you are connecting to/from a flight that gets access as described above.

Can I get access through status, membership, one-time pass, or any other method?

What else do it need for access?

~~Reports indicate that most PL's require a passport in addition to boarding pass for access. Some~~ locations may accept other forms of ID (driver's license, etc.). This appears to be a response to possible fraudulent attempts at access (e.g., double printing BPs for friends).

If eligible for access, who can I guest?

Only those departing on a *A airline in long-haul Int'l First on a plane w/ First and Business classes has guesting privileges. One guest only, and that guest must be departing on same flight, in any class..
Those in Polaris or qualifying International Business cannot guest another passenger.
~~If you are in an old Global First seat in United Polaris class, you cannot guest another passenger.~~ No longer relevant

More info

UA website outlining access for Polaris Lounge access

Photo ID required?There have been numerous reports from all Polaris Lounges of a photo ID being requested upon entry. Apparently, there have been some attempts to enter the PL with another person's BP (such as a traveling companion's). Recently there are reports that only a passport (not driver's license) is accepted at some lounges. More recent reports are UA has dropped the passport id requirement

Related Threads:
~~Polaris Lounge Roadmap 2017-2018 (wiki) (thread)~~
ORD Polaris lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..
SFO Polaris Lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..
EWR Polaris lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..
IAH Polaris lounge (E11/12 - top fl) -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ...
LAX Polaris Lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..
IAD Polaris Lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..
~~United Polaris-New Business Class seats & in-flight service and new Polaris Lounges(wiki) (thread)}~~

Consolidated "United Club Access Questions" Thread

Archive: Consolidated "Polaris Lounge Access Questions" Thread {Archive}

Consolidated "Polaris Lounge Access Questions" Thread

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Apr 5, 2023, 10:23 pm

#256

paperwastage

Join Date: Jun 2012

Posts: 3,384

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kacee

Except UA follows the *A rules on international F access to Polaris lounge (1 guest).

except that *A says that United Polaris lounges have special conditions, and defers to United....
(says ff status/route, even though ff status never plays a role for polaris access)

https://www.staralliance.com/en/lounge-access-policy

Quote:

United’s Polaris lounges: Special conditions apply for access depending on frequent flyer status and route. Please check United’s website for details.

so who knows.... united being more generous than they need to per *A F-guesting policy

Quote:

Originally Posted by UndercoverOscarMunoz

who at first was adamant that there was no such thing as guests in Polaris Lounges.

guess this is too rare of an occurrence, even though every airport w/ Polaris lounge also has *A (eg Swiss/Lufthansa) selling F seats

Last edited by paperwastage; Apr 5, 2023 at 10:28 pm

Apr 5, 2023, 11:19 pm

#257

Kacee

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Quote:

Originally Posted by paperwastage

except that *A says that United Polaris lounges have special conditions, and defers to United....
(says ff status/route, even though ff status never plays a role for polaris access)

I'm really not following. UA follows the *A rule allowing one guest in Polaris for international F pax. Given that UA does not have international F, hard to see how this is anything other than UA adhering to *A rules.

Apr 6, 2023, 3:52 am

#258

supine

Join Date: May 2018

Location: FRA

Programs: LH SEN

Posts: 1,506

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kacee

The airlines are allowed to make up their own rules that fit within the *A framework.

This is United designating Polaris lounges as "premium" with their own, custom rules.

Similar to how LH group has customised rules to differentiate access to their Business, Senator and First lounges.

Apr 6, 2023, 6:20 am

#259

fmpacheco

Join Date: Apr 2010

Posts: 175

(I assume the answer is no...) I am arriving in ORD of LH F and have a connecting flight to DEN in F. Am a 1K. I assume I dont have access to the Polaris lounge? FWIW, I am flying back to MUC from ORD in UA Polaris 3 days later.

Apr 6, 2023, 6:21 am

#260

jsloan

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2001

Location: Austin, TX

Posts: 21,417

Quote:

Originally Posted by fmpacheco

Correct, no Polaris Lounge access on arriving LH F.

SPN Lifer likes this.

Apr 8, 2023, 4:47 pm

#261

UAschoolflyer

Join Date: Apr 2023

Location: SFO

Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold

Posts: 32

I am flying the following on UA.

To Europe
SFO-ORD (United First)
ORD-LHR (United Polaris)

To USA
BER-EWR (United Polaris)
EWR-LAX (United Business)
LAX-SFO (United Economy)- booked on a separate ticket.

All the flights except the last LAX-SFO leg are booked on the same ticket and all flights leave the same day. Based on what I read I should be entitled to access at SFO+ ORD on the flights to Europe and EWR+LAX on the flights to the USA (as well as the LH business lounge at BER)? Do I just scan my Polaris boarding pass when entering the lounge, even if it's not the next flight I am boarding?

Apr 8, 2023, 5:33 pm

#262

miamiflyer8

Join Date: May 2015

Location: ATL/MCO

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Posts: 5,665

Quote:

Originally Posted by UAschoolflyer

Correct, even after flying LAX-SFO you can visit the PL should you wish to do so.

SPN Lifer and UAschoolflyer like this.

Apr 9, 2023, 6:32 am

#263

escape4

Join Date: Dec 2013

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The following will NOT give Polaris lounge access, right? I was not 100% sure after reading the wiki:

Canada -> IAD on UA in Y
IAD -> AUH on EY in J/F

Apr 9, 2023, 6:46 am

#264

Kmxu

Join Date: May 2012

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Posts: 6,958

Quote:

Originally Posted by escape4

The following will NOT give Polaris lounge access, right? I was not 100% sure after reading the wiki:

Canada -> IAD on UA in Y
IAD -> AUH on EY in J/F

Nope. The good news is that EY has a lounge at IAD, which you are allowed to access with J/F ticket.

PL policy for non-UA long-haul business customer:

Long-haul international business class on a Star Alliance member airline: A boarding pass for travel in long-haul international business class on a Star Alliance member airline

Customers may only access a United Polaris lounge at the departure airport for their international business class flight.

Apr 9, 2023, 7:28 am

#265

escape4

Join Date: Dec 2013

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Kmxu

Nope. The good news is that EY has a lounge at IAD, which you are allowed to access with J/F ticket.

Customers may only access a United Polaris lounge at the departure airport for their international business class flight.

Are you sure the EY lounge at IAD still exists? On EY's website it tells me that I will be given TK lounge access. I have many hours available so I plan to do lounge hopping, TK and LH will be part of the tour (maybe AF and VS) but I thought adding Polaris to the mix could have been nice. Oh well.

If the trip had been in reverse (AUH -> IAD in F/J, then IAD -> Canada on UA in Y), I am assuming the answer would remain the same - still no lounge access because Canada does not count as "international" and it's the long haul which must be *A, not the short-haul?

Apr 9, 2023, 9:07 am

#266

hirohito888

Join Date: Jul 2005

Location: NYC

Programs: UA-1K MM, AA-Gold, DL-Silver, AS-MVP

Posts: 2,509

Quote:

Originally Posted by escape4

You will have access to TK lounge at IAD on your outbound EY J ticket. And if you are *G, you will have access to United Club flying IAD-Canada. Otherwise no other access given that you're flying UA Y. Inbound flight on EY is irrelevant.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kmxu

Nope. The good news is that EY has a lounge at IAD, which you are allowed to access with J/F ticket.

Besides LHR, EY closed all their outstation lounges.

Apr 9, 2023, 9:47 am

#267

cheltzel

Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: ORD

Programs: AA, UA, GE

Posts: 5,123

Quote:

Originally Posted by escape4

We've flown through IAD before and used the TK lounge. While it is not a huge lounge it is nicely furnished and has decent food and beverage service. The only issues I have had is they are the contract lounge for several middle eastern airlines (EK, EY, SV, and probably a couple of others). Our last experience was just before the pandemic (departing on the now defunct South Africa long haul business class) and there were several flights on the other airlines at/around the same time and the lounge was jammed! Luckily our connecting flight was early enough to allow us to get a seat before the horde descended.

Apr 9, 2023, 10:05 am

#268

Portolan

Join Date: Jan 2005

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Just to be clear...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kmxu

Customers may only access a United Polaris lounge at the departure airport for their international business class flight.

If flying in Polaris class on a United international flight, you have same day access to any Polaris Lounges enroute. For example, we recently flew IAD-ORD-Haneda Japan (due to the fact that United had suspended the non-stop IAD-HND flight) and had access to the Polaris Lounges in IAD and ORD. And will do so again next year IAD-SFO-Auckland at both IAD and SFO.

If flying a Star Alliance international flight in business class (or above), then you do only have Polaris Lounge access at the international departure airport.

Apr 9, 2023, 10:20 am

#269

fumje

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Join Date: Aug 2015

Posts: 11,469

Quote:

Originally Posted by Portolan

That is correct regarding Polaris access for your examples. The response quoted was regarding flights non-UA flights, which was shown in the part cut out from quote.

Apr 9, 2023, 10:50 am

#270

Portolan

Join Date: Jan 2005

Location: IAD...and loving it?!

Programs: UA Platinum (1MM Gold), HH Diamond, Marriott Gold

Posts: 858

Understood...

Quote:

Originally Posted by fumje

That is correct regarding Polaris access for your examples. The response quoted was regarding flights non-UA flights, which was shown in the part cut out from quote.

but people do searches and find statements like I commented on out of context and get the wrong information.

jsloan likes this.