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Old Jul 25, 2018, 12:08 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
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?
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?
  • No.
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

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Old May 15, 2023, 12:16 pm
  #286  
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: CLE
Programs: UA MileagePlus Premier Platinum
Posts: 1,360
Originally Posted by moondog
Doesn't LH business class get access at ORD?
Access yes, guest as the OP intents, no, only if flying international partner first.
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Old May 15, 2023, 12:19 pm
  #287  
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,618
And only ONE guest if flying *A First. This should probably be placed in the wiki.
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Old May 15, 2023, 12:29 pm
  #288  
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Originally Posted by nomad420
And only ONE guest if flying *A First. This should probably be placed in the wiki.
It's in there - "Only those accessing the PL as a 3-Class F passenger on a partner airline can guest 1 person".

Maybe a bit "muddy". Also has a reference to GF two sentences later, which probably could be removed.

Edit: took stab at editing wiki for these two items.
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Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; May 15, 2023 at 12:43 pm
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Old May 15, 2023, 1:56 pm
  #289  
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 706
If you're booking a SAS business ticket, and the itinerary is:
  • ORD - EWR (United), EWR - ARN (SAS)

Would one get access to the Polaris lounge in ORD?


I understand you wouldn't get it on the return trip home-but what about departing?

Or does this fall under this bucket in the wiki:

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.
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Old May 15, 2023, 2:02 pm
  #290  
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Aurora, CO
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Originally Posted by Soccerjoshj07
If you're booking a SAS business ticket, and the itinerary is:
  • ORD - EWR (United), EWR - ARN (SAS)

Would one get access to the Polaris lounge in ORD?


I understand you wouldn't get it on the return trip home-but what about departing?

Or does this fall under this bucket in the wiki:

You would get access in EWR. Not in ORD. Had you been flying UA EWR-ARN, then you would get it in both places.
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Old May 15, 2023, 2:03 pm
  #291  
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
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Posts: 2,508
Originally Posted by Soccerjoshj07
If you're booking a SAS business ticket, and the itinerary is:
  • ORD - EWR (United), EWR - ARN (SAS)

Would one get access to the Polaris lounge in ORD?
ORD: No access
EWR: Access to Polaris lounge, but SK departs from Terminal B, so allocate time to transfer
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Old May 15, 2023, 3:12 pm
  #292  
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Silver, whatever the Amex plat gets me and somehow still IHG Diamond after 3 years of no nights
Posts: 693
Originally Posted by Kimmitzi
Thanks! Generated via LH app. I'll be at the airport in plenty of time to sort things out if need be, I hope!
Note that being at ORD with "plenty of time" might not be helpful if you need LH check in agent help because there is a 3 hours gap when the LH checkin desk is not open. See thread here as I deal with this a few weeks ago.

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/35200645-post10.html
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Old May 15, 2023, 3:14 pm
  #293  
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 706
Originally Posted by mpw81
Note that being at ORD with "plenty of time" might not be helpful if you need LH check in agent help because there is a 3 hours gap when the LH checkin desk is not open. See thread here as I deal with this a few weeks ago.

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/35200645-post10.html
Ugh. If not checking bags, would you potentially be able to avoid this?
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Old May 15, 2023, 3:19 pm
  #294  
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Silver, whatever the Amex plat gets me and somehow still IHG Diamond after 3 years of no nights
Posts: 693
Originally Posted by Soccerjoshj07
Ugh. If not checking bags, would you potentially be able to avoid this?
There is literally no one to help you and they don't have kiosks. We also didn't have bags to check and just needed our boarding passes. They also came out from the back 13 minutes late.
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Old May 15, 2023, 5:43 pm
  #295  
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Alexandria, Longboat Key
Programs: UA Gold Marriott Gold AA Gold Choice Gold Wyndham PLAT IHG PLAT Avis President's Club Amtrak Select
Posts: 2,263
Access question. Flying IAD-SFO (economy, applying PP), SFO-PPT (Polaris award ticket) with a two and a half hour layover in SFO. I know I get PL access at both IAD and SFO. On the returnn, PPT-SFO (Polaris award ticket) and SFO-IAD (economy, applying PP) with a four and a half hour layover in SFO. Would I have access to PL upon landing in IAD? Flight arrives at 8:55 PM.
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Old May 15, 2023, 5:47 pm
  #296  
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Originally Posted by Longboater
...On the returnn, PPT-SFO (Polaris award ticket) and SFO-IAD (economy, applying PP) with a four and a half hour layover in SFO. Would I have access to PL upon landing in IAD? Flight arrives at 8:55 PM.
Yes, if you want to.
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Old May 15, 2023, 5:52 pm
  #297  
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Alexandria, Longboat Key
Programs: UA Gold Marriott Gold AA Gold Choice Gold Wyndham PLAT IHG PLAT Avis President's Club Amtrak Select
Posts: 2,263
Originally Posted by IAH-OIL-TRASH
Yes, if you want to.
Thanks, depending how tired I am, I might. I assume just show my Polaris boarding pass from PPT-SFO as it is a different reservation.
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Old May 15, 2023, 6:24 pm
  #298  
 
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Chicago
Posts: 40
Originally Posted by mpw81
Note that being at ORD with "plenty of time" might not be helpful if you need LH check in agent help because there is a 3 hours gap when the LH checkin desk is not open. See thread here as I deal with this a few weeks ago.

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/35200645-post10.html
Yeah, there was that. Since the flight is delayed 2.5 hrs, I now have plenty of time. Hoping United will do us a solid and keep one of the clubs open a little later
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Old May 15, 2023, 6:49 pm
  #299  
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Originally Posted by Kimmitzi
Yeah, there was that. Since the flight is delayed 2.5 hrs, I now have plenty of time. Hoping United will do us a solid and keep one of the clubs open a little later
Speaking from not-fun experience — don't count on it. 😬
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Old May 15, 2023, 7:10 pm
  #300  
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: UA1K MM, JL JMB SAPPHIRE, Marriott Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,267
I will be flying redeye LAX-IAD, then next morning IAD-XXX in Polaris, will I allowed to use Polaris lounge at LAX the night before?
TIA.
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