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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)}

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Old Jun 30, 2023, 11:41 am
  #331  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
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Polaris Lounge access after long layover
A friend is flying today CPT-IAD-PDX and clearing into Polaris from CPT-IAD. She has about a 12 hours layover and of course, will have to clear customs and recheck bag. I know you usually can access the Polaris lounge upon arrival but will she be able to go there prior to her IAD-PDX flight? She is landing in Terminal C from CPT but departing from Terminal E from PDX. So not sure if she would be allowed back into Terminal C. TIA
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Old Jun 30, 2023, 11:53 am
  #332  
 
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Unless I'm missing something, the terminal at PDX doesn't play any role here. The PL in question is at IAD and the connection is at IAD, so she would have a boarding pass that gets her into the airside at IAD (all terminals are connected securely there).
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Old Jun 30, 2023, 12:00 pm
  #333  
 
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Originally Posted by AUSNYCflyer
Unless I'm missing something, the terminal at PDX doesn't play any role here. The PL in question is at IAD and the connection is at IAD, so she would have a boarding pass that gets her into the airside at IAD (all terminals are connected securely there).
Is there any time limit on how long the layover is for her to access later that day?
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Old Jun 30, 2023, 12:05 pm
  #334  
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Originally Posted by sierranevada
Is there any time limit on how long the layover is for her to access later that day?
No, anytime on same day should be fine.
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Old Jun 30, 2023, 12:05 pm
  #335  
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Originally Posted by sierranevada
Is there any time limit on how long the layover is for her to access later that day?
The access rules are stated in terms of "same-day routing".

https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...es/access.html
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Old Jun 30, 2023, 12:06 pm
  #336  
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Originally Posted by sierranevada
Is there any time limit on how long the layover is for her to access later that day?
Same day PL access on IAD arrival will not be an issue and neither will access to IAD terminal with a same day continuing BP.

Note the traveler will have access to UC at PDX , if of interest
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Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jun 30, 2023 at 12:11 pm Reason: ​​​​​​​Note the traveler will have access to UC at PDX , if of interest
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Old Jun 30, 2023, 12:07 pm
  #337  
 
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There is no terminal (or concourse) E at IAD - from United flight status that appears to be her arrival terminal at PDX.

IAD-PDX almost certainly will leave from Concourse C or D, which are connected (flight status doesn't show a gate yet). When she arrives at IAD she should be able to use the "transfer" passenger route, which keeps her in Concourse C to clear customs, she'll then re-check any bag go through security, and be in Concourse C "airside" so she can go to the lounge.
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Old Jun 30, 2023, 12:09 pm
  #338  
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Originally Posted by sierranevada
A friend is flying today CPT-IAD-PDX and clearing into Polaris from CPT-IAD. She has about a 12 hours layover and of course, will have to clear customs and recheck bag. I know you usually can access the Polaris lounge upon arrival but will she be able to go there prior to her IAD-PDX flight? She is landing in Terminal C from CPT but departing from Terminal E from PDX. So not sure if she would be allowed back into Terminal C. TIA
Yes, she can access prior to her IAD to PDX. She should not be staying the entire 12 hours at the airport for sanity sake.

What's the Terminal E reference? from PDX? Is PDX destination, or are there onward flights from PDX?
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Old Jun 30, 2023, 12:11 pm
  #339  
 
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Originally Posted by Repooc17
She should not be staying the entire 12 hours at the airport for sanity sake.
I believe PL has baggage lockers. Regardless, she could certainly take the metro into DC to see a museum or two and then return in ample time for her departing flight. If she's into airplanes, the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Annex is close to Dulles and really worthwhile (take an uber - 10 minutes)
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Old Jun 30, 2023, 12:26 pm
  #340  
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Originally Posted by drewguy
I believe PL has baggage lockers. Regardless, she could certainly take the metro into DC to see a museum or two and then return in ample time for her departing flight. If she's into airplanes, the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Annex is close to Dulles and really worthwhile (take an uber - 10 minutes)
I don't recall seeing lockers at IAD PL. Seems unusual. There are lockers at the Annex - and that is an excellent suggestion to kill time:
"Lockers: The Udvar-Hazy Center has lockers available to the public, for storage, at no cost to visitors on a first-come, first-served basis, in two sizes. The smaller locker will accommodate small bags (such as backpacks) and coats; the larger locker is 12" wide, 15" deep, and 29" tall, and can fit most standard checked airline luggage."
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Old Jul 3, 2023, 9:00 pm
  #341  
 
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Originally Posted by WineCountryUA
Same day PL access on IAD arrival will not be an issue and neither will access to IAD terminal with a same day continuing BP.

Note the traveler will have access to UC at PDX , if of interest
From what you are saying, it sounds like UC on arrival is OK throughout the journey, even at final destination? If so, I would have arrival access at the HNL UC after MUC-SFO (and onward to HNL) in Polaris (and the PL in SFO if time permits)?

Thanks.
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Old Jul 3, 2023, 9:07 pm
  #342  
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Originally Posted by 747FC
From what you are saying, it sounds like UC on arrival is OK throughout the journey, even at final destination? If so, I would have arrival access at the HNL UC after MUC-SFO (and onward to HNL) in Polaris (and the PL in SFO if time permits)?...
yes (but is you have checked bags, you may not want to leave your bag on the carousel)
Is it OK to wait 2-3 hours before claiming checked bags? to visit the UC for awhile?
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Old Jul 25, 2023, 7:12 pm
  #343  
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
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Accessing Polaris lounge when on separate cross-referenced PNR
I am flying EUG - SFO - EWR - LHR. I bought two separate tickets to make up the route one (in J) from EUG - SFO - EWR and one (in Polaris, as an award ticket) EWR - LHR. My flight to EWR arrives in the afternoon and my flight to LHR leaves the same evening, with plenty of time between. I have a couple of hour layover in SFO as well. The PNRs are cross-referenced, but separate.

I can clearly access the Polaris lounge in EWR, but my question is whether I can use the SFO Polaris lounge on my layover at SFO. I believe the rules are bit unclear, and I am wondering if anyone has had any experience in this situation and what the result was.
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Old Jul 25, 2023, 7:24 pm
  #344  
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
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Originally Posted by Oregonflyer
I can clearly access the Polaris lounge in EWR, but my question is whether I can use the SFO Polaris lounge on my layover at SFO. I believe the rules are bit unclear, and I am wondering if anyone has had any experience in this situation and what the result was.
Yes you will have access to SFO Polaris lounge. Just show them your EWR-LHR boarding pass.
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Old Jul 28, 2023, 7:09 am
  #345  
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,018
Randomly came across a YouTube shorts video where a guy just walks in to a Polaris lounge for "free" (looked like IAD). He was teaching his audience how to do this (choose a busy time, just walk in, etc).
was on my TV and so no link.
However, i searched online and found similar videos for SkyClub, etc.

Are these people for real??
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