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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Mar 12, 2024, 4:56 am

#586

fmpacheco

Join Date: Apr 2010

Posts: 175

Hi - arriving on LX F in ORD next week, connecting to UA in J. Any chance they'll let me in the Polaris lounge (to shower!). I'm 1K and LH SEN.

Mar 12, 2024, 5:02 am

#587

IAH-OIL-TRASH

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Sep 2003

Location: Honolulu Harbor

Programs: UA 1K

Posts: 15,029

Quote:

Originally Posted by fmpacheco

Hi - arriving on LX F in ORD next week, connecting to UA in J. Any chance they'll let me in the Polaris lounge (to shower!). I'm 1K and LH SEN.

Nope. No access w/ LX arrival. You do get United Club access, though.

(good point brought up in later post - if you’re departing ORD on a long-haul Polaris-marketed int’l UA flight, you’d have access based on that flight. If you’re connecting to a UA domestic or short-haul int’l flight, you’re stuck w United Club)

SPN Lifer likes this.

Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Mar 12, 2024 at 9:01 am

Mar 12, 2024, 5:25 am

#588

Kmxu

Join Date: May 2012

Location: ORF, RIC

Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum

Posts: 6,958

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyHigh23

I’m the employee of a different airline. We get reciprocal standby benefits on United so wasn’t sure how it worked.

A good reference is how the standby benefits work in your own company. As I stated yesterday, you would not receive a boarding pass before boarding began. You are most likely waitlisted not before UA’s own NonRevs in the standby list. So, you will get the boarding pass very late.

SPN Lifer and United747 like this.

Mar 12, 2024, 8:35 am

#589

hirohito888

Join Date: Jul 2005

Location: NYC

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

Posts: 2,509

Quote:

Originally Posted by fmpacheco

Hi - arriving on LX F in ORD next week, connecting to UA in J. Any chance they'll let me in the Polaris lounge (to shower!). I'm 1K and LH SEN.

Where are you connecting to on UA J? If it's not a Polaris flight, then you will not have access to Polaris lounge.

Mar 12, 2024, 8:52 am

#590

ironmanjt

Join Date: Mar 2003

Location: anywhere and everywhere

Programs: UA GS, AS MVP 100K, DL Diamond, Marriot Lifetime Titanium, AmEx Centurion

Posts: 5,528

Quote:

Originally Posted by fmpacheco

I'm 1K and LH SEN.

Status has zero impact on Polaris Lounge access. It's all based on being in J on an eligible route (or connecting to/from it)

SPN Lifer likes this.

Mar 12, 2024, 9:57 am

#591

uanj

Join Date: Jan 2005

Programs: SQ, QF, UA, CO, DL

Posts: 2,894

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kmxu

From my friends who have travel benefits at United, they are specifically excluded from Polaris Lounge access unless they bought the ticket themselves.

SPN Lifer likes this.

Mar 15, 2024, 3:31 am

#592

Valveking

Join Date: Jul 2010

Location: Mem

Programs: Delta GM, Amex Reserve, Amex Plat, JP Morgan Palladium

Posts: 984

Polaris lounge access ORD

Quick question. I am on a United business class ticket flying back from Vienna, but the flight is on Austrian. I just want to make sure that I can access the Polaris lounge in Chicago because I have a 5 hour layover and need a place to relax and take a shower. Thank you.

Mar 15, 2024, 3:42 am

#593

narvik

Join Date: May 2010

Location: AVP & PEK

Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM

Posts: 6,362

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valveking

Unfortunately not, no.
You'd only have access at the ORIGINATING airport's Polaris lounge (if available).

(Unless, of course, your flight from ORD is a long-haul Polaris flight.)

Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 15, 2024 at 12:19 pm Reason: cleanup after merge; thanks for the link

Mar 15, 2024, 4:01 am

#594

narvik

Join Date: May 2010

Location: AVP & PEK

Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM

Posts: 6,362

ADDED:
Okay, there is an issue with Flyertalk and editing wikis: Wiki editing is totally b0rked

Could someone with access to the Wiki please change the wording of the Passport Requirement to reflect that Passports do not need to be presented at any Polaris Lounge as of late:

"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).

Last edited by narvik; Mar 15, 2024 at 1:16 pm Reason: ADDED

Mar 15, 2024, 4:46 am

#595

Repooc17

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2017

Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold

Posts: 10,517

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valveking

In this scenario, you would be accessing the Polaris lounge on arrival; United grants access for arrival passengers when flying its own aircraft only in longhaul business.

Mar 15, 2024, 5:37 am

#596

cmculp

Join Date: Feb 2008

Location: Honolulu / DC

Programs: UA 1K /2mm / Marriott Lifetime Titanium , Hilton Diamond

Posts: 1,051

The 2 previous answers are correct.

Polaris arrival access is for United Polaris only
Polaris departure access is for any Star A business or first.

so no shower, but the refreshed United Clubs are at least nicer.

Mar 15, 2024, 5:37 am

#597

cfischer

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2005

Location: BOS/EAP

Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat

Posts: 32,092

If you are *G you can access the regular UA Club in ORD.

Mar 15, 2024, 5:55 am

#598

49penguins

Join Date: Feb 2017

Location: FAT

Posts: 146

No issues accessing SFO Polaris lounge after overnighting between flights on a single ticket. With my Polaris leg being MUN-DEN I wasn’t sure if that would cause issues but it didn’t.

Mar 15, 2024, 6:12 am

#599

DiminishedSeventh

Join Date: Jan 2024

Posts: 76

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfischer

If you are *G you can access the regular UA Club in ORD.

I thought *G club access for international itineraries was also departure airport only?

Mar 15, 2024, 8:15 am

#600

jhayes_1780

Join Date: Apr 2005

Location: MBS/FNT/LAN

Programs: UA 1K, HH Gold, Mariott Gold

Posts: 9,630

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiminishedSeventh

I thought *G club access for international itineraries was also departure airport only?

The OP mentions a 5hr layover before the next flight, so they have a continuing itinerary. If they are non UA native *G, they would have access to the UC.

jsloan and VRFast like this.