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

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Consolidated "Polaris Lounge Access Questions" Thread

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Mar 15, 2024, 3:15 pm

#601

Valveking

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Thanks folks. I appreciate the information.

Mar 15, 2024, 4:39 pm

#602

cfischer

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Quote:

Originally Posted by DiminishedSeventh

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

Yes, departure airport only, but including domestic segments of an intl. itinerary. This is for all *G incl.UA*G.

Mar 15, 2024, 7:21 pm

#603

IAH-OIL-TRASH

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Quote:

Originally Posted by cfischer

Yes, departure airport only, but including domestic segments of an intl. itinerary. This is for all *G incl.UA*G.

Non-UA *G also get departure access on a wholly-domestic trip.

Mar 18, 2024, 1:02 pm

#604

burbankflyer

Join Date: Nov 2015

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Polaris in Biz to YQB

We are flying UA biz from LAX to EWR (777) - departing LAX around 11:15 pm, arriving around 7:15 am. Then UA biz from EWR at 9:45 am to YQB. Do we get Polaris Lounge in LAX and EWR? On the return, it is a direct from EWR to SNA - biz on a 737 - do we get Polaris Lounge in EWR? Thanks.

Mar 18, 2024, 1:46 pm

#605

Kmxu

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Quote:

Originally Posted by burbankflyer

No. None of these is Polaris business long-haul flight.

ContinentalFan likes this.

Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 18, 2024 at 2:31 pm Reason: cleanup after move

Mar 18, 2024, 2:28 pm

#606

WineCountryUA

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Quote:

Originally Posted by burbankflyer

We are flying UA biz from LAX to EWR (777) - departing LAX around 11:15 pm, arriving around 7:15 am..

Perhaps

Quote:

Originally Posted by burbankflyer

Then UA biz from EWR at 9:45 am to YQB. Do we get Polaris Lounge in LAX and EWR?.

At EWR you will get UC access (not PL) due to the transborder business

Quote:

Originally Posted by burbankflyer

On the return, it is a direct from EWR to SNA - biz on a 737 - do we get Polaris Lounge in EWR? Thanks.

Perhaps

Polaris Lounge requires a Polaris market business class ticket which are limited to the longer intracontinental flights, northern S. America donot qualify. (or a departing partner equivalent)
No flights in North America qualify.

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Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 18, 2024 at 8:16 pm Reason: intracontinental. arghhh spellcheckers

Mar 18, 2024, 5:16 pm

#607

IAH-OIL-TRASH

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Quote:

Originally Posted by burbankflyer

You get United Club access (no Polaris Lounge) at LAX and EWR. EWR-SNA is First, not Business. But, if you are flying United Business YQB-EWR and connecting to SNA at EWR, you get UC at EWR.

Mar 18, 2024, 6:27 pm

#608

WineCountryUA

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Quote:

Originally Posted by IAH-OIL-TRASH

You get United Club access (no Polaris Lounge) at LAX and EWR. EWR-SNA is First, not Business. But, if you are flying United Business YQB-EWR and connecting to SNA at EWR, you get UC at EWR.

If the EWR-YBQ and YBQ-EWR are UA operated or have *G status, that will be true. If AC operated then no, except-at EWR for EWR-YBQ

Mar 18, 2024, 7:58 pm

#609

uanj

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Quote:

Originally Posted by WineCountryUA

Perhaps
At EWR you will get UC access (not PL) due to the transborder business

Perhaps

Polaris Lounge requires a Polaris market business class ticket which are limited to the longer intercontinental flights, northern S. America donot qualify. (or a departing partner equivalent)
No flights in North America qualify.

Perhaps? I am not following that part. Intercontinental is not intracontinental. Polaris is for long haul business class to a different continent. Unless I have been missing out on a travel perk all these years.

Mar 18, 2024, 8:05 pm

#610

ironmanjt

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Quote:

Originally Posted by uanj

there’s a sign at the entrance to all Polaris lounges which lists the destinations and makes it crystal clear.

Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia, South Pacific and Australia/NZ excluding Hawaii, and southern South America.

Mar 18, 2024, 8:20 pm

#611

WineCountryUA

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Quote:

Originally Posted by uanj

,,, Intercontinental is not intracontinental. ....

Oblivious an typo, actually auto spell correcter error, oddly mine does not recognize "intracontinental", it does now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ironmanjt

Yes but OP was not standing in front of the PL and was trying to use a simplified explanation to distinguish North American international vs longer haul international. Note you left out the GUM/Oceania exclusion. "Intracontinental" with the Northern S. American is a more compact phrasing.

Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 18, 2024 at 8:38 pm

Mar 18, 2024, 10:00 pm

#612

jsloan

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Quote:

Originally Posted by uanj

I know WineCountryUA changed what he wrote based upon your comment, but the original statement was correct, if perhaps punctuated suboptimally. Here are the same words in the same order, but with punctuation that should clarify the meaning.

"Polaris Lounge requires a Polaris market business class ticket, which are limited to the longer intercontinental flights; northern S. America do not qualify. (or a departing partner equivalent)"

The exception -- Northern South America -- is there because IAH-BOG, IAH-MDE, IAH-GEO, IAH-UIO (and any others I missed) do not qualify for Polaris access. With the suggested word change, the statement is not incorrect -- the original statement already correctly excluded intracontinental flights. (intra-, within; inter-, between).

Mar 18, 2024, 10:05 pm

#613

ironmanjt

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Quote:

Originally Posted by WineCountryUA

Oblivious an typo, actually auto spell correcter error, oddly mine does not recognize "intracontinental", it does now.

Yes but OP was not standing in front of the PL and was trying to use a simplified explanation to distinguish North American international vs longer haul international. Note you left out the GUM/Oceania exclusion. "Intracontinental" with the Northern S. American is a more compact phrasing.

Apologies for trying to be helpful in a pedantic thread.

Mar 21, 2024, 10:14 am

#614

757CO

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Heading out tonight from EWR to IAD and then connecting at IAD for a Polaris flight overseas. I believe I get Polaris lounge access in EWR since I'm "connecting to/from" a same-day Polaris flight?

Mar 21, 2024, 10:16 am

#615

IAH-OIL-TRASH

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 757CO

Heading out tonight from EWR to IAD and then connecting at IAD for a Polaris flight overseas. I believe I get Polaris lounge access in EWR since I'm "connecting to/from" a same-day Polaris flight?

Yes.