Jul 25, 2018, 12:08 pm
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?
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?
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?
Are you on a United domestic flight, including P.S. flights EWR-LAX, EWR-SFO, BOS-SFO?
Can I get access through status, membership, one-time pass, or any other method?
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}
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?
- No.
Reports indicate that most PL's require a passport in addition to boarding pass for access. Somelocations 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).
- 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).
Related Threads:
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, ..
Consolidated "United Club Access Questions" Thread
Archive: Consolidated "Polaris Lounge Access Questions" Thread {Archive}
Consolidated "Polaris Lounge Access Questions" Thread
Mar 28, 2024, 4:06 pm
#616
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 2
Lis to Erk in Polaris-Why are they asking me if I want to buy club access
I admit I haven't read all 41 pages of this thread but based on the pinned post, I think if I'm flying in Polaris class on a long haul from Lisbon to Newerk (then onto LA) with both flights on UA (with UA flight numbers), I think I should get access to the Polaris lounge in EWR. So why is United asking if I want to buy lounge access? What am I missing?
Mar 28, 2024, 4:50 pm
#618
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,467
Apr 1, 2024, 12:00 pm
#619
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Miles and Smiles Elite, EY Silver, VS Silver
Posts: 155
Not sure if this is the right thread for this, but I am looking at an award flight EWR - FRA - BOM with EWR - FRA on UA in Y and FRA - BOM in LH J. Would this ticket give me Polaris lounge access?
Apr 1, 2024, 12:06 pm
#620
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DFW
Posts: 112
If the J is on a partner airline, you only get access at the departure airport, so no. Only J on UA metal can use at departure/connecting/arrival.
Apr 3, 2024, 7:04 pm
#621
Join Date: Apr 2023
Location: LAX, LJU
Programs: LH SEN, UA PremSilver
Posts: 233
I'm a little confused about Polaris Lounge access when the first leg is in UA "First" (not Polaris, but J), and the second leg is LH F. Route is LAX-IAD-FRA. Will I have Polaris Lounge access at LAX?
Apr 3, 2024, 7:09 pm
#622
Join Date: Dec 2022
Programs: UA1K
Posts: 464
Apr 3, 2024, 7:27 pm
#624
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
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Apr 3, 2024, 8:27 pm
#625
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Singapore, Vancouver
Programs: UA/Premier 1K, Bonvoy/Titanium
Posts: 227
Data point on "Same Day"
SIN-SFO in Polaris on UA28 (the evening flight), departing and arriving on Day X. Connected to IAH on the red eye arriving Day X+1 and thereafter to IAD also on Day X+1. All same itinerary. PL access granted in SFO as expected but also in IAH and IAD with scanning of onward boarding pass. No manual intervention needed. For info.
SIN-SFO in Polaris on UA28 (the evening flight), departing and arriving on Day X. Connected to IAH on the red eye arriving Day X+1 and thereafter to IAD also on Day X+1. All same itinerary. PL access granted in SFO as expected but also in IAH and IAD with scanning of onward boarding pass. No manual intervention needed. For info.
Apr 3, 2024, 8:38 pm
#626
Join Date: Apr 2023
Location: LAX, LJU
Programs: LH SEN, UA PremSilver
Posts: 233
Apr 3, 2024, 8:44 pm
#627
Join Date: Dec 2023
Posts: 124
Thanks. One more question about access at LAX...while connecting on a LH F ticket and with LH SEN status I would hope that there might be some kind of lounge available to me in Terminal 7. On domestic flights with UA I've always been granted UnitedClub access due to having LH SEN status, but I've just stared at this page long enough to wonder if something has changed. Has something changed? Anyone know?
Apr 4, 2024, 4:51 am
#629
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K - 1 MM, Marriott LT-Plt, Hyatt Glb
Posts: 216
Data point on "Same Day"
SIN-SFO in Polaris on UA28 (the evening flight), departing and arriving on Day X. Connected to IAH on the red eye arriving Day X+1 and thereafter to IAD also on Day X+1. All same itinerary. PL access granted in SFO as expected but also in IAH and IAD with scanning of onward boarding pass. No manual intervention needed. For info.
SIN-SFO in Polaris on UA28 (the evening flight), departing and arriving on Day X. Connected to IAH on the red eye arriving Day X+1 and thereafter to IAD also on Day X+1. All same itinerary. PL access granted in SFO as expected but also in IAH and IAD with scanning of onward boarding pass. No manual intervention needed. For info.
Apr 4, 2024, 7:29 am
#630
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,337
Thanks for the data point. Next week my wife and I are flying MAD-FRA (LH Eurobiz) Day 1, FRA-ORD (Polaris) Day 2, ORD-MSP (UA F) Day 3. All on the same PNR, hotels in FRA and ORD. I'm hoping that we will be able to access ORD PL on Day 3. Not quite as contiguous as your example, but since it's the same PNR, maybe we will get a green light.
I believe as long as your ORD-MSP departure time is within 24 hours of the FRA-ORD flight, then you should be ok.
I have had two separate PNRs (1st flight domestic in Y) and (2nd flight in Polaris), and received Polaris Lounge Access at the 1st departure airport (the Y segment on a different PNR).
I have also had no problem accessing Polaris Lounge using the Singapore experience shared in your referenced post when traveling on separate PNRs for the domestic flight after arriving from SIN at +1 day.
Please report back with your experience.