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
#61
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Cant be that simple. If i were coming off an international flight on United metal into SFO and leaving same day on same award ticket purchased but in Econ on domestic segment I would, correct? So it’s the fact the the connection is overnight that doesn’t allow entrance back in?
#62
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Cant be that simple. If i were coming off an international flight on United metal into SFO and leaving same day on same award ticket purchased but in Econ on domestic segment I would, correct? So it’s the fact the the connection is overnight that doesn’t allow entrance back in?
#63
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And UA will not hold your bags overnight.
Some have reported Polaris access the following day, so you could give it a try.
Some have reported Polaris access the following day, so you could give it a try.
#64
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: SFO
Posts: 220
#65
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Not sure if my experience below is even relevant, but just sharing as a data point:
I often do SIN-SFO-EWR-FLL leaving SIN at 10 pm and arrive SFO at 8 pm on the same day. Pending on transit time, I may or may not use the SFO PL.
After arriving at EWR on the red-eye flight (next day morning arrival), I have no problem access EWR PL, where I ususaly have more than enough time to shower and eat a breakfast before boarding flight to FLL.
I often do SIN-SFO-EWR-FLL leaving SIN at 10 pm and arrive SFO at 8 pm on the same day. Pending on transit time, I may or may not use the SFO PL.
After arriving at EWR on the red-eye flight (next day morning arrival), I have no problem access EWR PL, where I ususaly have more than enough time to shower and eat a breakfast before boarding flight to FLL.
#66
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The current control of checking ID/passport seems ineffective based on the situations described by others in this thread.
Other than SFO PL, i often do not have my ID/passport checked. May be one out five times in other PLs they ask for my ID/passport.
#67
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Seems like hassling your highest value customers is not worth the benefit of stopping the one in a billion scammer who has a fake boarding pass and non-passport ID.
What about people with fake passports? Maybe they should connect to DHS databases and add biometric verification to the check in process
What about people with fake passports? Maybe they should connect to DHS databases and add biometric verification to the check in process
#68
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What is the hassle? Every time you fumble with your ID there is the chance of misplacing it. I keep my passport, specifically, somewhere it is not likely to get lost or stolen, which is harder to access, and don't want to take unnecessary chances. Especially when some officious clerk demands to not only see the ID, but personally handle it themselves.
Half the time I use Clear, it is not because it is saving me any time (often it is not), but because one less time futzing around with ID is one less risk I'm taking.
I'd rather take the minute chance that there is some guy in the Polaris lounge swilling Jim Beam on a fake boarding pass and ID than be guaranteed to be hassled and take a chance of some mishap with my ID at the start of a trip. The Centurion Lounge check-in carnival is similarly annoying.
I've had occasions at hotels where everyone gets distracted and everyone forgets about the passport before you leave the desk, and believe me it is not a good feeling to realize you don't have your passport later. If you travel enough, eventually you will experience everything that is possible to experience, just by random chance.
The irony of the "hordes of people are scamming their way in to the Polaris Lounge to hit the salad bar" argument is that half the posts in this forum are from people complaining that the food quality in the lounge has declined to the point where it is literally "inedible."
#69
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Posts: 2,884
Not sure if my experience below is even relevant, but just sharing as a data point:
I often do SIN-SFO-EWR-FLL leaving SIN at 10 pm and arrive SFO at 8 pm on the same day. Pending on transit time, I may or may not use the SFO PL.
After arriving at EWR on the red-eye flight (next day morning arrival), I have no problem access EWR PL, where I ususaly have more than enough time to shower and eat a breakfast before boarding flight to FLL.
I often do SIN-SFO-EWR-FLL leaving SIN at 10 pm and arrive SFO at 8 pm on the same day. Pending on transit time, I may or may not use the SFO PL.
After arriving at EWR on the red-eye flight (next day morning arrival), I have no problem access EWR PL, where I ususaly have more than enough time to shower and eat a breakfast before boarding flight to FLL.
Until a year ago I was always waved through. But since about August it is a hard NO at SFO or IAD. Again, this is only when when I do not have INTERNATIONAL printed on the BP no problem.
#70
Join Date: Jun 2014
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Posts: 4,125
Reported above was not only that they wanted to see ID, but moreover, they were demanding to see passports, not other forms of government-issued ID. With the supposed justification being that people were traveling around with not only fake boarding passes, but fake drivers licenses (fake in the sense of not belonging to the person trying to enter). That just seems like an insane level of delusion that this scam is happening enough to worry about.
What is the hassle? Every time you fumble with your ID there is the chance of misplacing it. I keep my passport, specifically, somewhere it is not likely to get lost or stolen, which is harder to access, and don't want to take unnecessary chances. Especially when some officious clerk demands to not only see the ID, but personally handle it themselves.
Half the time I use Clear, it is not because it is saving me any time (often it is not), but because one less time futzing around with ID is one less risk I'm taking.
I'd rather take the minute chance that there is some guy in the Polaris lounge swilling Jim Beam on a fake boarding pass and ID than be guaranteed to be hassled and take a chance of some mishap with my ID at the start of a trip. The Centurion Lounge check-in carnival is similarly annoying.
I've had occasions at hotels where everyone gets distracted and everyone forgets about the passport before you leave the desk, and believe me it is not a good feeling to realize you don't have your passport later. If you travel enough, eventually you will experience everything that is possible to experience, just by random chance.
The irony of the "hordes of people are scamming their way in to the Polaris Lounge to hit the salad bar" argument is that half the posts in this forum are from people complaining that the food quality in the lounge has declined to the point where it is literally "inedible."
What is the hassle? Every time you fumble with your ID there is the chance of misplacing it. I keep my passport, specifically, somewhere it is not likely to get lost or stolen, which is harder to access, and don't want to take unnecessary chances. Especially when some officious clerk demands to not only see the ID, but personally handle it themselves.
Half the time I use Clear, it is not because it is saving me any time (often it is not), but because one less time futzing around with ID is one less risk I'm taking.
I'd rather take the minute chance that there is some guy in the Polaris lounge swilling Jim Beam on a fake boarding pass and ID than be guaranteed to be hassled and take a chance of some mishap with my ID at the start of a trip. The Centurion Lounge check-in carnival is similarly annoying.
I've had occasions at hotels where everyone gets distracted and everyone forgets about the passport before you leave the desk, and believe me it is not a good feeling to realize you don't have your passport later. If you travel enough, eventually you will experience everything that is possible to experience, just by random chance.
The irony of the "hordes of people are scamming their way in to the Polaris Lounge to hit the salad bar" argument is that half the posts in this forum are from people complaining that the food quality in the lounge has declined to the point where it is literally "inedible."
#71
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If some guy from Mongolia shows up at the PL with his driver’s license, how is the lounge agent supposed to know what it is, if it belongs to him, or even if it’s actually an ID? Heck, it could very well be in non-recognizable characters. The agent can read anyone’s passport no matter where they’re from.
#72
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I sincerely doubt you turn around and leave if asked for an ID
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Feb 10, 2023 at 8:54 am
#73
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Latin America and USA
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Polaris is for international flights, and in nearly all (I said nearly) cases, entrants will have passports. I appreciate efforts to control access. If a person isn't equipped to show their boarding pass and passport to enter an international business class lounge, what exactly were they planning to do to get through immigrations at their destination?
FWIW I usually get asked for my passport each time in SFO. Never in EWR.
#74
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Location: Shanghai
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Why bother with a convoluted drivers' license verification manual? Would just make getting in take even longer.
Polaris is for international flights, and in nearly all (I said nearly) cases, entrants will have passports. I appreciate efforts to control access. If a person isn't equipped to show their boarding pass and passport to enter an international business class lounge, what exactly were they planning to do to get through immigrations at their destination?
FWIW I usually get asked for my passport each time in SFO. Never in EWR.
Polaris is for international flights, and in nearly all (I said nearly) cases, entrants will have passports. I appreciate efforts to control access. If a person isn't equipped to show their boarding pass and passport to enter an international business class lounge, what exactly were they planning to do to get through immigrations at their destination?
FWIW I usually get asked for my passport each time in SFO. Never in EWR.
#75
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