scav0r

Flying LHR-IAD in United Polaris.
Connecting to IAD-PTY with Copa Business leaving at 00:49am


Will I get access to the United Polaris lounge?
From what I read the Copa leg is not eglible for access, but I have also read that you have access when arriving with UA Polaris, however only when connecting domestic? So I am a bit confused

fumje

Yes, eligible due to LHR-IAD in Polaris. Probably what you saw was worded however it was due to fact that most of time the connection is domestic. It's irrelevant what type of connection, though.

Enjoy. And welcome to flyertalk.

Doppy

I don't think any ID should be necessary, but if an ID is needed for some invented reason, any ID that is good enough to get through airport security should be sufficient.

Personally, I don't like companies that treat customers like a presumptive criminal in order to avoid a miniscule chance of someone unjustly getting $3 of food.

pmarrsouth

When? I will be on this Copa flight in about 26 hours from now (departing and arriving Sunday)

Will be in the ORD PL before this

IAH-OIL-TRASH

It's not the food - it's the crowding. I think some of the PLs got pretty close to occupancy limits pre-Covid (ORD comes to mind, specifically). How would you like to be denied access at some point when travel really picks up w/ a Polaris ticket because someone got in via scam? Even if the occupancy limit wasn't tripped, there were already numerous complaints about peak time crowding at several PLs. I think we can agree to disagree about how onerous and utterly degrading showing an ID is

moondog

They could always build more/bigger PLs, make UCs nicer, or sunset the Chase cards. I never experience crowding issues at CX's lounges in HK, and all of them have decent f&b and friendly gatekeepers.

restlessinRNO

I agree. Showing a passport for entry is hardly an undue hardship. 😊

econ

I've been asked at SFO and EWR (and LAX...can't remember the others). But not each time, or anywhere close to 100% of the time.

Definitely agree. But at least the AmEx CL process is consistent and so I know what to expect.

At the PL, it seems completely random as to when they want to see a passport and when they don't, and they've caught me off-guard a few times after coming off the long-haul & connecting to the domestic segment when I've had to fish out my passport after packing it away under assumption that I'm done with my passport usage for the trip.

lincolnjkc

I don't get to do much INTL (J or otherwise) and all of my new era (mid-2020->present) J has somehow avoided the Polaris lounges [hours, connection time, extended closure, etc.] but in the previous era I think I was always asked for passport on the outbound side in the context of skipping document verification at the gate "if you have it handy" -- then stamping the BP with "DOCS OK". Even on non-INTL travel my passport s always two zippers away from me so I don't see it as a big deal (indeed I treat it as another opportunity to confirm I have my ducks in a row) -- but I can see how some may fret the opportunity for misplacement.

Unless (until) UA starts using biometric markers for verification (or even just stored photos) UA has a need/desire to protect the product (the Polaris lounges have been closely guarded compared to the relative free-for-all that clubs are) and using an internationally standardized identity document that is already required for virtually any itinerary that conveys Polaris access doesn't seem unreasonable to me.

canadiancow

In my case, it's a California ID in the SFO (California) Polaris lounge.

A Mongolian DL isn't going to get you through security. A state-issued REAL ID is.

Kacee

That's just UA's consistent inconsistency in yet another setting . . . .

miamiflyer8

/OT on

And non-REAL ID for that matter. That garbage has been extended for the umpteenth time and probably will again after 2025.

/OT off

Doppy

Well I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree about the number of scammers trying to get into the PL. I have no reason to believe that it doesn't approximate zero on a per capita basis.

At busy times there's regularly a line out the door to get into the PL; the last thing they need to do is make the process a circus. I usually enter SFO in the international terminal regardless of where I'm traveling, so I see the situation often.

If you read this thread the food is inedible post covid anyway so why would anyone want to go in the first place?

Oregonflyer

Just went through SFO and EWR Polaris twice. EWR would not take another form of ID. SFO has always been fine with a drivers license and for the first time specifically asked for a passport. I showed them a passport card and they were OK with that, so clearly they just want an ID. Asking for passports slows things down.

Speaking of the SFO Polaris lounge - they were having a wine tasting there yesterday. They have a new bar manager (one month on the job) who was walking around speaking with customers. Not sure where it is going, but he said he wants to start whiskey tastings too.

Capital_Trav

Hello,
Flying to ICN with the following configuration with Polaris -- IAD-SFO-ICN. I bought the tickets in United as one flight
IAD-SFO is Fare Class United First (JN)
SFO-ICN - Polaris Business
The SFO layover is 14 hrs. Will be arriving on Friday afternoon and leaving Saturday AM . I will be getting a hotel. I chose this since the other option is a 1.5 hr connection and I am avoiding any mishaps that may occur ( delayed flight, etc)
1. Can I access Polaris in IAD for departure?
2. Can I access Polaris in SFO upon arrival?
3. Can I access Polaris SFO again before departure again?
Thanks for all the info.