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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.

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 {Archive}

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Aug 18, 2018, 11:47 pm

#106

mstraveler

Join Date: Apr 2003

Location: San Francisco

Programs: Four Seasons Aviara (owner), Starwood, Marriott, Hyatt, Hertz President's Circle, United MP 30+ yrs

Posts: 1,252

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsloan

And, to be clear, no access to the Polaris lounge at SFO for that itinerary. If there were a Polaris lounge at LAX, both passengers would have access.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kacee

It sounds like this is the deal:
You: United Club member, business/first class SFO-LAX-TPE-DPS
Him: Economy SFO-LAX, business class LAX-TPE-DPS

If that's the case, you will both have access to the United Club at SFO and the *A lounge at LAX. You will also have access to the Infinity lounge at TPE.

Thank you both. Very helpful and clears up some confusion about Polaris/*A lounges. And apparently we will have access in TPE to either of the Infinity or Star EVA lounges, and some of my reading has indicated to the SQ Kris lounge as well (reported to be less crowded and have better food) given that it is also a *A lounge at TPE.

And for learning purposes only -- if it were only me under the above lounge access/full business ticket, would that work for Polaris? Or is the mileage tix part, or the EVA (*A but not UA) or the LAX departure that is the issue?

Last edited by mstraveler; Aug 18, 2018 at 11:53 pm

Aug 19, 2018, 12:20 am

#107

jsloan

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2001

Location: Austin, TX

Posts: 21,400

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstraveler

And for learning purposes only -- if it were only me under the above lounge access/full business ticket, would that work for Polaris? Or is the mileage tix part, or the EVA (*A but not UA) or the LAX departure that is the issue?

*A but not UA / LAX departure.

You can use the Polaris lounge at SFO if you are:

Departing SFO on a long-haul *A flight in J/F, or
Departing another airport on a long-haul UA flight in Polaris J/F on the same day.

Upgrade vs. paid never matters. However, your itinerary fits neither of those conditions, so no access to the Polaris lounge

Aug 19, 2018, 8:52 am

#108

mstraveler

Join Date: Apr 2003

Location: San Francisco

Programs: Four Seasons Aviara (owner), Starwood, Marriott, Hyatt, Hertz President's Circle, United MP 30+ yrs

Posts: 1,252

We are departing on another airport (LAX) on a long-haul the same day .... well actually the LAX-TPE is within the hour after midnight so technically the next day? (and thanks for clarification of paid vs miles tickets)

Aug 19, 2018, 12:13 pm

#109

IAH-OIL-TRASH

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Sep 2003

Location: Honolulu Harbor

Programs: UA 1K

Posts: 15,019

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstraveler

...And for learning purposes only -- if it were only me under the above lounge access/full business ticket, would that work for Polaris? Or is the mileage tix part, or the EVA (*A but not UA) or the LAX departure that is the issue?

The EVA ticket is the issue for Polaris Lounge access at SFO. If you were flying UA Polaris out of LAX, you'd get access to Polaris lounge at SFO and LAX (once it opens). Since the flight is on EVA out of LAX, Polaris lounge access for a *G operator is only accorded at the departure airport of the int'l front-cabin flight (ie LAX, but not SFO).

Aug 19, 2018, 12:24 pm

#110

jsloan

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2001

Location: Austin, TX

Posts: 21,400

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstraveler

Quote:

Originally Posted by IAH-OIL-TRASH

Precisely. mstraveler, you're departing another airport on a long-haul flight the same day.. but not a UA flight. Sorry.

Regarding the implicit question: for years, "same day" has been "within 24 hours." There have been a few recent reports of people being denied entry when connecting after an overnight transfer (arriving Polaris late Monday, spending the night at a hub, and connecting Tuesday morning, for example). I'd be astonished if "slightly after midnight" were not considered "same day" for these purposes, however.

Aug 19, 2018, 5:42 pm

#111

mstraveler

Join Date: Apr 2003

Location: San Francisco

Programs: Four Seasons Aviara (owner), Starwood, Marriott, Hyatt, Hertz President's Circle, United MP 30+ yrs

Posts: 1,252

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsloan

Precisely. mstraveler, you're departing another airport on a long-haul flight the same day.. but not a UA flight. Sorry.

Ah, thank you so very much jsloan. I couldn't quite figure what exactly the wrinkle was here, whether it was ticket payment, technical time of day, UA metal vs UA ticket for *A flight vs *A carrier metal. That clarifiles it. Sadly

. After all those years of UC membership and watching them all evolve. Oh, well. Another trip....

Aug 19, 2018, 9:52 pm

#112

mstraveler

Join Date: Apr 2003

Location: San Francisco

Programs: Four Seasons Aviara (owner), Starwood, Marriott, Hyatt, Hertz President's Circle, United MP 30+ yrs

Posts: 1,252

Quote:

Originally Posted by IAH-OIL-TRASH

Got it IAH-OIL-TRASH. Finally! Thanks to you and jsloan for helping me sort through this, and saving me looking like one of those types no one wants to get behind in line trying to talk myself into a lounge Ito which I am not really not entitled

.
I have been flying long enough to have a hard time keeping up with the ever finer points of the travel companies expanding hierarchical stratifications these days. Thanks to you both. SFO UC lounge and LAX TBIT *A lounge it is!

Aug 19, 2018, 10:19 pm

#113

CruiserCLE

Join Date: Jun 2010

Location: Florida

Programs: United 1K, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Gold

Posts: 673

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kacee

If same day, it is well within the rules and there should be no issue.

Looping back on this, ended up being a huge fiasco trying to access the PL in IAH. The agents downstairs were insistent that it wasn't correct until I repeatedly told them the EWR agents confirmed it was allowed. It finally took a call upstairs to a colleague or supervisor to confirm I was indeed allowed access. At that point, it had been 27 minutes (yes I timed it) and I lost the little time I had to go eat and grab a drink, so I ended up just leaving and going to my gate. All around an annoying experience.

Aug 20, 2018, 4:36 am

#114

Kacee

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Apr 2013

Location: PHX

Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)

Posts: 56,453

Quote:

Originally Posted by CruiserCLE

That sucks.
I've had more trouble with UA lounge dragons at IAH than any other airport. I would probably write in about this one. Such a clear violation.

Aug 31, 2018, 7:45 am

#115

Primenumber

Join Date: Apr 2004

Location: CGN

Programs: LH SEN

Posts: 231

I will be departing from IAH flying LH first class to FRA. As per the rules I will have access to the Polaris lounge and can guest one. Now my question: What requirements for the guest? Does (s)he need to be

(a) on the same flight,
(b) any *A same day flight or
(c) are there no requirements?

Thank you for your help!
Have safe travels
Primenumber

Aug 31, 2018, 8:14 pm

#116

StuckinITH

Join Date: Nov 2012

Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum

Posts: 3,477

Quote:

Originally Posted by Primenumber

The United website does not specify. When I flew Polaris First, I made my life easy by inviting my wife who was flying on the same flight.

Do you have a person in mind or do you plan to invite some random person?

Maybe a FTer can ask that question when they next enter a Polaris Lounge and have an answer for you before your trip.

Sep 1, 2018, 1:51 am

#117

andymcdonnell

Join Date: Apr 2015

Posts: 1,354

Polaris Lounge Access

Hi everyone

Im wondering if I fly DUB-EWR-LAS do I have Polaris lounge access in EWR between the flights if the DUB-EWR is Polaris business & EWR-LAS is in Domestic First? Or do I just get access to the United Club?

Thanks

Sep 1, 2018, 1:54 am

#118

WineCountryUA

Moderator: United Airlines

Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: SFO

Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat

Posts: 66,850

Quote:

Originally Posted by andymcdonnell

...

Im wondering if I fly DUB-EWR-LAS do I have Polaris lounge access in EWR between the flights if the DUB-EWR is Polaris business & EWR-LAS is in Domestic First? Or do I just get access to the United Club? ....

If you have Polaris cabin / UA operated ticket that you have access to Polaris Lounges at any connecting airport.
So, yes.

Sep 2, 2018, 4:37 pm

#119

FlyerTalker70

Join Date: Nov 2017

Posts: 3,359

Quote:

Originally Posted by tht

BLR-FRA in LH in C (booked P), did UG online with GPU and cleared instantly to F (shows as O). 1 GPU left to burn for the year. Would have scored the FRA-EWR as well but it’s a UA codeshare and despite a couple of calls no agent would change it, citing that P was not upgradable. Looks like Inhabe an incentive to book on LH metal now if I can get the LH flight numbers.

Out of curiosity do you get Polaris lounge access on arrival when flying on that route of codeshare?

-James

Last edited by WineCountryUA; Sep 2, 2018 at 7:51 pm Reason: moved to master thread

Sep 2, 2018, 5:40 pm

#120

tht

Join Date: Mar 2004

Location: NYC, BLR, LHR, SIN and a few others

Programs: UA 1K 1.01 MM

Posts: 1,245

Quote:

Originally Posted by j2simpso

Out of curiosity do you get Polaris lounge access on arrival when flying on that route of codeshare?

-James

Not sure about a domestic connection, EWR was my destination so I left the plane and was out of customs and on my way 7 mins later thanks to Global Entry.