I lately revealed a information about learn how to entry United Golf equipment. On this publish I wished to check out United Polars Lounges, as they’ve completely completely different options and entry necessities (in separate posts, I contrasted American Admirals Golf equipment and American Flagship Lounges).
What are United Polaris Lounges?
Whereas United Golf equipment are primarily United Airways’ membership golf equipment and lounges for elite members, Polaris Lounges are United’s premium lounges for lengthy haul enterprise class passengers. Company touring lengthy haul enterprise class usually have greater expectations of the airport expertise than what’s in any other case provided from home airline lounges, in order that’s why United has created this community of lounges.
United Polaris Lounges actually are spectacular, and for my part are the perfect enterprise class lounges provided by any US airline. They function every little thing from a la carte eating and buffets, to nap rooms and bathe suites, to nice decor, to cocktails and barista-made espresso.
Personally I believe United Polaris Lounges have the sting over American Flagship Lounges, although the catch is that the previous have a lot tighter entry necessities.
United Polaris Lounge areas & hours
United Airways at present has six Polaris Lounges, positioned in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, and Washington. Let’s go over the very fundamentals of every of those lounges, together with their areas, hours, and sq. footage.
United Polaris Lounge Chicago (ORD)
The United Polaris Lounge Chicago is open day by day from 9AM till 9PM, and it’s positioned in Terminal 1, Concourse C, close to gate C18. The lounge is 16,300 sq. ft, placing it in the midst of the pack so far as dimension goes.
United Polaris Lounge Houston (IAH)
The United Polaris Lounge Houston is open day by day from 5:30AM till 9PM, and it’s positioned in Terminal E, close to gate E12. The lounge is 12,500 sq. ft, making it the second smallest Polaris Lounge.
United Polaris Lounge Los Angeles (LAX)
The United Polaris Lounge Los Angeles is open day by day from 6:30AM till 10:30PM, and it’s positioned in Terminal 7, between gates 73 and 75A. The lounge is 12,000 sq. ft, making it the smallest Polaris Lounge.
United Polaris Lounge Newark (EWR)
The United Polaris Lounge Newark is open day by day from 5AM till 10:30PM, and it’s positioned in Terminal C, between gates C102 and C120. The lounge is 27,000 sq. ft, making it the second largest Polaris Lounge.
United Polaris Lounge San Francisco (SFO)
The United Polaris Lounge San Francisco is open day by day from 7AM till 10:30PM, and it’s positioned in Worldwide Terminal G, between gates G6 and G9. The lounge is 28,000 sq. ft, making it the most important Polaris Lounge.
United Polaris Lounge Washington (IAD)
The United Polaris Lounge Washington is open day by day from 5:30AM till 10PM, and it’s positioned in Concourse C, close to gate C17. The lounge is 21,000 sq. ft, making it the third largest Polaris Lounge.
United Polaris Lounge entry guidelines
The entry necessities for United Polaris Lounges are very strict. Elite standing gained’t get you into these lounges, no matter the place you’re touring to. So whether or not you’ve Star Alliance Gold standing or United World Companies standing, don’t count on that this alone will probably be sufficient to get you right into a Polaris Lounge.
Slightly the one individuals who can entry United Polaris Lounges are these touring on a flight marketed as United Polaris, or these touring in choose markets in enterprise or top notch on a Star Alliance accomplice.
Accessing Polaris Lounges when flying United
You possibly can entry United Polaris Lounges when you’re touring the identical day on a United Polaris ticket:
- You have to have at the very least one flight marketed as United Polaris, which is the title of enterprise class on most worldwide lengthy haul United routes; in case your United flight is marketed as top notch or enterprise class, you don’t get entry to Polaris Lounges
- You possibly can count on that flights marketed as United Polaris will probably be these to Asia, Europe, the South Pacific, and “deep” South America
- You possibly can entry a lounge both on departure, at a connecting airport, or on arrival
- No friends are allowed
- The identical entry restrictions apply no matter whether or not you paid money, redeemed miles, or upgraded
Star Alliance first & enterprise class Polaris Lounge entry
United Polaris Lounges are additionally open to premium cabin passengers touring lengthy haul on Star Alliance companions:
- You need to use a United Polaris Lounge previous to an extended haul Star Alliance accomplice flight in first or enterprise class; that is solely potential on the lengthy haul worldwide gateway previous to your lengthy haul flight, and never at different factors throughout your connecting journey
- Star Alliance top notch passengers can convey one visitor touring on the identical flight, whereas Star Alliance enterprise class passengers can’t convey any friends
The coverage on connecting itineraries is an space the place the Star Alliance lounge entry coverage is stingy in comparison with the oneworld lounge entry coverage.
Simply to be crystal clear in regards to the coverage, say you’re flying from Frankfurt to Chicago to Los Angeles, with the second phase on United. When you’re flying United from Frankfurt to Chicago, then you could possibly use the Polaris Lounge in Chicago, whereas when you’re flying Lufthansa from Frankfurt to Chicago, you couldn’t use the Polaris Lounge in Chicago.
Backside line
United Polaris Lounges are among the many greatest lounges you’ll discover in the US, with a la carte eating, good decor, nice showers and relaxation areas, and customarily pleasant service.
The catch is that Polaris Lounges even have actually strict entry necessities. There’s no strategy to enter them based mostly on elite standing, however relatively these lounges are completely obtainable to lengthy haul first and enterprise class passengers on Star Alliance airways.
United Polaris passengers are prioritized when it comes to the conditions underneath which they’ll entry (whereas connecting and even on arrival), whereas passengers on Star Alliance companions can solely entry these lounges previous to lengthy haul flights.
Hopefully the above clears up any questions on accessing Polaris Lounges, although if I missed something, please let me know.
What has your expertise been with United Polaris Lounges?
