Over the past couple of years United has opened four Polaris Lounges, which are their new international business class lounges. These lounges are open to United and Star Alliance business and first class passengers, and they’re truly spectacular, especially for a US airline.
Continue reading: United Polaris Lounge LAX Opening January 12, 2019
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Thank god at last! I’ve been traveling through T7 a good amount and have walked by the entrance several times with it being under construction and never knew when it was opening but that’s good to know!
How about when the 787-10 starts flying? Will Polaris passengers between LAX and Newark also have access to Polaris lounge?
@ JeffL -- Nope, they don't offer Polaris Lounge access for transcon customers.
Where will the LAX location be, specifically? In the former United Club location?
Are you saying that one can clear security in UA terminal 7 and actually walk to departure gate in TBIT without having to go thru additional security screening again ? I realize it’s a long walk....but this would be great!
It still stumps me that UA is even ipenia Polaris Lounge at LAX domestic terminals for UA with so very few international flights fromnLAX
All other star alliance partners except AC operate out of TBIT. When phase two opens - I thought UA would move to it too...
@Cedric: Yes you can walk airside from Terminal 8 all the way to TBIT. You need to go underground for part of the journey.
I suspect there are a fair amount of LAX originating passengers who are connecting to long-haul UA international flights in SFO, ORD, IAD and EWR (and possibly a few via DEN when FRA starts?) to help fill up the Polaris Lounge. Double that for when they return, too.
Traveling fist class sounds a bit pugilistic to me. You may wish to correct the typo.
For the record, the LAX lounge is more than half a year late.
Was originally slated for spring 2018, then move to summer, and finally Q4 2018.
What a joke UA is! Still rolling out new lounges, as they relentlessly roll-back the onboard experience in so many ways. Oh well, at least we will have an acceptable lounge experience before boarding for the new gutted Polaris experience. Way to go UA !
Why a future lounge in HKG? There isn't that many UA flights going to HKG. Only three as far I know.
they really should allow lounge access for premium transcons. So dumb they dont.
That’s quite a hike to TBIT. I have an outbound leg in F on a *A partner, next and am not sure I want to make the trek from T7 to TBIT. I’d love to hear some reader suggestions for good lounges in TBIT.
T7 to TBIT is quite the haul. Don't think it will be worth it to visit for my upcoming Singapore flight
Can someone help me understand why they opened this lounge if there are very few non-stop flights departing LAX where qualifying Polaris tickets are sold. My guess is only the flights to London, Shanghai, Tokyo, Sydney and Melbourne will qualify. CEO said that LAX is near capability, so we shouldn't expect new flights to Munich or Frankfurt anytime soon.
Can AIr Canada flyers departing from Terminal 6 use it?
@dee
Yes, award tickets are eligible for access.
@Nate Nate
Access for Star Alliance travelers in business class is limited to flights over 6 hours. If the Air Canada flight departing from LAX is over 6 hours, yes. The longest flight I can find is to Montreal and it is under 6 hours, so my guess would be no. Passengers connecting to a United Polaris flight have access. For example travelers flying LAX-SFO-TLV or LAX-SFO-HKG have access in LAX. That contributes to the need for a Polaris Lounge there.
@Matthew
Yes, assuming you are traveling in United Polaris from SFO to TLV. You just need your same-day Polaris boarding pass.
@John S
In planning, LOL.
@Nate Nate, Anyone flying UA Polaris via another hub (i.e. LAX-IAH-GIG) has access to the lounge, along with pax arriving on a UA Polaris flight and pax flying a Star carrier in a premium cabin out of LAX.
One way to "sell" the Polaris lounge for Intl Star Alliance Biz class passengers leaving on flights out of TBIT would be to offer a shuttle bus from Terminal 7 secure area (Polaris Lounge location) into the secure area of TBIT.
The Star Alliance Lounge in TBIT (managed by Air New Zealand) is lovely but can sometime get busy.