Review: United Polaris Lounge Los Angeles

Prior to our ANA business class flight to Japan, we spent some time in the United Polaris Lounge Los Angeles. 

I’ve previously enjoyed some very pleasant visits to United Polaris Lounges in Chicago and Newark. However, It’s been several years since I last visited one, so I was looking forward to checking out the Los Angeles location for the first time.

I was expecting it to be fairly similar to the other Polaris lounges, but it’s always interesting to take a look at how each lounge is unique from its counterparts.

United Polaris Lounge Los Angeles – Access

The Polaris Lounges are a premium airport lounge concept, reserved explicitly for international business class passengers flying with United or Star Alliance partner airlines.

There’s a strict set of entry requirements. Access is limited to those flying on United Airlines or Star Alliance partners departing from Los Angeles to Europe, Asia, Australia or specific South American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Peru).

You can also fly into Los Angeles on an inbound United Airlines business class flight, with a continuing journey on United Airlines business class, and access the Polaris Lounge as well. However, access is not granted following inbound Star Alliance partner flights.

In our case, we were flying ANA business class, which would grant us access ahead of departure. Still, it wasn’t quite that simple.

LAX is a massive airport with eight terminals and 146 gates arranged in a horseshoe shape. ANA and most other Star Alliance partner airlines fly out of the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT), which is located at the far end of the airport.

However, the United Polaris Lounge is located where United Airlines operates: Terminal 7. It’s a solid 20-minute brisk walk down the long airside corridor which connects Terminals 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 with the TBIT.

We had a fair bit of time to spare prior to our 1pm departure, so we decided to make the long walk.

After all, I’ve been to the Star Alliance Lounge in the TBIT a few times, so I was keen to try United’s à la carte dining here in the Polaris Lounge, which the Star Alliance lounge doesn’t offer.

It took 20 minutes to reach the lounge, walking at a pretty fast pace. While it isn’t a short journey, this is certainly a great way to get some daily steps in, especially if you have a long flight ahead as…