FlyerTalk Forums - United First/Bus. class lounge access (2024)

I have UAL First and Bus. Polaris seats outbound SMF-DEN-FRA-BER, and inbound MUC-DEN-SMF. A few questions:

1. Outbound flights: Do these seats include lounge access at DEN and FRA?
2. Inbound: Do these seats include lounge access at MUC before flight and at DEN?
3. Are there still different lounges only for international flights?
4. If I have two UAL lounge passes from my cc, would I need to use them for any part of this trip?

Yes fore DEN, Yes, Yes, No. I don't think you get LH lounge access on arrival in FRA. You would need *G to access a lounge there, I think. Is FRA-BER in LH F?

edit: actually I think you may get Welcome Lounge access at FRA: "Entry with a boarding pass for a Lufthansa Group long-haul flight and on selected flights, Air China and United Airlines flights[size=8333px]"[/size]

1. Yes.
2. Yes.
3. Yes, generally, but in your case only at FRA and at MUC, and they are stocked pretty much the same as each other.
4. Not for anyone on that itinerary.

1: Yes
2: Yes
3: Not at DEN
4: No, and even if you did, you could only use them at DEN (no UC in FRA or MUC)

They will get access to the Welcome Lounge in FRA (outside security) for sure. If FRA-BER is in Business (likely if the entire trip is in C), then they will get access to the LH Business Class lounge in FRA. There are separate lounges in FRA for Schengen and Non-Schengen flights. In this case, FRA-BER is a Schengen flight, so that dictates the lounge option.

Yes, FRA-BER is LH F booked thru United Awards

Things have changed since I flew Intl. Bus. 10 years ago. What is a Welcome Lounge? Is that different than other lounges?

To note the applicable rules:

• If you are departing the current airport on a *A flight in business class, you have access to that airport's business class lounge. Lufthansa has Senator loungers which are not business lounges, which can be confusing. FRA and BER will have both, so make sure you visit the right lounge. This rule also does not apply to flights in United First at United lounges, except see the last point.
• Arriving an airport generally does not convey any lounge access, but see the next point.
• If you are flying in United Polaris, you have access to United Clubs and United Polaris Lounges at all points (departure, connection, and arrival) on your same-day itinerary. There is no Polaris Lounge at DEN, but there are United Clubs.

The Welcome Lounge is a very nice lounge -- but it is landside, not airside -- so if you visit you should leave enough time to clear security for your flight. The airside lounges have been undergoing "renovations" for quite some time -- I would check the Lufthansa thread for the current status of the lounges in FRA.

Here is a review of the lounge: Frankfurt Welcome Lounge

I have not been on LH since 2019; and you didn't ask, but: FRA-BER on LH will not be in F, it will be in "European Business Class" Which is a Y seat with the middle blocked/folded down.

Its fine for the 1 hr flight to BER, but just wanted to make sure you were not expecting something like a UA F seat (or lie flat) for this flight.

So I just found this on Reddit from 6 mos ago: "At Munich on my way to DEN with a Polaris seat. Not allowed in any Lufthansa lounges. How are you folks accomplishing this?!" "This" is referring to the original question and replies about accessing lounges at MUC.

If I had to guess, the OP tried to access a Senator lounge instead of a Business lounge.

Having flown from MUC to the US in Polaris probably 20-30 times in the past five years I have never been denied lounge access with a business class seat. Can't explain the reddit experience other than maybe they though they ere in "business" -- but they were really in Economy plus or something?

Insufficient info to answer
If on a non-stop MUC-DEN, in business, they would have access
if on a MUC-XXX-DEN, then likely no

No really, Polaris Lounge it an additional benefit. UC access and partner lounge access rules have not change in more than 20 years.

SMF-DEN-FRA-BER, and inbound MUC-DEN-SMF

Outbound:

DEN - Yes, United Club (since there are no Polaris Lounges in DEN)
FRA - if exiting secured area, Welcome Lounge. If staying within secured area, Business Lounge, or Senator Lounge if *G

Returning:

MUC - Yes, LH Business Lounge, or Senator Lounge if *G
DEN - Yes, United Club (if arriving on a UA flight from FRA, or *G); No (if arriving on LH flight without *G)

As for UC passes, they are only valid for United Clubs. Only need to use them if you are not eligible to use the lounge based on your class-of-service.