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My final stop during an ambitious lounge-hopping session at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) was the United Polaris Lounge in Terminal 7. After visiting the Star Alliance Business Class Lounge in TBIT and the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge in Terminal 6, I was ready to settle into one last lounge before my 16-hour United Polaris flight to Melbourne (MEL).
I had booked my entire journey using Aeroplan points, travelling through Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Los Angeles before continuing to Australia. I booked this redemption well before Aeroplan introduced select partner pricing for United Airlines and before United started unbundling its Polaris Business Class fares.
Quite a bit has changed since that booking, including United’s new Polaris Lounge access restrictions introduced in April 2026. Fortunately, I visited the lounge before the restrictions kicked in, under the older access rules still in place.
After spending much of my LAX layover walking between terminals, I had three simple priorities for this visit: get a proper shower, find somewhere comfortable to stretch out, and enjoy a little more food before boarding.
The United Polaris Lounge delivered on all three, although the lounge itself was considerably smaller than I expected based on my previous visits to United’s Polaris Lounges in Newark (EWR).
United Polaris Lounge LAX – At a Glance
| Airport | Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) |
| Location | Terminal 7, between Gates 73 and 75A, one level above the concourse |
| Hours | Approximately 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily; subject to change |
| Access | Eligible United Polaris passengers and qualifying First or Business Class passengers on select Star Alliance partners |
| Seating | Individual privacy pods, lounge chairs, sofas, café-style tables and bar seating |
| Food and drinks | Complimentary à la carte dining, hot and cold buffet, premium staffed bar |
| Other amenities | Private shower suites, quiet suites, Wi-Fi and charging outlets |
| Best features | Shower suites, elevated buffet, attentive service |
| Main drawback | Smaller footprint and limited dining space compared with larger Polaris Lounges |
Review based on my summer 2025 visit. Operating hours, menus and access policies may change.
United Polaris Lounge LAX – Location and Access
The United Polaris Lounge is located in Terminal 7, between Gates 73 and 75A.
At the terminal level, the Polaris Lounge entrance is understated. A discreet United Polaris sign sits beside an elevator that takes passengers up to the main lounge level. Once upstairs, the vibe changes considerably.
Modest signage for United Polaris LAX
The reception area features polished white marble walls, warm lighting, decorative wooden partitions and a beautiful chandelier. The welcome desk sits immediately inside the entrance, with the lounge opening beyond it.
United Polaris Lounge LAX – Welcome Desk
For my visit, I was flying United Polaris Business Class from Los Angeles to Melbourne on an Aeroplan award ticket. That qualified me for lounge access. However, United has significantly changed Polaris Lounge access since my visit. Effective April 14, 2026, United restricted Polaris Lounge access for passengers travelling on several Star Alliance partner airlines. Previously, eligible long-haul Business and First Class passengers across Star Alliance could generally access these lounges. Under the revised rules, qualifying partner access is limited to:
- First Class: ANA, Lufthansa and SWISS.
- Business Class: ANA, Air New Zealand and ITA Airways.
- Business Class on specified fares: Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines.
United’s own Polaris passengers continue to receive access on eligible Standard and Flexible Business Class fares, while the newer Basic Business Class fares exclude Polaris Lounge access. Eligible Polaris award tickets can still qualify.
Another key distinction is that United Polaris passengers can generally access Polaris Lounges at eligible departure, connecting, and arrival airports on the same-day itinerary. Qualifying partner-airline passengers have more restricted access, typically at the departure airport for their eligible long-haul flight.
Read our detailed breakdown of the United Polaris Lounge access changes, or check United’s official lounge access policies before travelling.
United Polaris Lounge LAX – Layout and Seating
I arrived at the lounge around 6:30 p.m., when plenty of seats were still available. The lounge became noticeably busier closer to 8 p.m., particularly around the main bar. My first impression was that the lounge looked smaller than I had expected. Having previously visited the Polaris Lounges at EWR and SFO, both of which offer expansive seating areas, the LAX location felt relatively compact.
Main Lounge Bar and Seating Area
The main lounge area features contemporary design and enough seating variety to avoid feeling like one large lounge room. The centrepiece of this section is undoubtedly the main bar, which stretches across one wall. The setup is attractive and creates a more social atmosphere than conventional clusters of sofas and armchairs.
Seating Area of the lounge
Beyond the bar, the main seating area offers several different configurations. Individual leather lounge chairs, larger sofas that seat groups, and traditional armchairs line the windows. The window-side seating brings in plenty of natural light, although the shades were partially lowered during my evening visit.
More seating spaces
My preferred seating was United’s familiar semi-private Polaris pods. These feature individual leather seats enclosed by tall, curved blue partitions, with a built-in side table, reading lamp and convenient charging outlets.
My Preferred seating
As the lounge got busier around 8 p.m., the more popular seating sections filled up, and the bar became a lively gathering spot.
United Polaris Lounge LAX – Shower Suites
After walking from Terminal 7 to TBIT, visiting the Star Alliance Lounge, and making my way back through Terminal 6, a shower was very much at the top of my list. I headed toward the quieter section of the lounge, past the airline service desk and additional refreshments, where the shower suites and dining facilities are located. Fortunately, I got a shower suite assigned with little to no wait.
I didn’t take any photographs of the shower suite, but you’ll have to take my word for it: the space was modern, spacious and well laid out. There was enough room to get organized without feeling cramped, and the modern finishes gave the suite a spa-like feel.
I left the shower suite feeling refreshed and ready for the next leg of my journey. Although I was still several hours from Melbourne, I no longer felt like I had spent the evening trekking across LAX 🙂
United Polaris Lounge LAX – Food and Drinks
Food and beverage is one of the major distinctions between a regular United Club and a United Polaris Lounge. Polaris Lounges offer both a self-serve buffet and sit-down dining, with an elevated selection compared to what you would typically find in a United Club.
United’s signature Dining Room is one of the biggest attractions of any Polaris Lounge. The LAX location has a pleasant, intimate setting that feels more like a small restaurant. However, I found the space relatively small, especially compared with the seating and footfall as the lounge got busier.
The Dining Room
The Dining Room – Drinks Menu
The Dining Room – Lunch & Dinner Menu
Since I had already nibbled my way through two lounges. I wasn’t particularly hungry, and the thought of sitting down for another full meal before a 16-hour flight didn’t appeal to me. Besides, I knew I’d be well fed in the Polaris cabin. So I decided to skip the à la carte dining experience and take a closer look at the buffet instead.
The food stations occupy a compact area, but I was impressed by the variety and presentation. Instead of large trays of the usual lounge staples, the selection included several interesting hot dishes, cold salads, Spanish-inspired appetizers, a charcuterie spread, and desserts. The variety let me build a small sampler plate instead of committing to another substantial meal.
Salad Bar
Tapas Counter
Charcuterie Counter
During my evening visit, the hot food selection included:
- Miso-glazed eggplant, with baby bok choy, scallions and toasted sesame.
- Poblano white cheddar tomatillo soup (vegetarian).
- Guajillo chicken with mole poblano and chayote salad.
- Citrus-coconut roasted shrimp, served with sautéed spinach and garlic broth.
- Confetti summer rice and sautéed green beans with roasted tomatoes.
Hot Food selection
More hot food options
The main bar is one of the lounge’s most attractive features, and arguably its visual centrepiece. For wine enthusiasts, another striking feature is the large temperature-controlled wine display farther inside the lounge, near the dining facilities.
Lounge Bar
Wine Wall further in the lounge
I didn’t spend much time sitting at the main bar, but it was clearly a popular gathering spot as the evening progressed. By around 8 p.m., the lounge was noticeably busier, and the bar had become one of its most active areas.
United Polaris Lounge LAX – Takeaway
After visiting three lounges during my LAX layover, I was glad to have saved the United Polaris Lounge for last. Was it the most impressive lounge space I visited that evening? Not particularly.
The Star Alliance Business Class Lounge in TBIT was much more expansive, with an outstanding outdoor terrace, attractive interiors, and a far greater variety of seating options. Even compared with other United Polaris Lounges I’ve visited, the LAX location felt relatively small.
But the overall experience was good. The shower suites were excellent, the service was attentive, and the food offering was genuinely elevated. Although I skipped the à la carte Dining Room, the buffet offered plenty of variety for an enjoyable meal before my flight.
For me, the Polaris Lounge at LAX felt more functional than opulent. After a full day of flights, terminal walks and lounge hopping, I just needed a good shower, comfortable seating, quality food and a place to unwind before a very long journey. On all those fronts, the United Polaris Lounge delivered.
