United Polaris Lounge

What the checked United pages cover

The MileagePlus Rules are the general terms of United's frequent flyer programme. They cover accrual, mileage expiration, award redemption, Premier and Million Miler qualification, and general conditions such as the ban on selling or bartering miles and the remedies United may apply for conduct it defines as prohibited. [4] The Rules also state that United may withdraw, limit, modify or cancel any award, and may change benefits and conditions of participation at any time, with or without notice. [4]

The Premier qualification page sets out how status is earned. Each level needs a combination of Premier qualifying flights (PQF) and Premier qualifying points (PQP), or a higher PQP total on its own: Premier Silver 15 PQF and 5,000 PQP, or 6,000 PQP; Premier Gold 30 PQF and 10,000 PQP, or 12,000 PQP; Premier Platinum 45 PQF and 15,000 PQP, or 18,000 PQP; Premier 1K 60 PQF and 22,000 PQP, or 28,000 PQP. [6] The qualification year runs from 1 January to 31 December, and status is valid from the day the member qualifies to the end of the next programme year. [6] The page lists those thresholds and the ways of earning PQP and PQF; it does not describe lounge access as a qualification requirement or as a benefit of any Premier level. [6]

Lounge access as a reservation benefit

Lounge access appears in the MileagePlus Rules as one example of a travel benefit, in a list that also includes premium seating, fee waivers and additional baggage allowance. [4] Where a member receives such a benefit at booking, check-in, travel or another point in the journey, the Rules require the member to keep their MileagePlus account number on the entire reservation, and on any later reservation created from the original, for the full duration of the travel concerned. [4] The Rules add that if a companion receives a benefit because of a member's status or another benefit allowance, and that member is no longer travelling on the original reservation, the companion on that reservation stops being eligible for the benefit obtained through the member. [4]

The Rules also treat partners — airlines, banks, hotels, car rental companies and other entities that offer products, services or benefits, including status, or that let members earn or redeem miles — as independent entities, and state that United is not responsible for the nature or quality of products, services or other benefits provided by partners. [4]

Premier status and Star Alliance partners

PQP can be earned on flights operated by United, United Express or one of United's Star Alliance partners. [6] The partner lists on the page name airlines including Lufthansa, ANA, SWISS, Singapore Airlines and Turkish Airlines. [6] Whatever the source of the points, a member must take at least four paid flight segments operated by United or United Express during the calendar year to qualify for any Premier status. [6]

Those rules describe how Premier status is calculated and what a member must do to hold it. They do not state that Premier status, or membership of a partner airline's programme, provides Polaris Lounge access, and the page does not list lounge entry among Premier benefits. [6]

Exceptions and limits

• Points a reader may look for.
• No vested rights. The Rules say that accumulating mileage, certificates, PlusPoints, Premier qualifying credits or Premier status does not entitle members to any vested rights in the programme, including awards or Premier benefits. [4] Awards and benefits, including accrued mileage and Premier status, are not the member's property and are not transferable except as the Rules allow. [4]
• Status timing. A member who reaches Premier in 2026 does not see that status expire until 31 January 2028 under the published schedule. [6]
• Qualification exclusions. Basic Economy tickets earn PQP but not PQF. [6] On a codeshare flight marketed by United but operated by another airline, the operating airline determines how many miles are earned, and a partner flight that is not eligible for award miles is also not eligible for PQF or PQP. [6]

Related pages

Programme profiles: United MileagePlus and United Club. Background: the lounge access checklist, Star Alliance lounge access, the term premium cabin lounge, and the full glossary of terms.

Sources

Sources checked on 18 October 2026. Polaris Lounge access terms, locations and hours are not published in the two United pages listed here, and other Star Alliance member programmes and partner-operated lounges are not covered.

1. MileagePlus Rules, United Airlines, checked 18 October 2026
2. How to earn Premier status, United Airlines, checked 18 October 2026