I had a business class itinerary from Washington Dulles Airport to Addis Ababa via Ethiopian Airlines, booked under a single confirmation that also included an economy segment from Newark. Based on existing guidance, this should have qualified me for United Polaris Lounge access at Terminal C.
However, when I arrived, my boarding pass was rejected at the lounge entrance. A supervisor later explained that a new policy had just taken effect on April 14, 2026, restricting access. According to this update, only certain partner airlines such as United, ANA, Air New Zealand, ITA Airways, Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines in business class are eligible. Other Star Alliance carriers, including Ethiopian Airlines and EgyptAir, are no longer granted access.
I could not find clear public documentation of this change at the time and am wondering if others have experienced the same situation or can confirm the policy update.
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