Nov 27, 2016, 1:30 pm

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UA has announced that the SFO Polaris lounge is opening 30 April 2018

Summary
The International UC is closed for renovation to a Polaris Club. The SQ & BR lounges have been closed and will be integrated into the new facility. Polaris lounge open 30 April 2018.
SFO Polaris Lounge opens 30 April 2018 (Previews - Press 25th, MP 27th)

The old GFL (near G99) has been converted into a premium cabin international lounge (not an UC). Eventually, it will be converted into a UC for the non-premium cabin international passengers (*G in economy). Now operating as an United Club

The F and E concourse UCs plus again the temporary mezzanine UC lounge (across from Gate 71) are options for those not eligible for the temporary G premium cabin international lounge.

sign

Previous Updates

1 Oct 2017 on united.com

Quote:

On October 1, the United Club location in the International Terminal will be closed to launch its transition into a United Polaris lounge. An additional United Club location will open across from Gate 71A on the mezzanine level at the end of September. Customers departing out of the International Terminal should allow 10-15 minutes to walk to their gate from the United Club location in Gate 71A or Concourse F.

posted 23 Sept 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oregonflyer

Bummer - was just in GF lounge and was told that in two weeks it will be a United Club - no showers, no open bar, etc. Was also told that "Polaris" is just a marketing term and that until the actual Polaris lounge opens in 8 months, it's United Clubs for everyone. .....

posted 28 Sept 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by geclub1

EVA just sent out an email announcement that its SFO lounge is closed as of 1OCT17.

Quote:

Originally Posted by findark

.... in the F club at SFO right now and there are signs announcing that the G club will close (entirely!) as of 01-Oct-17 for Polaris renovations. Possibly replaced by the decommissioned GFL?

Quote:

Closure of San Francisco SilverKris Lounge for renovations

The Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge in San Francisco will be closed for renovations starting from 01 October 2017. As part of the renovations, Singapore Airlines will begin a transition to a newly constructed, shared lounge facility operated by our Star Alliance partner, United Airlines. It is scheduled to open in early 2018.

Earlier thread summary
Summary of posts suggest the present SFO Global First Lounge will be available for much of first half of 2017. Reports are that the current Global First Lounge will become a "regular" UC, while the current international (G Terminal) UC will become a Polaris club (which will integrate the space currently housing the SQ & BR lounges). UA is also constructing a new UC, either in Terminal G or E (or both). Construction has begun in the G Terminal United Club, a large portion of which is now boarded off. Latest info from UA suggests "summer 2018" for the SFO Polaris lounge opening.

{Similar Threads:
Polaris Lounge Roadmap 2017-2018 (wiki) (thread) --- UA Polaris lounge update site
Polaris lounge ORD - opened 01 Dec 2016 (wiki) (thread)
SFO Lounge changes? Which will become Polaris? Shower options?(wiki) (thread)
United Polaris-New Business Class seats & inflight service and new Polaris Lounges(wiki) (thread)}

SFO G UC closed, reopens as Polaris Lounge 30 Apr 2018, old GFL is now the intl UC

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Feb 24, 2017, 8:43 am

#91

rankourabu

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While AC pax at ORD are a non-issue - long walk to AC gates, only a dozen pax per flight, SFO will be a different issue - it will be much closer to the AC gates - 30 pax on a widebody, two widebodies a day in addition to the 15 daily narrowbody planes.

They really should do something about this. But guess the money from AC is too good.

Feb 24, 2017, 8:52 am

#92

Kacee

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Quote:

Originally Posted by rankourabu

They really should do something about this. But guess the money from AC is too good.

Don't think they can do anything about it without violating *A rules or excluding some of their own Polaris passengers.

Feb 24, 2017, 9:51 am

#93

aCavalierInCoach

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Quote:

Originally Posted by rankourabu

Really good point. Not that they should do this, but is there any reason the AC flight couldn't arrive into T3 instead of the international terminal? It would make connections easier and AC doesn't fly from anywhere to SFO that doesn't do passport and customs up north.

Feb 24, 2017, 11:50 am

#94

transportprof

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Kacee

Don't think they can do anything about it without violating *A rules or excluding some of their own Polaris passengers.

What they could do is extend parity to their own customers who fly "short(er)" international flights in front cabins and admit them to the Polaris lounges along with the AC (and other *A carriers, eventually at LAX and other gateways) international flights.

Feb 24, 2017, 11:59 am

#95

Kacee

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Quote:

Originally Posted by transportprof

That's not a solution - would just exacerbate the crowding issues and dilute the whole "Polaris" experience.

I suspect this is really less of an issue than suggested here. To the extent they use a UA lounge, most pax flying J on AC from a UA hub are likely going to wind up in the UC (which is where the *A lounge finder currently directs them). The FT-level informed pax is just a tiny minority of flyers.

Feb 24, 2017, 12:02 pm

#96

transportprof

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Kacee

Can't argue with your logic. I know that I'll be looking more closely at AC code shares on future itineraries that pass through SFO to obtain an FT travel dividend. It may not be many people, but a few of us will adapt our flying behavior because of the knowledge we've gained from this forum.

Mar 30, 2017, 6:14 pm

#97

luv2ctheworld

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Does anyone have any updates on whether the Polaris lounge will be opened by the time originally specified?

Haven't heard or read much about it lately, despite the SFO-HKG 777-300 with Polaris configuration. Be nice to have a true Polaris experience sooner rather than later.

Mar 30, 2017, 8:19 pm

#98

aCavalierInCoach

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Quote:

Originally Posted by luv2ctheworld

can't imagine that this timeline would be tied to the aircraft being put into service. they're already selling the product as "polaris" so no reason to hold off.

Mar 30, 2017, 8:22 pm

#99

FLYMSY

Join Date: Jul 2001

Posts: 2,925

In the meantime, which lounge(s) are the best to use in the International Terminal when departing? Or, when arriving at International and waiting for a domestic connection?

Mar 30, 2017, 9:47 pm

#100

hayzel7773

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Are they really taking over SQ and BR lounges? They are still open.

Mar 31, 2017, 12:26 am

#101

luv2ctheworld

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Quote:

Originally Posted by aCavalierInCoach

can't imagine that this timeline would be tied to the aircraft being put into service. they're already selling the product as "polaris" so no reason to hold off.

For clarification, I meant it would be nice to get a true Polaris experience from the lounge to the aircraft; not just a United Club and BusinessFirst seat slapped on with a Polaris label.

Mar 31, 2017, 1:02 am

#102

warrenw

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Quote:

Originally Posted by hayzel7773

Are they really taking over SQ and BR lounges? They are still open.

I don't think construction starts until later this year.

Apr 4, 2017, 4:14 pm

#103

Tennen

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Quote:

Originally Posted by warrenw

I don't think construction starts until later this year.

The Lounge Locations page says that the international terminal UC is partially under construction. Are they working on the conversion now?

Quote:

International terminal across from the G Terminal security checkpoint *Note: A portion of this location is under construction; seating availability may be limited.

Apr 4, 2017, 5:18 pm

#104

warrenw

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Tennen

The Lounge Locations page says that the international terminal UC is partially under construction. Are they working on the conversion now?

Ah I see. I haven't been through SFO and that lounge in a few months.

Apr 4, 2017, 6:14 pm

#105

worldwidedreamer

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Tennen

The Lounge Locations page says that the international terminal UC is partially under construction. Are they working on the conversion now?

At least the last time I was in that lounge, about six weeks ago, the western half was walled off. (I.e. the part you would visit walking forward from the escalator). The net effect was the lounge was SRO, so I returned to the nearby Centurion.