United Polaris Lounge Primes for December Launch

Airline gives FlyerTalk the first look at the business-class only lounge.

Flyers aboard the new United Airlines Polaris business class traveling through Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) will soon have a brand new lounge to look forward to. Prior to the public launch, the Chicago-based carrier gave FlyerTalk a look behind the scenes at their first flagship business-class only lounge.

“This lounge is part of a much larger transformation of what business travel means for our customers,” Julia Haywood, executive vice president and chief commercial officer at United Airlines, told FlyerTalk. “United Polaris, our most significant product transformation in more than a decade, revolutionizes business class travel all the way from lounge to landing, with a focus on what is most important to our customers.”

The new lounge, located near gate C19 at ORD, was created with the idea of stepping out of the airport and into a premium-class lounge. The space features four unique areas with every type of flyer in mind. In the entrance of the Polaris lounge are cubicle spaces designed to allow business flyers to get work done. The bar was designed by bartenders, lead by Chicago mixologist Adam Seger, who created a signature cocktail for the lounge – along with including recipes from other mixologists across the United States.

The kitchen is led by chef Art Smith, whose resume includes working with Oprah Winfrey and owning multiple restaurants, including the Blue Door Kitchen in Chicago. The dine-in menu will feature locally inspired flavors and comfort foods, including fried chicken.

In addition to the new food and beverage menus, travelers will also have full access to shower and rest facilities rooms in the lounge. Both the resting rooms and showers will showcase items from Saks Fifth Avenue, including towels and linens. Resting areas will be available for use one hour at a time, with Bluetooth beacons throughout the lounge tracking customers who have requested use of the room.

Complementing the attention to detail will be a full-service concierge, available to flyers both departing and arriving. Concierges will be available to help travelers with items as small as laundry service, to items as big as event tickets and gift purchasing.

The lounge will launch along with the United Polaris product, starting Thursday, Dec. 1, and will only be accessible to those flying in Polaris business class or in business class of another Star Alliance carrier. Additional lounges will be launching at nine of United’s additional hubs, including Houston, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles and Tokyo.

[Photos: Joe Cortez/FlyerTalk]