Originally Posted by
seacarl
...
As to the pace of lounges, I think UA quickly realized with the experience in Chicago that the planned lounge sizes were not large enough and went back to redesign the other lounges to increase capacity so that there would not be overcrowding issues on day 1. If that is the reason for slow pace, I agree with that decision.
It all goes back to providing what is advertised. So many people flying business for so many international trips since Polaris was announced, including me. What they are providing is such a small piece of it that I think they should just give it up. I don't think I should have to ask for so many pieces of it on the plane. My last couple of TATL trips had a snack cart that made Skywest look generous with their snacks. I'm flying to Auckland on Friday night on the Polaris seating for the first time. Of course, it's out of SFO that doesn't have an actual Polaris lounge.
Getting the full advertised Polaris experience over a year after it started service takes way too much juggling from what I can tell. Since I doubt I will ever hit 2MM, I'm not trying. I'll be 1K for 2018 and if United is the best offer, I may fly it for international trips but I won't be striving to stay on it.
P.S. I hate the unisex bathrooms in the Polaris lounge - some man must have thought that up.