Originally Posted by
EWR764
The new Club, once the renovation is complete, will have a full kitchen, unlike the current setup which is more of a pantry with some prep space. Reportedly, a "Polaris area" is planned. I was thinking about how United might be able to accomplish this at airports like DEN, HNL or even BOS, where there will be some Polaris-branded service but not enough to justify an entire, dedicated PL. I can envision a dining area, which can be used by "normal" pax outside of Polaris hours, and, perhaps 2-3 hours before a Polaris departure, it is set up for private a la carte dining. At the bar, Polaris pax would be comped premium spirits or liquors, or maybe a small self-service bar could be set up within the dining area for some higher-end wines/liquor. Call it "Polaris Dining" or something like that.
BA and AF are able to execute this type of product reasonably well and it could integrate easily into a redesigned United Club at DEN.
A Polaris space is what I’ve always advocated for at smaller Polaris stations. As you mentioned AF, BA already do this, as does LH (think IAD), they rope off the space a few hours before flight and offer more extensive dining, alcohol, and waiter service.
DEN, BOS, SEA, CLE, RDU - I feel like all these could support a small Polaris section, even without direct Polaris service. Think of the corporate contracts at many of these airports and the ability to take a Polaris experience through the entire journey!
This would prove to be a big differentiator between UA and DL/AA at outstations.