lincolnjkc

At this point... why not open it up to a select group (1K/GS only? Those on INTL tickets who have club access [Polaris-lite?]?) -- maintain an 'exclusive' product while alleviating crowding to some extent and showing that UA still values GS/1K despite the number of benefits that either aren't being offered or are being offered to everyone.

I suspect that a lot more of this than we think comes down to staff availability -- I've been hearing crazy things directly and indirectly from basically everywhere in the US about amount of OT, vacant lines, sick calls, etc. -- and the PL lounge configuration requires really a minimum of 4 agents to operate sanely. If you don't have a surplus of agents to assign those have to come from somewhere else... gates? Not really much slack there in EWR I would assume. Other clubs? Then you have people complaining about the lack of assistance there.... Plus the nooks and crannies require more attention (cost/time) from cleaning staff and...and...and...

I honestly believe that if it weren't a root cause staffing issue we'd see the A club open already -- much lower staff requirements (I think it could actually be run somewhat sanely with one agent assuming no IROPS) and not as many nooks to have to patrol for cleanliness... not to mention "standard" UC food and beverage setup vs. the Polaris setup that would have to be shuffled to fit UC F&B in or require more staff attendance.

dilanesp

Staff availability is a problem in the entire restaurant industry. You are seeing some fast food places staying drive-through only because they can't hire workers. So that's definitely an issue.

But I still think the main issue is the entire business model of the Polaris lounge presumes a whole bunch of business travelers paying $4,000 roundtrip of someone else's money per ticket who want a luxurious, very private space at the airport. And until that market exists again in large numbers, United probably takes a big financial hit to reopen the lounges.

Saab_Redondo_1987

I'm just perplexed as to why UA isn't using the Polaris Lounge at EWR for extra space. And I thought UA was racing to get that new lounge in built in C-3, did it slow down because of COVID-19?

When UA decided to use the new & larger ex-President's Club as a Polaris Lounge, I saw a regular UC space concern coming from a mile away. I think it would've been a cool idea to make the C-74 lounge a Polaris Lounge instead as it needed an update anyway as it's still stuck in the '80s. Having a Polaris Lounge with the enclosed windows overlooking the food court & the walk up stair access could've been a neat deployment. In retrospect, I think UA could've truly made it happen if they weren't in such a rush to open a Polaris Lounge at EWR.

If you compare UA with such a large hub to what DL has at JFK and their clubs, the situation really isn't acceptable at the moment. If the "Pop Up" Club has lines, you know it's bad. They really need to finish up the so-called planned "Largest UC" in C-3 to fix this.

EWR764

The problem with making the existing C-1 club into a Polaris lounge is that the C-1 concourse has fewer than half the widebody parking positions at C, so there would be long walks to gates on C-2/C-3. The Polaris Lounge is also quite a bit larger than the C-1 club.

The C-3 United Club construction began in late 2019, but was suspended for most of 2020 due to the pandemic. Work resumed in early 2021, so it's probably a year behind schedule. Last I heard was to expect an opening in Spring 2022. Still, the C-3 United Club is far enough down the concourse that it is pretty inconvenient for C-2 departures, leaving limited options for passengers flying from those gates. Prior to COVID, the plan was for the C-1 United Club to get a full renovation after the C-3 Club opens. I'm not sure if that's still the case. UA will also be opening a new United Club in Terminal A when that facility is operational.

halls120

Except that we aren't talking about a business model that can't currently support Polaris. We're talking about UA not lifting a finger to provide a decent about of UC space. They manage to offer it at their other hubs - why do they shaft the customers based out of EWR?

Saab_Redondo_1987

Meh, a long walk to the gates wouldn't be a deal breaker to me at all. EWR is already a zoo to navigate with everything from the security areas to the annoying narrow walkway extension which is by the Polaris Lounge outside the security area(s).

Regardless, Spring 2022 is a long time to get the new C-3 club up and running given the situation at the moment.

elitefreak

Who did you hear this from?

EWR764

Are you looking for a name? Are you fact-checking? What are you questioning? The timeline of the C-3 club construction, a pre-COVID plan to renovate C-1 or the opening of a new lounge in the new Terminal A to replace the existing (but closed) lounge in a terminal where UA will be operating about a dozen mainline gates?

elitefreak

I was wondering where you heard of a Spring 2022 opening of the C-3 club. Sorry for my poor quote editing. Quite innocent . . .

EWR764

No worries... I have a friend involved in the construction who advises that the inspection timeline is some time in the late winter, which would portend a spring opening. My guess is it will be ready for Summer 2022 (assume April/May opening). Interior work is underway now.

wpcoe

I departed out of gate C125 earlier this week, my first EWR flight in years.

At check-in I asked the roving UA lobby agent what UC was closest to my gate. (I wasn't sure if more than one club were open, but I thought I read somewhere that there was.) She just shrugged and said she didn't know.

After clearing TSA, I decided to head toward C125 to see if I passed any UC. I encountered a UA agent and asked if there were a UC in the concourse with C125, and he said no, but there was a pop-up UC in the C101-C115 concourse we were standing in front of. So, I walked the length of that concourse and finally asked another UA agent, and he said, no, only one club was open, the one by C74.

How can UA CSRs *not* know where, and how many, UCs are open in their own airport? (Especially one who was roaming the gate area.) </rant off>

IAH-OIL-TRASH

I can guarantee each agent at EWR knows how/where to clock in and out.

WineCountryUA

The UA app will provide directions
C1 - Near gate C74, upper level.
C1 - Pop-up location near C93 - no hot food -- very limited hours, 3:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. daily
the other pop up was closed for the construction of the new, not yet opened UC

UA personal are specialized and will not be as informed about other parts of the UA operation, And the answer varies on the time (would not be surprised the existence of the pop up is not well known)

Xyzzy

He he - I had to walk through a gauntlet of them the other day after arriving at EWR. They were in a long line by the time clocks on level 2, waiting a few minutes before clocking ut. That agents don't know which UA clubs are open would be shocking -- but it's EWR we're talking about.

Atuchan

I will be flying Polaris on Sunday. The last time I went through EWR, they punched my ticket for premium drinks at the UC front desk.
The situation is the same now? Do I ask the lounge dragon to punch a hole in my ticket for premium drinks?