ORD Global First Lounge Renovations (conversion to Polaris lounge 2016)
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
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Posts: 9,454
ORD Global First Lounge Renovations (conversion to Polaris lounge 2016)
Noticed the ORD Global First Lounge will be closed from December 1-15. Any news on the scope of this renovation? Merely cosmetic or will there be some more substantive changes?
#3
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, UA Silver, AA Gold
Posts: 494
#4
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 6km East of EPAYE
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#5
Used to be MBS PremExec
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Saginaw, MI (MBS)
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Posts: 5,722
We have a 5-hour layover at ORD next week, flying GF. So, I'm relegated to using the dumpy RCC with their gerbil feeders and rotgut swill instead of those nice shrimp cocktails, decent (not great) food and potable drinks?
Not happy...NOT happy. I get to go to the GF lounge maybe once every 2 years or so--I know it doesn't compare to other airlines' F lounge, but it certainly is leaps and bounds better than the crowded, noisy UC with the absolute crap food and drinks.
Too late now, but I might have booked C versus F on the ticket had I known this...Of course all seats are gone now.
#6
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 17,976
CLOSED?
We have a 5-hour layover at ORD next week, flying GF. So, I'm relegated to using the dumpy RCC with their gerbil feeders and rotgut swill instead of those nice shrimp cocktails, decent (not great) food and potable drinks?
Not happy...NOT happy. I get to go to the GF lounge maybe once every 2 years or so--I know it doesn't compare to other airlines' F lounge, but it certainly is leaps and bounds better than the crowded, noisy UC with the absolute crap food and drinks.
Too late now, but I might have booked C versus F on the ticket had I known this...Of course all seats are gone now.
We have a 5-hour layover at ORD next week, flying GF. So, I'm relegated to using the dumpy RCC with their gerbil feeders and rotgut swill instead of those nice shrimp cocktails, decent (not great) food and potable drinks?
Not happy...NOT happy. I get to go to the GF lounge maybe once every 2 years or so--I know it doesn't compare to other airlines' F lounge, but it certainly is leaps and bounds better than the crowded, noisy UC with the absolute crap food and drinks.
Too late now, but I might have booked C versus F on the ticket had I known this...Of course all seats are gone now.
You will be given chits for complimentary premium beverages from the club.
You will be given a $25 voucher to purchase food from vendors at ORD. (Unfortunately, you will not be able to bring said food into the club.)
They say that this will last two weeks - I'll take the over on that big time.
#7
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: YVR SFO
Programs: UA G
Posts: 4,866
#8
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: LHR (sometimes CLE, SFO, BOS, LAX, SEA)
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 5,895
In ORD the showers are gated by a valet and are something of a rare commodity (we have been waiting about 30 min now and are told it will be another 20 minutes… we waited only about 15 min after arriving GRU-ORD just after 5:30 a.m.). Lounge is packed because of all the upcoming tatl flights.
The ORD showers are really nice! A nicer cubicle space than at IAH, EWR, or even LH at IAD. About as good as the LHR arrivals showers. There's a nice heated towel rack which actually works (unlike the one in our flat at home), there are Andes mints, and there are okay amenities (apparently there used to be really good GlobalFirst kits).
The agent who works the showers in the morning, B--- (name anonymized), is awesome. A great character and a stand-up guy.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,693
#10
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, UA Silver, AA Gold
Posts: 494
Yes, the ORD and GRU GlobalFirst showers became accessible to United Club users earlier this year, http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...6-gru-all.html .
In ORD the showers are gated by a valet and are something of a rare commodity (we have been waiting about 30 min now and are told it will be another 20 minutes… we waited only about 15 min after arriving GRU-ORD just after 5:30 a.m.). Lounge is packed because of all the upcoming tatl flights.
The ORD showers are really nice! A nicer cubicle space than at IAH, EWR, or even LH at IAD. About as good as the LHR arrivals showers. There's a nice heated towel rack which actually works (unlike the one in our flat at home), there are Andes mints, and there are okay amenities (apparently there used to be really good GlobalFirst kits).
The agent who works the showers in the morning, B--- (name anonymized), is awesome. A great character and a stand-up guy.
In ORD the showers are gated by a valet and are something of a rare commodity (we have been waiting about 30 min now and are told it will be another 20 minutes… we waited only about 15 min after arriving GRU-ORD just after 5:30 a.m.). Lounge is packed because of all the upcoming tatl flights.
The ORD showers are really nice! A nicer cubicle space than at IAH, EWR, or even LH at IAD. About as good as the LHR arrivals showers. There's a nice heated towel rack which actually works (unlike the one in our flat at home), there are Andes mints, and there are okay amenities (apparently there used to be really good GlobalFirst kits).
The agent who works the showers in the morning, B--- (name anonymized), is awesome. A great character and a stand-up guy.
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: ORD, HKG
Programs: UA*G, AA Emerald, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt globalist
Posts: 10,279
The ORD showers are really nice! A nicer cubicle space than at IAH, EWR, or even LH at IAD. About as good as the LHR arrivals showers. There's a nice heated towel rack which actually works (unlike the one in our flat at home), there are Andes mints, and there are okay amenities (apparently there used to be really good GlobalFirst kits).
When it was part of Arrivals by United, it had a very strict admittance policy, only paid F, upgrade F, award F, paid C, and award C, no upgrade C can get access at all, not to mention it MUST be arriving on UA metal. Unlike sCO's IAH, EWR lounge everyone can use it.
There was no GlobalFirst kits in the shower, it was just a shower kit, sUA had been providing complete shower kits for years in all RCC that has showers, it was most famous for people who use NRT RCC always go there and grab the kit and leave (because NH has none)
#13
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SJC, SFO, YYC
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Posts: 13,437
Umm, cordon off an area of one of the UCs, and operate it as a GF? Use the GF staff to guard entry to the GF area?
#14
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: UA GS 4MM
Posts: 583
Just landed from Beijing and I've somehow managed to suffer thru with a glass of Veuve Cliquot and some Terazas Malbac in the C United Club. Showers were empty and the attendant is a great guy. Now, if only the snow would stop...