Nov 27, 2016, 1:30 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
UA has announced that the SFO Polaris lounge is opening 30 April 2018
Summary
The International UC is closed for renovation to a Polaris Club. The SQ & BR lounges have been closed and will be integrated into the new facility. Polaris lounge open 30 April 2018.
SFO Polaris Lounge opens 30 April 2018 (Previews - Press 25th, MP 27th)
The old GFL (near G99) has been converted into a premium cabin international lounge (not an UC). Eventually, it will be converted into a UC for the non-premium cabin international passengers (*G in economy). Now operating as an United Club
The F and E concourse UCs plus again the temporary mezzanine UC lounge (across from Gate 71) are options for those not eligible for the temporary G premium cabin international lounge.
sign
Previous Updates
1 Oct 2017 on united.com
posted 23 Sept 2017
posted 28 Sept 2017
Earlier thread summary
Summary of posts suggest the present SFO Global First Lounge will be available for much of first half of 2017. Reports are that the current Global First Lounge will become a "regular" UC, while the current international (G Terminal) UC will become a Polaris club (which will integrate the space currently housing the SQ & BR lounges). UA is also constructing a new UC, either in Terminal G or E (or both). Construction has begun in the G Terminal United Club, a large portion of which is now boarded off. Latest info from UA suggests "summer 2018" for the SFO Polaris lounge opening.
{Similar Threads:
Polaris Lounge Roadmap 2017-2018 (wiki) (thread) --- UA Polaris lounge update site
Polaris lounge ORD - opened 01 Dec 2016 (wiki) (thread)
SFO Lounge changes? Which will become Polaris? Shower options?(wiki) (thread)
United Polaris-New Business Class seats & inflight service and new Polaris Lounges(wiki) (thread)}
Summary
The International UC is closed for renovation to a Polaris Club. The SQ & BR lounges have been closed and will be integrated into the new facility. Polaris lounge open 30 April 2018.
SFO Polaris Lounge opens 30 April 2018 (Previews - Press 25th, MP 27th)
The old GFL (near G99) has been converted into a premium cabin international lounge (not an UC). Eventually, it will be converted into a UC for the non-premium cabin international passengers (*G in economy). Now operating as an United Club
The F and E concourse UCs plus again the temporary mezzanine UC lounge (across from Gate 71) are options for those not eligible for the temporary G premium cabin international lounge.
sign
Previous Updates
1 Oct 2017 on united.com
On October 1, the United Club location in the International Terminal will be closed to launch its transition into a United Polaris lounge. An additional United Club location will open across from Gate 71A on the mezzanine level at the end of September. Customers departing out of the International Terminal should allow 10-15 minutes to walk to their gate from the United Club location in Gate 71A or Concourse F.
Bummer - was just in GF lounge and was told that in two weeks it will be a United Club - no showers, no open bar, etc. Was also told that "Polaris" is just a marketing term and that until the actual Polaris lounge opens in 8 months, it's United Clubs for everyone. .....
Closure of San Francisco SilverKris Lounge for renovations
The Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge in San Francisco will be closed for renovations starting from 01 October 2017. As part of the renovations, Singapore Airlines will begin a transition to a newly constructed, shared lounge facility operated by our Star Alliance partner, United Airlines. It is scheduled to open in early 2018.
The Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge in San Francisco will be closed for renovations starting from 01 October 2017. As part of the renovations, Singapore Airlines will begin a transition to a newly constructed, shared lounge facility operated by our Star Alliance partner, United Airlines. It is scheduled to open in early 2018.
Summary of posts suggest the present SFO Global First Lounge will be available for much of first half of 2017. Reports are that the current Global First Lounge will become a "regular" UC, while the current international (G Terminal) UC will become a Polaris club (which will integrate the space currently housing the SQ & BR lounges). UA is also constructing a new UC, either in Terminal G or E (or both). Construction has begun in the G Terminal United Club, a large portion of which is now boarded off. Latest info from UA suggests "summer 2018" for the SFO Polaris lounge opening.
{Similar Threads:
Polaris Lounge Roadmap 2017-2018 (wiki) (thread) --- UA Polaris lounge update site
Polaris lounge ORD - opened 01 Dec 2016 (wiki) (thread)
SFO Lounge changes? Which will become Polaris? Shower options?(wiki) (thread)
United Polaris-New Business Class seats & inflight service and new Polaris Lounges(wiki) (thread)}
SFO G UC closed, reopens as Polaris Lounge 30 Apr 2018, old GFL is now the intl UC
Apr 10, 2018, 7:40 pm
#721
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Seoul
Programs: None anymore
Posts: 983
Looks like the Polaris lounge will be opening to the public on April 30th!
Apr 10, 2018, 7:55 pm
#722
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Apr 10, 2018, 8:02 pm
#723
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: Mileage Plus Global Services 2MM
Posts: 1,200
That's outstanding news! I am flying MCI-SIN via SFO the first week of May. I'm sure there will be multiple reports by then, but I'll be sure to report back on the experience.
As opposed to the non-qualifying public? Not sure what point you're trying to make so please expand your thought.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 10, 2018 at 10:29 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Apr 10, 2018, 8:32 pm
#724
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Not too complicated🙂
Apr 10, 2018, 8:32 pm
#725
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
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Posts: 5,992
Given longhaul J pax have been turned away from the temporary lounge with absolutely no compensation, I don't think your attempted dismissal of complaints here is at all justified. UA has handled this incredibly poorly, and this isn't the type of treatment that passengers paying premium cabin fares forget.
Apr 11, 2018, 1:16 am
#726
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Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
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I think there will be a lot of unsuspecting folks expecting to access this lounge when it first opens and, albeit being correctly denied access per Polaris rules, it will still leave a bitter taste in their mouth as I bet that a lot of people outside FT are just waiting for it to open again and expect access as before.
Apr 11, 2018, 7:21 am
#727
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
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- do incoming Polaris flights have access if connecting to something else?
Apr 11, 2018, 8:50 am
#728
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
Incoming *A flights -- longhaul or otherwise -- would not have access.
Apr 12, 2018, 7:13 am
#729
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: UAMP Global Services, AA Platinum
Posts: 89
New details on SFO Polaris lounge
From Chris McGinnis on sfgate.com
https://www.sfgate.com/chris-mcginni...w-12825345.php
28,128 square feet
440 seats - not bad, as there are probably no more than 500 eligible F & J passengers in the concourse at peak times (10 gates X 50 premium passengers per gate)
For comparison, ORD is 16,292 square feet, with capacity for 277
https://www.sfgate.com/chris-mcginni...w-12825345.php
28,128 square feet
440 seats - not bad, as there are probably no more than 500 eligible F & J passengers in the concourse at peak times (10 gates X 50 premium passengers per gate)
For comparison, ORD is 16,292 square feet, with capacity for 277
Apr 12, 2018, 7:30 am
#730
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Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
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Apr 12, 2018, 7:36 am
#731
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Washington DC
Programs: Delta DM CO PE OZ GE AMTRAK
Posts: 524
From Chris McGinnis on sfgate.com
https://www.sfgate.com/chris-mcginni...w-12825345.php
28,128 square feet
440 seats - not bad, as there are probably no more than 500 eligible F & J passengers in the concourse at peak times (10 gates X 50 premium passengers per gate)
For comparison, ORD is 16,292 square feet, with capacity for 277
https://www.sfgate.com/chris-mcginni...w-12825345.php
28,128 square feet
440 seats - not bad, as there are probably no more than 500 eligible F & J passengers in the concourse at peak times (10 gates X 50 premium passengers per gate)
For comparison, ORD is 16,292 square feet, with capacity for 277
Last edited by amtrakusa; Apr 12, 2018 at 7:47 am
Apr 12, 2018, 7:40 am
#732
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
From Chris McGinnis on sfgate.com
https://www.sfgate.com/chris-mcginni...w-12825345.php
28,128 square feet
440 seats - not bad, as there are probably no more than 500 eligible F & J passengers in the concourse at peak times (10 gates X 50 premium passengers per gate)
For comparison, ORD is 16,292 square feet, with capacity for 277
https://www.sfgate.com/chris-mcginni...w-12825345.php
28,128 square feet
440 seats - not bad, as there are probably no more than 500 eligible F & J passengers in the concourse at peak times (10 gates X 50 premium passengers per gate)
For comparison, ORD is 16,292 square feet, with capacity for 277
Apr 12, 2018, 8:03 am
#733
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Also agree this is simply unavoidable at SFO given the bunching of the TPAC departures between 10 am and 2 pm.
Best time to use this lounge will be before 10 am or between 2 pm and 6 pm, which mostly means on a connecting itinerary.
Apr 12, 2018, 9:29 am
#734
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: UAMP Global Services, AA Platinum
Posts: 89
Yes,, it's around 700 at the peak just including UA flights, closer to 1000 when you include NH, BR, SQ, LH, etc. And 440 seats means it will feel crowded above about 350.
Also agree this is simply unavoidable at SFO given the bunching of the TPAC departures between 10 am and 2 pm.
Best time to use this lounge will be before 10 am or between 2 pm and 6 pm, which mostly means on a connecting itinerary.
Also agree this is simply unavoidable at SFO given the bunching of the TPAC departures between 10 am and 2 pm.
Best time to use this lounge will be before 10 am or between 2 pm and 6 pm, which mostly means on a connecting itinerary.
I’m not sure how to get to 1000 F and J passengers, when most of those planes have less than 50 such seats, and by the time the 2 pm passengers are in the terminal, the passengers from the 10 and 11 am bank will have departed
Not not that many biz travelers can afford to spend three hours at the airport after security. Some but not all or even most.
Last edited by jcacciotti; Apr 12, 2018 at 9:43 am
Apr 12, 2018, 9:50 am
#735
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SF
Programs: UA MM, AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTP, HH Dia
Posts: 1,132
Agreed. Most business travelers I know have both Clear and Global Entry/TSA pre. If originating in or near SF, it's pretty easy to arrive at your gate pretty close to boarding time, without needing to kill a few hours in a lounge. Obviously, connecting passengers have a lot less control over the amount of time they'll be spending at the airport, and I think the upgraded lounge benefits them the most. I think FT'ers tend to overestimate how many people would choose to show up at an airport several hours ahead of their longhaul flights, simply to eat and drink for free.