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
Feb 23, 2017, 3:01 pm
#76
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Feb 23, 2017, 3:07 pm
#77
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Was talking with the BR station manager the other day.
Apparently BR feels the food spread at UC is lackluster and are planning to contract with United to send top FFP(Diamond and Gold only, silver will go to UC) to the Polaris in addition to their Business class passengers. This makes sense since right now, Silver do not get access to the SFO lounge and on crowded nights when the BR pax spillover to the UC, BR sets up a table with food only for BR pax.
She said that should be the decision unless they suddenly decide otherwise.
Apparently BR feels the food spread at UC is lackluster and are planning to contract with United to send top FFP(Diamond and Gold only, silver will go to UC) to the Polaris in addition to their Business class passengers. This makes sense since right now, Silver do not get access to the SFO lounge and on crowded nights when the BR pax spillover to the UC, BR sets up a table with food only for BR pax.
She said that should be the decision unless they suddenly decide otherwise.
Feb 23, 2017, 3:12 pm
#78
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It would be extremely disappointing if UA agreed to this; despite my very low expectations for UA I have a hard time believing they would make a deal that effectively says: "Eva Air's elites are good enough for Polaris Club access, but GS/1K in Y today can go gnaw on processed cheese cubes."
Feb 23, 2017, 3:54 pm
#79
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It would be extremely disappointing if UA agreed to this; despite my very low expectations for UA I have a hard time believing they would make a deal that effectively says: "Eva Air's elites are good enough for Polaris Club access, but GS/1K in Y today can go gnaw on processed cheese cubes."
Feb 23, 2017, 4:51 pm
#80
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I don't think this is a big deal. Probably not a lot top tier EVA elites out there, considering the requirements (like M&M), and it probably made financial sense for UA to strike this deal. Also, the fact their Silvers have lounge access would make it seem like this is not an equal comparison between MileagePlus and EVA's FF program. Agree though that GS should be allowed entry to the Polaris lounge.
Feb 23, 2017, 6:15 pm
#81
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Does anyone know if PS J pax will get to use the Polaris lounges - apologies if this has already been answered.
Feb 23, 2017, 6:50 pm
#82
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Feb 23, 2017, 7:39 pm
#83
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Just to be clear though, Polaris lounges are not "for Polaris customers only," but rather are for all J and F customers on a long-haul int'l flight on any *A carrier. Not just UA.
Feb 23, 2017, 8:01 pm
#84
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Except for United's own international flights that are non-Polaris (e.g., Canada & Mexico, and the Caribbean, etc.)
Feb 23, 2017, 8:26 pm
#85
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Yeah I get that, but I kind of have to figure that is more an issue of reciprocity rules in *A. It doesn't make sense for an AC J pax ORD-YYZ to get into the lounge while the UA 1K or GS flying F on UA metal gets relegated to the UC.
Feb 23, 2017, 10:32 pm
#86
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It makes sense in that UA is respecting the *A rules. Which I give them credit for, because other airlines (SQ) don't always do that.
Feb 23, 2017, 10:41 pm
#87
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Feb 24, 2017, 6:09 am
#88
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Feb 24, 2017, 6:23 am
#89
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Feb 24, 2017, 8:39 am
#90
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They removed that language (which appeared in the initial releases), as I believe it violates *A rules. Instead, they use the "Polaris" nomenclature as the determining factor. If your UA flight is called "Polaris" you get access; if it doesn't, you don't.