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SFO G UC closed, reopens as Polaris Lounge 30 Apr 2018, old GFL is now the intl UC

Old Nov 27, 2016, 1:30 pm
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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
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.
posted 23 Sept 2017
Originally Posted by Oregonflyer
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. .....
posted 28 Sept 2017
Originally Posted by geclub1
EVA just sent out an email announcement that its SFO lounge is closed as of 1OCT17.
Originally Posted by findark
.... in the F club at SFO right now and there are signs announcing that the G club will close (entirely!) as of 01-Oct-17 for Polaris renovations. Possibly replaced by the decommissioned GFL?
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.
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)}
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SFO G UC closed, reopens as Polaris Lounge 30 Apr 2018, old GFL is now the intl UC

Old Oct 1, 2017, 9:49 pm
  #271  
 
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SFO Lounge Status

Just to confirm what everyone has been thinking and seeing on the website. All *G and Club members and one time pass holders are being redirected to the 3 domestic united clubs including a new one hidden away across from Gate 71A. All J and F passengers are being redirected to the GFL. I was scared they were getting rid of the GFL but it does not seem to be the case. Not sure if the amenities have changed in the GFL or not. I am certain the GFL will definitely be very crowded tho. Enjoyed the GFL flying J as a 1k once.
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Old Oct 1, 2017, 9:52 pm
  #272  
 
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I wonder what's the deal with the 'temporary' club behind gate 71. Used it a few times before the E club opened, and UA seemed to put a lot of effort into building it. It had a full kitchen, bathrooms etc.

More curious what they did with it during the 1-2 years it was closed. Did it just sit idle? They could have just left it open to deal with the overcrowding when they shut half of the G club...
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Old Oct 1, 2017, 11:07 pm
  #273  
 
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Originally Posted by pushmyredbutton
I wonder what's the deal with the 'temporary' club behind gate 71. Used it a few times before the E club opened, and UA seemed to put a lot of effort into building it. It had a full kitchen, bathrooms etc.

More curious what they did with it during the 1-2 years it was closed. Did it just sit idle? They could have just left it open to deal with the overcrowding when they shut half of the G club...
Not sure what they did when it was closed but you do also have to realize opening up a club at another location costs money for staffing. Probably just a cost cutting measure.
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Old Oct 1, 2017, 11:14 pm
  #274  
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Originally Posted by pushmyredbutton
.... More curious what they did with it during the 1-2 years it was closed. Did it just sit idle? They could have just left it open to deal with the overcrowding when they shut half of the G club...
Likely thought there would be few voluntary takers from the G gate departures.
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Old Oct 1, 2017, 11:17 pm
  #275  
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Originally Posted by WineCountryUA
Likely thought there would be few voluntary takers from the G gate departures.
The mezzanine RCC was always the quietest one. That was many years ago, before Terminal G.
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Old Oct 1, 2017, 11:25 pm
  #276  
 
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Originally Posted by WineCountryUA
Likely thought there would be few voluntary takers from the G gate departures.
But if they think few will go there from G gates, why open it now? The only thing that's changed is now there is no UC on G unless you're flying J.
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Old Oct 1, 2017, 11:29 pm
  #277  
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Originally Posted by Starman
But if they think few will go there from G gates, why open it now? The only thing that's changed is now there is no UC on G unless you're flying J.
They need to put the economy *Gs somewhere.

This will be "closer" to G terminal than the rotunda club, though you'll still have to clear security.

I'm seriously booking away to DL whenever possible until the club situation is resolved.
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Old Oct 1, 2017, 11:46 pm
  #278  
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Originally Posted by Starman
But if they think few will go there from G gates, why open it now? The only thing that's changed is now there is no UC on G unless you're flying J.
Because it would be no longer voluntary -- the F/E clubs will be the only option for the *Gs departing via G gates.

Last edited by WineCountryUA; Oct 1, 2017 at 11:56 pm Reason: verb tense
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Old Oct 1, 2017, 11:54 pm
  #279  
 
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I sincerely hope that the rotunda club stops accepting one-time passes. Even though I'm usually the beneficiary, the G and E clubs rarely accepted them during peak times, yet the rotunda club still accepted them even when it was packed to the gills.
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Old Oct 2, 2017, 4:23 am
  #280  
 
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Originally Posted by Kacee
This will be "closer" to G terminal than the rotunda club, though you'll still have to clear security.

I'm seriously booking away to DL whenever possible until the club situation is resolved.
Huh? There's no reclearing security. The 71A club is airside and walking to G doesn’t require going through security again. Don’t see the issue here.

Last edited by SFO 1K; Oct 2, 2017 at 4:57 am
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Old Oct 2, 2017, 5:27 am
  #281  
 
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That is too bad as we had to use both the lounges in SFO in June as we had a beer drinking slowed by an upset bartender so we went to the other lounge and continued with a very friendly barkeep! We had a big flight to Melbourne to sleep off our efforts on drinking all the beer, there were 4 of us so it was important to keep ahead of United..........
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Old Oct 2, 2017, 7:52 am
  #282  
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Originally Posted by SFO 1K
Huh? There's no reclearing security. The 71A club is airside and walking to G doesnt require going through security again. Dont see the issue here.
I thought the mezzanine club was landside, as was the former mezzanine RCC. If it's airside, thanks for the clarification.
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Old Oct 2, 2017, 8:18 am
  #283  
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Originally Posted by SFO 1K
The former GFL will act as a Departure Lounge for Star Alliance (including United) Business & First Class passengers only.
Concerned this will result in overcrowding. They've got to add seating capacity.
Could very well rival ORD Polaris' stampede at peak times.
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Old Oct 2, 2017, 8:19 am
  #284  
 
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Originally Posted by Kacee
I thought the mezzanine club was landside, as was the former mezzanine RCC. If it's airside, thanks for the clarification.
The Pre-9/11 Mezzanine Club was indeed pre-security. That space has been closed over a decade. The temporary airside mezzanine club across from 71A is not the same space as the old Red Carpet Club. It's the one we had for about a year + while the boarding area E club was being constructed. Famously, the current mezzanine club is known for having no windows.
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Old Oct 2, 2017, 9:20 am
  #285  
 
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Hope they update the terminal map soon. Additionally, on the UC listings, it doesn't stipulate who's eligible for the temporary G lounge either.
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