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
Oct 15, 2017, 11:21 pm
#377
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,468
Frankly, I am very surprised/baffled the way the Polaris lounge changeover at SFO is being handled, given the huge overseas gateway this airport represents!
Still would be great to get some detailed feedback (drinks, food) the former GFL/now turned temp, overseas business departure lounge offers and how it compares to the former GFL. TIA!
Still would be great to get some detailed feedback (drinks, food) the former GFL/now turned temp, overseas business departure lounge offers and how it compares to the former GFL. TIA!
Oct 15, 2017, 11:27 pm
#378
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: NorCal - 1K 2MM
Posts: 2,089
I guess one option they did have would have been to work 24/7 on the old UC to new Polaris conversion after the UC closure, regardless of cost, to greatly minimize the downtime. The actual plan closed half of the G UC, creating severe and unpleasant crowding for almost a year, and now announcing almost another year of full closure. It doesn't sound like they feel a lot of urgency.
Oct 15, 2017, 11:33 pm
#379
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Location: Honolulu Harbor
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Not sure why you think it's supposed to compare to the GFL, which was designed to accommodate people flying in a class of service (Global First) that UA is doing away with.
Most of the people who are using it now are not flying Global First or *A First.
It's just a temporary set-up to accommodate some passengers while the G UC is being remodeled into UC and Polaris lounges.
Most of the people who are using it now are not flying Global First or *A First.
It's just a temporary set-up to accommodate some passengers while the G UC is being remodeled into UC and Polaris lounges.
Oct 15, 2017, 11:37 pm
#380
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Join Date: Apr 2013
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Yeah, and the bottom line is, lounges for *A international departures at SFO will suck for at least the next nine months or so. If lounge is important to you, consider routing through LAX (or SEA on DL).
Oct 15, 2017, 11:55 pm
#381
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,468
Actually, I am not suggesting it should compare to the old GFL per se. I am not sure, if you have been to the former GFL lately, so you might not exactly know what I am referring to. (I was there 5 times in the July-Sept'17 time frame).
I was just curious, if they more or less kept the drink & food offerings. I would welcome, if they did - representing an upgrade from the the regular UC. While not comparable to the Polaris lounge at ORD, at least it would be a temporary step in the right direction for Polaris pax at SFO.
Oct 16, 2017, 12:30 am
#382
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
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Posts: 44,302
My wife, UA Gold due to my 1MM status, flew SFO-PEK on Thursday. Was going to send her to the lounge while she waited for the flight to leave. The instructions were so confusing as to which lounge she could use I just didn't say anything to her. She is a very inexperienced traveler and English is not her first language. The closest I could determine is the old F lounge near gate 98 is a temporary UC. Is this correct? Is this where she could have gone? Was not flying with her so could not guide her once inside security. Some things say it is a Polaris lounge, others that it is a temp UC and some still say it is the F lounge.
It is not a "temporary UC". It is a temporary premium cabin lounge.
You used to have a "United Club". Now there's free pour "top shelf"* drinks.
*Compared to the free drinks at the UC
Actually, I am not suggesting it should compare to the old GFL per se. I am not sure, if you have been to the former GFL lately, so you might not exactly know what I am referring to. (I was there 5 times in the July-Sept'17 time frame).
I was just curious, if they more or less kept the drink & food offerings. I would welcome, if they did - representing an upgrade from the the regular UC. While not comparable to the Polaris lounge at ORD, at least it would be a temporary step in the right direction for Polaris pax at SFO.
I was just curious, if they more or less kept the drink & food offerings. I would welcome, if they did - representing an upgrade from the the regular UC. While not comparable to the Polaris lounge at ORD, at least it would be a temporary step in the right direction for Polaris pax at SFO.
But as I said, what was the previous option for business class passengers? The UC? Great. I actually liked it. But it wasn't as good as the present situation.
Oct 16, 2017, 9:11 am
#383
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,147
In the "temporary" lounge opposite gate 71A at the moment, and it's deju va - looks *exactly* like it did the last time they were using this area as a temporary lounge. I could fully believe they simply closed the door on it a year ago and then reopened them a week back to start using it again.
I walked past the old international lounge, and they have made one change to the sign in front of it since the photo above was taken - on the photo it refers to the lounge "Located in Boarding Area E" as a "Temporary Lounge", someone has now stuck a "United" sticker over the word Temporary. I'm sure this is just cosmetics and removing the connotations of the word temporary.
The good news is that this lounge is maybe 1/3rd full - far better than I'm sure the other lounges are at 8am on a Monday morning!
I walked past the old international lounge, and they have made one change to the sign in front of it since the photo above was taken - on the photo it refers to the lounge "Located in Boarding Area E" as a "Temporary Lounge", someone has now stuck a "United" sticker over the word Temporary. I'm sure this is just cosmetics and removing the connotations of the word temporary.
The good news is that this lounge is maybe 1/3rd full - far better than I'm sure the other lounges are at 8am on a Monday morning!
Oct 16, 2017, 10:49 am
#384
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: UA MP (1K, 1MM)
Posts: 268
I'm not much of a lounge snob, but having some space to relax in that's not crowded and to grab some food or drink is what I look for the most!
Oct 16, 2017, 10:55 am
#385
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: NorCal - 1K 2MM
Posts: 2,089
for some of us, open space counts more than liquor brand
Each to his own, I guess. I care about quiet, and easily finding empty seats for my party. I care a lot less about free top shelf liquor. The old GFL seems unlikely to be able to accommodate all J and F pax departing from G gates. The previous G UC could get pretty crowded at rush hour, but I could usually find a seat.
Oct 16, 2017, 10:58 am
#386
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SEA/YVR/BLI
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Posts: 9,488
We've been sitting in the former Global First Lounge for nearly an hour, and consider ourselves lucky to have found seats. People are wandering around waiting to pounce on an empty chair.
I'm blown away that UA is still putting out the same top-shelf (by my standards at least
) liquor and wines as when it was a Global First Lounge. 
I'm blown away that UA is still putting out the same top-shelf (by my standards at least
) liquor and wines as when it was a Global First Lounge.
Oct 16, 2017, 11:01 am
#387
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Edit: Other reports (and post/photo below) suggests, at times, somewhat-better-than-UC fare is offered. I see cold wraps pictured, but not the hot offerings (eg the chicken teriyaki and rice I saw mid-Sept).
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Oct 16, 2017 at 3:12 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Oct 16, 2017, 11:24 am
#388
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SEA/YVR/BLI
Programs: UA "Lifetime" Gold, AS MVPG100K, OW Emerald, HH Lifetime Diamond, IC Plat, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 9,488
I for one have a "lifetime" belief in UA. 
Oct 16, 2017, 11:38 am
#389
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: PHL, EWR
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This was my friend's meal at the temporary business lounge at SFO the other day while waiting for his flight to TPE. So food is certainly better than what is offered at the standard United Club.
Oct 16, 2017, 11:46 am
#390
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