Nov 28, 2016, 12:09 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
To download high-resolution renderings of the new United Club at LAX, visit the airline's newsroom at http://newsroom.unitedcontinentalhol...AXenhancements.
Pre-open thread - LAX United Club completion targeted for December 2016
Related thread: LAX Polaris Lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..
Flying UA from LAX Terminal 7, lounge options if not eligible for UC?
Accessing the *A Lounge at LAX/TBIT as a UA flyer
Pre-open thread - LAX United Club completion targeted for December 2016
Related thread: LAX Polaris Lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..
Flying UA from LAX Terminal 7, lounge options if not eligible for UC?
Accessing the *A Lounge at LAX/TBIT as a UA flyer
LAX T7 United Club (UC) -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..
Nov 29, 2016, 10:29 am
#61
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
Posts: 4,599
I was there yesterday with MatthewLAX and it really is a beautiful new space. It seems like there was a fair amount of attention to detail in the design and construction (e.g., the aisles are fairly wide between furniture / walkways to account for all of our carryons!).
United staff seemed very excited by the lounge and UA brass continued to drive home the point that they felt the company was adrift previously but that these current initiatives (new clubs, Polaris, better operating results) both energize the company and bring satisfaction to the customer base.
Of course, these things don't always go hand-in-hand with our points / miles hobby, but when both Munoz and Kirby make it to an event, you can bet this team is committed to LA.
United staff seemed very excited by the lounge and UA brass continued to drive home the point that they felt the company was adrift previously but that these current initiatives (new clubs, Polaris, better operating results) both energize the company and bring satisfaction to the customer base.
Of course, these things don't always go hand-in-hand with our points / miles hobby, but when both Munoz and Kirby make it to an event, you can bet this team is committed to LA.
Nov 29, 2016, 10:32 am
#62
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
Posts: 4,599
DFW has the sit down dining now. I have a domestic economy flight booked out of DFW coming up soon and will see for myself. But in any case the buffet and drink selection is better than any other US domestic lounge.
I guess this brings up the question about Polaris and Star Alliance. Will it work like OW in that all the Star Gold members can access Polaris even when flying domestic economy?
Not a huge number, which is good. But if you go to the BA Board here you'll see a lot of us BA Gold members exploit the heck out of AA FL's.
Not true. Any cheap old economy ticket will do. That's the reciprocal rules of OW.
I guess this brings up the question about Polaris and Star Alliance. Will it work like OW in that all the Star Gold members can access Polaris even when flying domestic economy?
Not a huge number, which is good. But if you go to the BA Board here you'll see a lot of us BA Gold members exploit the heck out of AA FL's.
Not true. Any cheap old economy ticket will do. That's the reciprocal rules of OW.
"We'll open our Flagship® First Dining experience in phases by city, starting in spring 2017:
New York (JFK)
Miami (MIA)
Los Angeles (LAX)
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)
First Class customers on American’s 3-class international and transcontinental flights will have exclusive, complimentary access to Flagship® First Dining in 2017."
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...ge-updates.jsp
No Star Gold access for Polaris - just Star Business / First. Not even GS in coach international, so it's basically the same rules as the current First Class lounges, but with Business replacing First as the qualifier.
Nov 29, 2016, 10:44 am
#63
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Aussie in ORD
Programs: Marriott Plat, Ua Gold, GE.. Sucker for punishment
Posts: 4,237
For *A and those with time I would wager *G TBIT still will beat this lounge.
10pm just covers the 10:40pm UA839SYD departure.. But there are a bunch of redeyes including the 11:25om (777 tonight) which will have passengers in need of a lounge..
10pm just covers the 10:40pm UA839SYD departure.. But there are a bunch of redeyes including the 11:25om (777 tonight) which will have passengers in need of a lounge..
Nov 29, 2016, 10:46 am
#64
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: UA, Starwood, Priority Club, Hertz, Starbucks Gold Card
Posts: 3,952
My impression of Polaris's "sit-down" dining is that it will be a-la-carte, and ordered from a menu. However, I've never gotten a clear answer about whether the dishes will be prepared onsite (i.e., is there working a kitchen in the back?) or if they will be prepared by the inflight caterer, delivered to the lounge, and then heated/plated per each order.
Nov 29, 2016, 10:51 am
#65
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
AA's DFW dining is also a buffet. It's set up in an enclosed room with ~10 small tables x 2 seats each, and food offerings that are similar to those found in current Flagship Lounges elsewhere. Some stuff, like hummus and pita chips, are the same as the ones served in the Admirals Club outside. DFW, inexplicably, doesn't have a FL, which is why I believe AA came up with this stopgap measure.
My impression of Polaris's "sit-down" dining is that it will be a-la-carte, and ordered from a menu. However, I've never gotten a clear answer about whether the dishes will be prepared onsite (i.e., is there working a kitchen in the back?) or if they will be prepared by inflight catering and heated/plated per each order.
Nov 29, 2016, 11:19 am
#66
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,023
Here's tonight's departures after 10:30pm. The last one is IAH. At times, LAX has two red-eyes to Houston. With Chicago, New York, Washington and Houston impacted by a 10pm close, 11pm makes more sense. An early close screws up late IRROPS handling because one is potentially tossed into the concourse customer care mosh pit.
Nov 29, 2016, 11:45 am
#67
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: UA, Starwood, Priority Club, Hertz, Starbucks Gold Card
Posts: 3,952
Nov 29, 2016, 12:00 pm
#68
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,023
Sent note to UC requesting reconsideration of 10pm close
"I've been following the new UC construction at LAX and was pleased to read about the preview last night (also attended by Mr. Munoz).
Apparently the new hours will run only until 10 pm, unlike the current hours (after midnight).
There will be a lot of flyers to major destinations on flights after 10:30pm that will be impacted by an earlier UC closure (the attachment shows tonight's flights after 10:30pm). Hopefully, United will reconsider and extend the hours to at least 11pm. There's a p.s. flight, 2 flights to Chicago, one to IAD, and one to Houston (sometimes there's two), plus a lot of others.
A 10pm close makes no sense relative to the fliers that UA is trying to attract and who will be impacted by a 10pm close.
Sincerely,
IAH-OIL-TRASH"
Apparently the new hours will run only until 10 pm, unlike the current hours (after midnight).
There will be a lot of flyers to major destinations on flights after 10:30pm that will be impacted by an earlier UC closure (the attachment shows tonight's flights after 10:30pm). Hopefully, United will reconsider and extend the hours to at least 11pm. There's a p.s. flight, 2 flights to Chicago, one to IAD, and one to Houston (sometimes there's two), plus a lot of others.
A 10pm close makes no sense relative to the fliers that UA is trying to attract and who will be impacted by a 10pm close.
Sincerely,
IAH-OIL-TRASH"
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Nov 29, 2016 at 12:27 pm
Nov 29, 2016, 12:16 pm
#69
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,926
I've been following the new UC construction at LAX and was pleased to read about the preview last night (also attended by M.. Munoz).
Apparently the new hours will run only until 10 pm, unlike the current hours (after midnight).
There will be a lot of flyers to major destinations on flights after 10:30pm that will be impacted by an earlier UC closure (the attachment shows tonight's flights after 10:30pm). Hopefully, United will reconsider and extend the hours to at least 11pm. There's a p.s. flight, 2 flights to Chicago, one to IAD, and one to Houston (sometimes there's two), plus a lot of others.
A 10pm close makes no sense relative to the fliers that UA is trying to attract and who will be impacted by a 10pm close.
Sincerely,
Apparently the new hours will run only until 10 pm, unlike the current hours (after midnight).
There will be a lot of flyers to major destinations on flights after 10:30pm that will be impacted by an earlier UC closure (the attachment shows tonight's flights after 10:30pm). Hopefully, United will reconsider and extend the hours to at least 11pm. There's a p.s. flight, 2 flights to Chicago, one to IAD, and one to Houston (sometimes there's two), plus a lot of others.
A 10pm close makes no sense relative to the fliers that UA is trying to attract and who will be impacted by a 10pm close.
Sincerely,
^
Nov 29, 2016, 12:57 pm
#70
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: UA GS, AA PLAT, DL PLAT, EK SILVER
Posts: 250
With respect to particular seating, the setup feels more like the BOS club than any other I've been in recently, which has both high-top and traditional lounge seating.
Sorry I can't do better than that!
Nov 29, 2016, 1:14 pm
#72
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Southern California
Programs: United MileagePlus Premier 1K, Delta SkyMiles Diamond Medallion
Posts: 1,150
The fact that there are no showers is a competitive disadvantage compared to the Sky club and admirals club which has showers in their main club...even though the Polaris lounge will have showers, some members will not always have access to it...that sucks in addition to the early closing time
Nov 29, 2016, 1:16 pm
#73
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,926
It's hard for me to gauge what the "usable capacity" of the lounge would be. Last night, I would estimate there were about 75-100 people there and it felt empty.
With respect to particular seating, the setup feels more like the BOS club than any other I've been in recently, which has both high-top and traditional lounge seating.
Sorry I can't do better than that!
With respect to particular seating, the setup feels more like the BOS club than any other I've been in recently, which has both high-top and traditional lounge seating.
Sorry I can't do better than that!
Nov 29, 2016, 1:30 pm
#74
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
I just walked past the lounge and amazingly no one from United has rushed down to change the sign. It still says 4:30am - 10:00pm
Doors closed but the entrance looks sharp anyways.
Doors closed but the entrance looks sharp anyways.
Nov 29, 2016, 5:26 pm
#75
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,115
Here's tonight's departures after 10:30pm. The last one is IAH. At times, LAX has two red-eyes to Houston. With Chicago, New York, Washington and Houston impacted by a 10pm close, 11pm makes more sense. An early close screws up late IRROPS handling because one is potentially tossed into the concourse customer care mosh pit.