Dec 3, 2016, 9:22 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Access to Polaris lounges (source):
Hour 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. daily
A la carte dining, last seating 8 p. m.
United flights with the premium cabin class listed as 'Polaris Business' qualify for deaparture, connecting and arrival of a United Polaris flight.
UA premium cabin flights not marketed as Polaris, such as Domestic First or International Business (Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, northern South America, ... ) are not eligible for Polaris lounge access.
For partner, Business or International First, access only at departure airport and same destination restrictions as UA (roughly at least 8+ hours long haul international - TATL, TPAC, yes any UA Polaris destination but no trans-border).
No Guests (except 1 guest for International First partner flights)
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International T5 ORD partner *G lounges
Hour 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. daily
A la carte dining, last seating 8 p. m.
United flights with the premium cabin class listed as 'Polaris Business' qualify for deaparture, connecting and arrival of a United Polaris flight.
UA premium cabin flights not marketed as Polaris, such as Domestic First or International Business (Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, northern South America, ... ) are not eligible for Polaris lounge access.
For partner, Business or International First, access only at departure airport and same destination restrictions as UA (roughly at least 8+ hours long haul international - TATL, TPAC, yes any UA Polaris destination but no trans-border).
No Guests (except 1 guest for International First partner flights)
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Polaris Lounge Roadmap 2017-2018 (wiki) (thread)
EWR Polaris lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ...
IAD Polaris lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ...
IAH Polaris lounge (E11/12 - top fl) -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ...
SFO Polaris Lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ...
LAX Polaris Lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ...
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Dec 1, 2016, 9:48 am
#16
Join Date: May 2001
Location: TPA 50%/BKK 30%/HKG 20%
Programs: UA 1K MM - AF G – TK G – AZ Ex – Hilton D – Marriott G – IHG P
Posts: 1,989
Really nice selection of whiskies for a club - I'm used to Jack and Walker Black as the two usual 'upscale' options, but Bulleit 10, WhistlePig, Auchentoshan, Bushmills are all $50+ whiskeys. Patron Silver is interesting, because I feel that is something that most people (whether they enjoy tequila or not) will identify as a 'prestige' label.
I'm supposed to connect through ORD on my way to Asia in January but meeting someone for dinner outside of the airport. Looks like I'll have to rethink that!
I'm supposed to connect through ORD on my way to Asia in January but meeting someone for dinner outside of the airport. Looks like I'll have to rethink that!
Dec 1, 2016, 9:50 am
#17
Join Date: May 2001
Location: TPA 50%/BKK 30%/HKG 20%
Programs: UA 1K MM - AF G – TK G – AZ Ex – Hilton D – Marriott G – IHG P
Posts: 1,989
They had the red wine cooler set at 40F. haha I pointed it out and the bar manager started lecturing the employees about where the red wine should be (not in that cooler). LOL
Dec 1, 2016, 10:14 am
#18
Company Representative, United Airlines
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Chicago, Houston, or somewhere in between
Posts: 2,176
Dec 1, 2016, 10:31 am
#20
Join Date: May 2001
Location: TPA 50%/BKK 30%/HKG 20%
Programs: UA 1K MM - AF G – TK G – AZ Ex – Hilton D – Marriott G – IHG P
Posts: 1,989
I'm blown away, honestly. I moved my trip up 4 days to be here for the grand opening, and absolutely do not regret that decision. I'm looking forward to this transition.
Dec 1, 2016, 10:34 am
#21
Join Date: May 2001
Location: TPA 50%/BKK 30%/HKG 20%
Programs: UA 1K MM - AF G – TK G – AZ Ex – Hilton D – Marriott G – IHG P
Posts: 1,989
Dec 1, 2016, 10:44 am
#23
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Orange County, CA
Programs: Alaska FF
Posts: 302
Dec 1, 2016, 11:02 am
#25
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Southern California
Programs: United MileagePlus Premier 1K, Delta SkyMiles Diamond Medallion
Posts: 1,150
Nice pics, but there should be napkins under those glasses.
The sound of glass even remotely touching the counter below should never be heard in a premium class lounge! Just FYI!
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 1, 2016 at 8:14 pm Reason: please limit pic quoting for the sake of small screens
Dec 1, 2016, 11:13 am
#26
Join Date: Apr 2012
Programs: UA Premier 1K, Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 59
The Polaris lounge at ORD has been beautifully executed... if this is a sign of where things are headed with United, it's a good one. The staff has been really well trained and the attention to detail here is extreme -- to the point that they are wiping individual fingerprints off the door to the valet area.
The food presentation is impeccable, the bar and staff are fantastic. A couple first-day issues here and there, but whoever led this team will get their annual bonus this year. The lounge is competitive with global players.
It's swarming with United PR people though... will be interesting to see if the same standard of service is maintained long-term.
The food presentation is impeccable, the bar and staff are fantastic. A couple first-day issues here and there, but whoever led this team will get their annual bonus this year. The lounge is competitive with global players.
It's swarming with United PR people though... will be interesting to see if the same standard of service is maintained long-term.
Dec 1, 2016, 11:53 am
#27
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: ord,ewr
Programs: Lifetime UA GS 22 million,AA 1m ,Hilton Li fetime diamond,marriott lifetime platinum hyatt diamond
Posts: 1,000
Last night before my flight to London, I was invited to take a sneak peek at the Polarus Lounge before it officially opened today. 1 can describe the new lounge in 3 words. Wow, Wow and Wow!!! It exceeds my expectations in every way!!! United has really done it right!!! Now the best lounge they offer in the world....yes, better than London, much better. Just to think they are going to upgrade London! My congrats to the whole team involved in putting Polaris together!!! Well done gang!!! I look forward to the future Polaris Lounges upcoming around the world. A proud day for United! The beginning of a new era! You have actually exceeded your own hype!!!
Dec 1, 2016, 12:08 pm
#28
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: New York and Vienna
Programs: PA WorldPass Platinum, AA, DL, LH. GHA Black, SPG and HHonors Gold
Posts: 3,870
I spent around five hours in the Polaris Lounge on Wednesday and came away very impressed.
The lounge seems to have been designed to bridge the in-lounge and in-flight experiences and that is where it succeeds really well. By that I mean anything from pre-flight dining to naps between legs (I'm not convinced they have enough sleep suites, however, but the executive in charge of that aspect said their models supported it).
The food on the ground will be on a par with the new Polaris in-flight offerings and it's clear that more than a few UA managers working on the lounge spent a lot of time staying at Four Seasons, St. Regis's, and Ritz-Carltons for inspiration on service (I'm deliberately citing these chains and not MO or Rocco Forte).
As a result, the simple process of walking in is like walking into a spa at one of the aforementioned hotels.
I wrote a fairly detailed review of the Polaris Lounge experience for Frequent Business Traveler magazine for those wanting even more details than one would find in this thread:
Review: United’s First Polaris Lounge, Chicago O’Hare International Airport
.
This link is to an online source to which I contribute and/or have a financial interest.
The lounge seems to have been designed to bridge the in-lounge and in-flight experiences and that is where it succeeds really well. By that I mean anything from pre-flight dining to naps between legs (I'm not convinced they have enough sleep suites, however, but the executive in charge of that aspect said their models supported it).
The food on the ground will be on a par with the new Polaris in-flight offerings and it's clear that more than a few UA managers working on the lounge spent a lot of time staying at Four Seasons, St. Regis's, and Ritz-Carltons for inspiration on service (I'm deliberately citing these chains and not MO or Rocco Forte).
As a result, the simple process of walking in is like walking into a spa at one of the aforementioned hotels.
I wrote a fairly detailed review of the Polaris Lounge experience for Frequent Business Traveler magazine for those wanting even more details than one would find in this thread:
Review: United’s First Polaris Lounge, Chicago O’Hare International Airport
Located in Terminal 1, Concourse C at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, the cavernous lounge (it’s 12,782 square feet or 1,187 square meters) will be open to passengers traveling in the airline’s Polaris cabin starting December 1.
Polaris, also known as the North Star, is the brightest star in the constellation of Ursa Minor. Because Polaris appears to stand motionless in the sky while other stars of the northern sky appear to rotate around it, it makes an excellent fixed point for use in celestial navigation and has been of great importance to travelers for centuries.
Walking in from the hustle and bustle that is O’Hare, I was immediately struck by the calming atmosphere. A sculpture, “North Star Chicago,” by the English artist Wolfgang Buttress, hangs from the ceiling and features the 1,600 brightest stars in the Northern Hemisphere over a map of the streets of Chicago. It makes the entrance seem far more spa-like than airport lounge-like....
<SNIP>
Polaris, also known as the North Star, is the brightest star in the constellation of Ursa Minor. Because Polaris appears to stand motionless in the sky while other stars of the northern sky appear to rotate around it, it makes an excellent fixed point for use in celestial navigation and has been of great importance to travelers for centuries.
Walking in from the hustle and bustle that is O’Hare, I was immediately struck by the calming atmosphere. A sculpture, “North Star Chicago,” by the English artist Wolfgang Buttress, hangs from the ceiling and features the 1,600 brightest stars in the Northern Hemisphere over a map of the streets of Chicago. It makes the entrance seem far more spa-like than airport lounge-like....
<SNIP>
This link is to an online source to which I contribute and/or have a financial interest.
Dec 1, 2016, 12:26 pm
#29
Join Date: May 2001
Location: TPA 50%/BKK 30%/HKG 20%
Programs: UA 1K MM - AF G – TK G – AZ Ex – Hilton D – Marriott G – IHG P
Posts: 1,989
Dec 1, 2016, 12:27 pm
#30
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: Continental OnePass
Posts: 856
So all drinks in the Polaris Lounge are free? But if you are flying Polaris from somewhere without a Polaris lounge, and thus, using the regular United Club you have to pay for most drinks?
I think if you are flying Polaris and using the United Club they should give you a card when you enter that you can show the bartender and which gives you free drinks
I think if you are flying Polaris and using the United Club they should give you a card when you enter that you can show the bartender and which gives you free drinks
