Any future of arrivals lounges? SFO, LHR only now
Mar 25, 2018, 12:56 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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Any future of arrivals lounges? SFO, LHR only now
Really like the value of an arrivals lounge as after long flights internationally or even red eye flights, very nice to get refreshed upon landing. Anyone know if this fits into Polaris strategy or any info? I'll accept rumors.
Mar 25, 2018, 12:59 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
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I doubt it. If you are transiting onwards, you will have access to the Polaris lounges after you go back through security. UA would have to build landside lounges, which given the real estate situation at their hubs, would be difficult to pull off.
Mar 25, 2018, 12:59 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2012
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I've said it before, but the value proposition of SFO's arrival lounge to United is defensive. It keeps any of their TPAC competitors from opening an arrivals lounge at their most lucrative hub. That is the justification for keeping it at SFO, in my mind.
Mar 25, 2018, 1:04 pm
#4
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Yeah NOT interested in that exercise after clearing immigration and customs. Connection is no problem, it is the arrival that is the gap.
Mar 25, 2018, 1:13 pm
#5
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It doesn’t. Once you get off a Polaris flight, UA really doesn’t want to deal with you any further beyond returning or transferring your luggage. The arrivals lounges (IMHO) will continue to be a discrete and extremely limited offering that will face constant “do we really need to provide this?” at UA. LHR is a super-important hub/destination and I think *A is well-served by keeping the arrivals lounge going in light of the OW competition/dominance. SFO is slightly less defendable (again IMHO). Speaking presumptuously from a UA mindset, not ours...
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Mar 25, 2018 at 1:20 pm
Mar 25, 2018, 1:40 pm
#6
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LHR "works" simply because the market expects it (so many flights arrive in the AM, hotels not check-in-able yet and the segment they are targeting is often heading to meetings. That and all the other carriers there offer it.
There's very little traffic arriving in the early AM in EWR (TLV, GRU,EZE?), IAH (GRU/GIG/EZE+ central america not real J), and ORD.
And of course, you've got management that's taking away everything that isn't bolted down so... not under Kirby's watch for sure.
There's very little traffic arriving in the early AM in EWR (TLV, GRU,EZE?), IAH (GRU/GIG/EZE+ central america not real J), and ORD.
And of course, you've got management that's taking away everything that isn't bolted down so... not under Kirby's watch for sure.
Mar 25, 2018, 2:26 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: IAD
Programs: UA Gold + 1MM; HHonors Gold; Marriott Plat
Posts: 746
I know of, and have used the LH arrivals lounge in FRA. Is there a list of *A arrivals lounges that can be used by UA C/F pax? Any lounge in SIN, MEL or SYD for example - given the early AM arrival of the UA flights, having access to a lounge would be very useful.
Mar 25, 2018, 2:47 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2012
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Posts: 6,355
SIN has The Haven by JetQuay, which takes Priority Pass. I used it last month and was pleased with the shower. The breakfast was pretty basic i.e., < SFO arrivals lounge.
Mar 26, 2018, 2:02 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriott Platinum Elite, National Executive, United Gold
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Not that it'll happen because of costs and logistics (given the numerous Int'l arrivals into B), but I think EWR deserves an arrival lounge for the premium transcon flights, India, TLV, South America, and the early LHR flight.
LHR "works" simply because the market expects it (so many flights arrive in the AM, hotels not check-in-able yet and the segment they are targeting is often heading to meetings. That and all the other carriers there offer it.
There's very little traffic arriving in the early AM in EWR (TLV, GRU,EZE?), IAH (GRU/GIG/EZE+ central america not real J), and ORD.
And of course, you've got management that's taking away everything that isn't bolted down so... not under Kirby's watch for sure.
There's very little traffic arriving in the early AM in EWR (TLV, GRU,EZE?), IAH (GRU/GIG/EZE+ central america not real J), and ORD.
And of course, you've got management that's taking away everything that isn't bolted down so... not under Kirby's watch for sure.
Mar 26, 2018, 2:25 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: UA-1K MM, AA-Gold, DL-Silver, AS-MVP
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DEL and BOM also arrive in morning. They could also make paid entry for SFO/LAX/HNL red-eyes. I think there's enough traffic, but probably doesn't warrant the operating cost.
Mar 26, 2018, 5:28 pm
#11
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO / LHR
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Correct ... and LHR is actually a shared lounge, not a United-operated facility like SFO. Currently it is available to UA, AC, and SA business/first passengers ... possibly other *A in the future.
Mar 26, 2018, 6:09 pm
#12
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I would request for early check-in at the hotel you are staying. Airport hotels are easier to get a room at 7am, for example 
Mar 26, 2018, 6:20 pm
#13
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I foundry recall the days of ArrivalsSuite by United (I think that was the name) with locations at multiple airports in Europe, Asia South America, Australia and then here in the USA. They were really nice. Am sure others will have more details.
Mar 26, 2018, 7:02 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2017
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I've personally shifted all of my redeye transcon flying to American after they took away the showers at the United Club at EWR. Unless they grant Polaris Lounge access to transcon passengers in J or introduce an arrivals lounge, JFK it is. I suppose that many others feel the same way.
Mar 26, 2018, 7:21 pm
#15
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I've personally shifted all of my redeye transcon flying to American after they took away the showers at the United Club at EWR. Unless they grant Polaris Lounge access to transcon passengers in J or introduce an arrivals lounge, JFK it is. I suppose that many others feel the same way.