Apr 25, 2018, 1:48 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Last edit by: SPN Lifer

SFO Polaris Lounge Reopened - 4 January 2022

Quote:

United Airlines Unveils United Polaris Lounge at San Francisco International Airport
Lounge is first of four United Polaris lounges expected to open this year

SAN FRANCISCO, April 25, 2018
-- Beginning April 30, customers traveling in United Polaris, the airline's international premium cabin travel experience, will be able to relax and dine prior to their travels or refresh upon arrival in the new United Polaris lounge at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) conveniently located in the International Terminal near Gate G92.
....
United Polaris Lounge at SFO Facts & Highlights

Two levels across more than 28,000 square feet
440 seats
19 different types of seating
492 power outlets and 492 USB ports
8 pieces of art by prominent Bay Area artists, all San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) Society for the Encouragement of Contemporary Art (SECA) Art Award honorees
5 private daybeds outfitted with Saks Fifth Avenue bedding
8 luxurious shower suites, featuring rainfall showers and Soho House & Co's Cowshed Spa products
Personal valet services, including steaming garments
"The Dining Room" – a private restaurant style dining area with a menu designed by Chef Tritia Gestuvo, a California native, that blends international comfort foods — such as a traditional Chinese congee breakfast and hand-cut pappardelle pasta with mushroom ragout — with staples like the United Polaris Burger
A bistro-like buffet that includes a ramen noodle bar in the afternoon and additional unique-to-San Francisco treats that align with the flight schedule and destinations of United and Star Alliance partners
Cocktails inspired by the Bay Area, including the Mai Tai, invented in Oakland in 1944, and the Pisco Punch, featuring pisco which became all the rage during the California Gold Rush of 1849

....
For more photos of the United Polaris lounge at SFO, visit the United Newsroom

Quote:

Originally Posted by djsflynn

... Also and for those interested, here's a link to download a PDF (10.5MB) copy of the Polaris SFO menus, as provided to media in the press pack: https://www.dropbox.com/s/jjv4i9s97g...0Menu.pdf?dl=0

Access to Polaris lounges (source):

update 29 Sept 2017, effective 1 Oct 2017
Trans-border flights (Canada, Mexico, ..) for UA and partner flights do not qualify

Departure: The airport you are leaving on an international J/F flight* from, i.e. SFO-TPE
Connecting: The airport to or from which you have a short-haul flight to connect to a longer flight, i.e. LAX-SFO-NRT or NRT-SFO-LAX
Arrival: The airport you arrive at after your long-haul flight, i.e. NRT-SFO

Hours - 6:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. daily
reportedly a la carte dining closes at 9PM

Related Threads:
Polaris Lounge Roadmap 2017-2018 (wiki) (thread)
EWR Polaris lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ...
IAD Polaris lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ...
ORD Polaris lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ...
IAH Polaris lounge (E11/12 - top fl) -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ...
LAX Polaris Lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ...
SFO G UC closed, reopens as Polaris Lounge 30 Apr, old GFL is intl prem cabin lounge
Consolidated "Polaris Lounge Access Questions" Thread
Best SFO United Club?

SFO Polaris Lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Mar 13, 2024, 8:33 pm

#1516

zappy312

Join Date: Apr 2016

Posts: 632

Quote:

Originally Posted by hch

Just got to the lounge 25 minutes. Giant line to enter it, more than half of the people were turned away as they weren't in Polaris / Business. Downstairs it is the usual calm Oasis, while upstream is pretty crowded. Decided to not ask for a seat at the Restaurant as the menu did not look very interesting to me. The buffet looks pretty nice OTOH, so I'll try it later.

How bad was the wait for the restaurant?

Debating when to head over to the Polaris lounge / have a meal before a late night departure. Might wait until 19:30-20:00 and try to dine near the last seating. But if the menu is still the same as Jan (stir fried chicken, seafood cioppino, ramen and the burger), I agree that it's not very interesting.

Mar 13, 2024, 8:38 pm

#1517

hch

Join Date: Jun 2006

Location: INN

Posts: 2,940

I didn't even ask for a time, but the people before me decided to not wait, so probably not exactly short. It's still that same menu.

zappy312 likes this.

Mar 13, 2024, 9:03 pm

#1518

notquiteaff

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Dec 2006

Location: Pacific Northwest

Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA ExPlat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...

Posts: 17,129

Quote:

Originally Posted by hch

I arrived at around 4:40pm. Not a single person at checkin, and maybe three tables occupied in sit down restaurant. It did start to fill up as I was eating my late lunch. Guess I picked a good time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zappy312

But if the menu is still the same as Jan (stir fried chicken, seafood cioppino, ramen and the burger), I agree that it's not very interesting.

That was indeed the menu.

zappy312 likes this.

Mar 14, 2024, 8:31 am

#1519

Kacee

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Apr 2013

Location: PHX

Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)

Posts: 56,846

Quote:

Originally Posted by notquiteaff

I arrived at around 4:40pm. . . . Guess I picked a good time.

It starts to get crowded around 6 pm.

notquiteaff likes this.

Mar 14, 2024, 9:44 am

#1520

hch

Join Date: Jun 2006

Location: INN

Posts: 2,940

It was a lot better when I went upstairs for dinner at around 7:15pm. I immediately found a free table and found the buffet food quite nice (way better than last time).

SPN Lifer, choch345 and zappy312 like this.

Mar 15, 2024, 5:47 am

#1521

49penguins

Join Date: Feb 2017

Location: FAT

Posts: 147

Quote:

Originally Posted by AirbusFan2B

Was told a half hour wait at 08:40 today for a table for two, and the message came through after 27 minutes that my table was ready. I was surprised to see eight open tables. Appears the constraint is due to staffing levels, not real estate.

I was there at 8am opening 3/13 and they warned me as I was seated there were only 2 servers so it would be slow. They only seated part of the restaurant.

Mar 15, 2024, 3:59 pm

#1522

404flyer

Join Date: Mar 2015

Location: SLC

Programs: DL DM 1MM, UA 1K, Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist

Posts: 32

Came in this afternoon around 1p. No, wait for a shower. Upstairs was a mess - dirty plates were sitting, and floors hadn't been swept or cleaned after the previous rush. I was quoted 30 mins for a table around 2p with six open tables. The best way I can describe the F&B staff is that they all look sad and hate their jobs, which shows. I talked to the GS agent on my way out, and they said, "I don't disagree with you - they won't listen to the United employees, so please write in." Off to the AC lounge, where the bar staff are lovely and actually like having guests!

The Man in Seat 9A, Kacee and porciuscato like this.

Mar 16, 2024, 1:29 am

#1523

narvik

Join Date: May 2010

Location: AVP & PEK

Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM

Posts: 6,527

Quote:

Originally Posted by 404flyer

I talked to the GS agent on my way out, and they said, "I don't disagree with you - they won't listen to the United employees, so please write in."

Just:

Please take their advice, and do write in.

If there really is such resentment/conflict between UA staff and the contracted lounge-staff, it's no wonder the atmosphere for the patrons suffers.

Mar 16, 2024, 9:31 am

#1524

Kacee

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Apr 2013

Location: PHX

Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)

Posts: 56,846

Quote:

Originally Posted by narvik

If there really is such resentment/conflict between UA staff and the contracted lounge-staff

That's not how I read it. Not conflict - just unmotivated, resentful servers. As you'll find in many places these days. Usually the result of poor management. Same basic problem has afflicted this lounge since shortly after opening.

Mar 16, 2024, 9:46 am

#1525

Infinite1K

Join Date: Apr 2010

Programs: AA PP, UA Platinum/MM, WoH Globalist, HH Diamond

Posts: 1,353

Quote:

Originally Posted by narvik

Just:

Please take their advice, and do write in.

If there really is such resentment/conflict between UA staff and the contracted lounge-staff, it's no wonder the atmosphere for the patrons suffers.

Seems specific to SFO. LAX experience is night and day with every staff member so pleasant and welcoming.

SPN Lifer, unitedbusiness, uanj and 3 others like this.

Mar 16, 2024, 9:53 am

#1526

porciuscato

Join Date: Jul 2013

Programs: DYKWIA, But I'm a "Diamond Guest" UA 1K/2MM

Posts: 2,275

Quote:

Originally Posted by Infinite1K

Seems specific to SFO. LAX experience is night and day with every staff member so pleasant and welcoming.

It's been a little while since I went to the LAX PL, but when I did the staff was always awesome.

Mar 16, 2024, 10:00 am

#1527

uanj

Join Date: Jan 2005

Programs: SQ, QF, UA, CO, DL

Posts: 3,011

Quote:

Originally Posted by porciuscato

It's been a little while since I went to the LAX PL, but when I did the staff was always awesome.

I like going to the LAX PL because the agents at the entrance actually seem happy to see people using the lounge. But it is starting to get crowded this year, hope they can maintain the service level with the new flights.

Mar 16, 2024, 12:06 pm

#1528

Infinite1K

Join Date: Apr 2010

Programs: AA PP, UA Platinum/MM, WoH Globalist, HH Diamond

Posts: 1,353

Quote:

Originally Posted by uanj

With the addition of international flights out of LAX, I’m also curious to see if service levels drop with the additional crowds.

Mar 18, 2024, 3:04 am

#1529

narvik

Join Date: May 2010

Location: AVP & PEK

Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM

Posts: 6,527

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kacee

Oh, for sure.
But the willingness of the GS agent to even share a comment such as "...they won't listen to the United employees..." with a passenger has a definite "us vs. them" feel to it. "Us" being the United employees and "them" being the contracted lounge staff.
If such disharmony exists for all who work there, it's no wonder it affects the passengers' experience.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kacee

As you'll find in many places these days.

But why SFO specifically?
EWR Polaris lounge isn't stellar in this regard, but 'acceptable'. ORD seems pretty decent. Why is SFO [apparently] the worst in the system?

ADDED:
Back in 2020 SFO Polaris Lounge ranked "BEST" in the system (IAD not open yet):
What's the best Polaris lounge to visit?

Maybe we need an updated 2024 poll??

Last edited by narvik; Mar 18, 2024 at 3:14 am

Mar 18, 2024, 8:10 am

#1530

Kmxu

Join Date: May 2012

Location: ORF, RIC

Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum

Posts: 7,058

We need to get a new vote!

Quote:

Originally Posted by narvik

ADDED:
Back in 2020 SFO Polaris Lounge ranked "BEST" in the system (IAD not open yet):
What's the best Polaris lounge to visit?

Maybe we need an updated 2024 poll??

I agree! You could ask the moderator to remove the old results and add IAD PL to the list.

The old results were not representative because some people did not have chances to visit all PLs at that time. Even now, some people have not visited all PLs. For example, I have not visited LAX PL and there is no way that I will put LAX at the top. So, my vote should be excluded in counting all the votes for LAX PL. The new poll should consist of two polls. One is to count which of PLs that voters have visited, at least, once. The second one is to the weighted vote counts for the best PL. For example, ten voters visited LAX PL and five of them vote for it (50%); twenty voters visited EWR PL and five of them vote for it (25%). And so on. So, LAX PL is better than EWR PL.