Last edit by: SPN Lifer
SFO Polaris Lounge Reopened - 4 January 2022
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?
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
For more photos of the United Polaris lounge at SFO, visit the United Newsroom
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
... 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
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, ..
#241
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
Did head to SFO early enough to check out the lounge prior to my SFO_MUC flight and I agree impressive indeed. The food was nothing to scream about but it never is. The bar was excellent and with friendly staff. Maybe going forward I will start leaving home early enough to spend a few minutes there and grab a cocktail.
Personally, I'd like nothing better than to have a great meal in the Polaris lounge, and then put all that bedding and the pj's on board to their best use and get more sleep in-flight. Of course there could be the "hot bites" for those who want a midnight snack enroute, but United could cut their in-flight J meals in half by adopting such an option. That should more then pay for whatever meals are served on the ground.
#242
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: if it's Thursday, this must be Belgium
Programs: UA 1K MM
Posts: 6,483
Once the Polaris Lounge network is in place, and probably after the next couple of CEOs are cycled through, I dream of a future when United will offer great in-lounge dining as a pre-booked alternative to on-board dining. That way they could capture some real savings from not serving in-flight meals to those who enjoyed even better meals in the Polaris lounge pre-departure. Of course, the choice would remain open to each pax - pre-reserve a table for dinner in the Polaris lounge, or snack and drink there and enjoy the full meal in flight.
Personally, I'd like nothing better than to have a great meal in the Polaris lounge, and then put all that bedding and the pj's on board to their best use and get more sleep in-flight. Of course there could be the "hot bites" for those who want a midnight snack enroute, but United could cut their in-flight J meals in half by adopting such an option. That should more then pay for whatever meals are served on the ground.
Personally, I'd like nothing better than to have a great meal in the Polaris lounge, and then put all that bedding and the pj's on board to their best use and get more sleep in-flight. Of course there could be the "hot bites" for those who want a midnight snack enroute, but United could cut their in-flight J meals in half by adopting such an option. That should more then pay for whatever meals are served on the ground.
It pretty much goes against the idea of a premium ticket, that you are asked to decide if you want to eat on the ground in advance (at least 24 hours in advance), and are then foreclosed the possibility of eating while on the plane? I think front cabin people buy flexibility (and luxury), and the idea while interesting and efficient, doesn't really match that.
The airline has to pay for the meal either way, and I would roughly guess that the cost of serving it on the ground is not so much different than on the plane that they would be willing to implement the system needed to do this -- and the potential dissatisfaction of passengers who chose by mistake / changed their plans.
#243
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
One work-around that would preserve maximum flexibility for J pax is to adopt Air Canada's approach to selling surplus J meals to the Y cabin on an as is availability. I've been on the receiving end of this approach and it could definitely pay for the cost of fine(r) dining in the Polaris Lounge. There are only so many dinners that J pax will eat in the span of a few hours, unless Mr. Creosote flies Polaris.
#244
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,411
While it sounds like a good idea, the fact is (1) people eat on aircraft because they're bored, and (2) many of us have trouble refusing free food. So pax eats two dinners instead of just one.
#245
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,382
It's hard for me not to agree out of SFO, but with the painfully short duration of east coast and even midwest TATL flights, I could see some value to going to sleep immediately.
#246
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,411
#247
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1MM, Marriott LTP, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,002
I visited the Polaris lounge at SFO last Friday. Not very impressed. Already felt like a zoo. The food was a tad better than that at regular UA Club but not much better. The capacity issue will become more prominent over time.
#248
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
Problem is my ORD-MUC flight leaves at 6:10 PM. At that time I don't feel like going to sleep. I know my little nephews and nieces living in Belgium go to sleep around 7:00 PM but I'm way older.........So, it's dinner while watching a movie, then sometimes even a second movie and then a short nap. Good that I don't have to work directly when I arrive in MUC.
#249
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: No. California
Programs: UA MP HH LTD
Posts: 2,038
Was just in the SFO Polaris Lounge 1045-1230, yesterday. There might have been 100 people, maybe 125. Not crowded at all. The food is better than any UC I have been in, excluding LHR. Not quite GFL level, but closer to GFL than to UC. The bar was great, and the staff working hard.
IMHO, the very few negatives have been WAY over stated. However, I do share the concern of how long before the cuts come.
IMHO, the very few negatives have been WAY over stated. However, I do share the concern of how long before the cuts come.
#250
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: BOS
Programs: UA 1K (2MM); AA LT Gold (1.9 MM); SQ; WN; DL; "Bonvoy Ambassador""
Posts: 398
I am currently in the SFO Polaris Lounge. Very impressed. Not crowded at all. I've been here since 2 pm, but of course this is after all the Asia flight have left. I'm having my third glass of Piper Heidsieck. Wine list includes 5 white and red choices. Later I will visit the restaurant and shower room.
#251
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA 1K & 2MM, Bonvoy Titanium & LTP, HH Gold, Accor Silver, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 2,349
One work-around that would preserve maximum flexibility for J pax is to adopt Air Canada's approach to selling surplus J meals to the Y cabin on an as is availability. I've been on the receiving end of this approach and it could definitely pay for the cost of fine(r) dining in the Polaris Lounge. There are only so many dinners that J pax will eat in the span of a few hours, unless Mr. Creosote flies Polaris.
#252
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,411
Here right now for BR17 (10:28 pm) and the food is seriously pathetic. They just cleared away the last of the hot food (there was only one item, the chicken scallopine). Now there're just instant noodles, some nasty looking sandwiches, a weaker-than UC salad bar, some sad looking pasta salads, and a couple of desserts. Kind of bummed, as I haven't eaten since noon.
So it took two weeks for them to cut the buffet from disappointing to not much better than UC.
On the bright side, the lounge is empty now that the UA pax are all gone.
So it took two weeks for them to cut the buffet from disappointing to not much better than UC.
On the bright side, the lounge is empty now that the UA pax are all gone.
#253
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: Delta Silver Medallion, United MileagePlus Silver
Posts: 18
#254
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Rowley, MA / Edgartown, MA / Christiansted, St. Croix (USVI)
Programs: UA LT GS/4.96MM, Marriott LT Titanium, IHG Platinum, Global Entry, TSA Pre✓, Korea SeS, APEC
Posts: 579
I've now used it twice and it's nice but the food is not as good as the old Global First Lounge. The lounges I like best are the ones that are not crowded. The biggest problem with most United Clubs is they are jammed, and the food isn't worth eating. The one exception for me is BOS, my home base.
#255
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,614
I've now used it twice and it's nice but the food is not as good as the old Global First Lounge. The lounges I like best are the ones that are not crowded. The biggest problem with most United Clubs is they are jammed, and the food isn't worth eating. The one exception for me is BOS, my home base.