Apr 25, 2018, 1:48 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Last edit by: findark

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 - 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 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?

The active thread is here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...riences-q.html
The archive thread is here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...q-archive.html

SFO Polaris Lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, etc (2024-onward)

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Jan 25, 2024 | 10:29 pm

#16

jewree

Join Date: May 2014

Location: San Francisco, CA

Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Ambassador

Posts: 257

Anyone tried the banana turon spring roll yet?

Jan 25, 2024 | 11:32 pm

#17

SPN Lifer

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Mar 2002

Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)

Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .60 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum

Posts: 17,835

My wife makes those at home. It is essentially banana inside a wrapper, fried in oil.

Quality depends on the type of oil used (I prefer canola) and limited (if any) use of brown sugar. It is best when fresh out of the fryer, so the shell is still crispy rather than soggy.

work2fly, uanj, choch345 and 1 others like this.

Jan 26, 2024 | 3:04 am

#18

porciuscato

Join Date: Jul 2013

Programs: DYKWIA; But I'm a "Diamond Guest" Delta Diamond, UA 2MM

Posts: 2,375

Quote:

Originally Posted by aa4ever

I'd go with Polaris. My experience in Centurion over last 6-9 mo has been that the food is borderline inedible and, depending on time, lounge is jammed. Polaris food isn't great, but depending on the day I'd say better and the restaurant area is definitely better if timing works out for you (e.g., there's not a long wait). Wines at Polaris are definitely better, cocktails probably on par (but not relevant in your case). I'd also give Polaris edge for crowds, though that one is somewhat variable.....

I couldn't disagree more. The food in the Centurion is often quite excellent, surpassing both the buffet & restaurant food in the PL. The CL wine selection may be less expensive, but it is superior. The Alexander Valley Cab, when they have it, is outstanding. The Prisoner wine served in the PL may be pricey, but it is swill.

I haven't experienced a crowding problem at the CL since they did their expansion.

Jan 26, 2024 | 6:50 am

#19

Kmxu

Join Date: May 2012

Location: ORF, RIC

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

Posts: 7,909

Late evening foods in PL

I will arrive at SFO at about 9 pm and catch 11:25 pm SFO-TPE (UA 853) flight.
Are the buffet and dinning room closed at 9 pm?
Is it better to go to United Club at Rotunda because my colleague thought that foods in UC were better than PL? He was there last night.

Jan 26, 2024 | 6:52 am

#20

dcpdxtrans

Join Date: Jun 2011

Posts: 1,007

Quote:

Originally Posted by UA_Flyer

Transpac flights out of hubs other than SFO.

Worst Polaris Lounge and lack of widebody services from East Coast/Mid-west (other than EWR) to SFO make flying out of SFO less desirable.

Bolding mine. On UA, I almost exclusively fly int'l from IAH/ORD and occasionally from EWR/IAD. The last time I flew int'l out of SFO I was running to make my plane. I've been looking forward to try SFO PL bc I thought it would be the flagship PL. This month, I was looking at flights and specifically was planning to fly into SFO primarily so that I could try its PL (and since flight times worked). I had no idea at least one reputable person thinks it is Worst PL.

Jan 26, 2024 | 8:05 pm

#21

kirkwoodj

Join Date: Apr 2009

Location: Houston

Programs: UA GS 3MM & LT UC, Qantas Platinum, HA Pualani Gold, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador

Posts: 9,809

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcpdxtrans

Tough call between SFO & EWR for worst PL…

Jan 26, 2024 | 9:03 pm

#22

Polytonic

Join Date: Jun 2017

Location: SEA/NYC/IAD

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

Posts: 2,366

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirkwoodj

Tough call between SFO & EWR for worst PL…

So, I'd say SFO is sliiiightly worse in that at least at EWR you have some decent sit-down alternatives (C123, Classified, etc.).

Centurion food is abysmal, I don't love Yankee Pier, AC MLL is really really far, and most of the fast casual stuff isn't great either.

kirkwoodj likes this.

Jan 26, 2024 | 11:12 pm

#23

econ

Join Date: Oct 2013

Location: SFO

Programs: AA EXP, UA Plat, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat

Posts: 6,121

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirkwoodj

Tough call between SFO & EWR for worst PL…

In terms of food, I’d go with SFO. But I’ve always been able to find a relatively quiet spot to sit there (usually far away from bar/buffet). Can’t say the same about EWR.

Jan 27, 2024 | 8:10 am

#24

Kacee

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Apr 2013

Location: PHX

Programs: AA EXP; UA 1MM & PP; Marriott AMB; Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)

Posts: 61,804

Quote:

Originally Posted by econ

In terms of food, I’d go with SFO. But I’ve always been able to find a relatively quiet spot to sit there (usually far away from bar/buffet). Can’t say the same about EWR.

It's hard to believe EWR could be worse for food.

Agree that Polaris SFO saving grace is it's generally a nice place to lounge (so long as you stay away from the area near the bar).

The fact that your coffee choices are hours-old lukewarm from an urn or wait for the bartender to make you an espresso is indicative of how much UA cares about F&B here.

Jan 27, 2024 | 8:27 am

#25

econ

Join Date: Oct 2013

Location: SFO

Programs: AA EXP, UA Plat, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat

Posts: 6,121

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kacee

It's hard to believe EWR could be worse for food.

I meant I’d go with SFO…as worse.

Kacee likes this.

Jan 27, 2024 | 8:32 am

#26

IAH-OIL-TRASH

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Sep 2003

Location: Honolulu Harbor

Programs: UA 2MM 1K

Posts: 16,461

Quote:

Originally Posted by econ

I meant I’d go with SFO…as worse.

I wonder if it’s because the SFO lounge hosts a relatively high percentage of other *A airlines’ passengers and UA thinks they’re spending too much money on them?

Jan 27, 2024 | 10:26 am

#27

Kacee

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Apr 2013

Location: PHX

Programs: AA EXP; UA 1MM & PP; Marriott AMB; Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)

Posts: 61,804

Quote:

Originally Posted by IAH-OIL-TRASH

I wonder if it’s because the SFO lounge hosts a relatively high percentage of other *A airlines’ passengers and UA thinks they’re spending too much money on them?

IMO that makes it worse. UA gets PAID for those entries. Not to mention that SQ and BR agreed to give up their lounge space at SFO so UA could build PL.

Jan 27, 2024 | 11:06 am

#28

porciuscato

Join Date: Jul 2013

Programs: DYKWIA; But I'm a "Diamond Guest" Delta Diamond, UA 2MM

Posts: 2,375

Yup, the downstairs and upper back corner are a saving grace for the SFO lounge. Usually they're quiet and empty on the busiest of days. No such luck at EWR.

I usually eat at the Centurion and over to the PL when I want to work. I don't bother with those little conference rooms across from the desk. The sound insulation is horrible and you will likely overhear desk agent conversations that will make you despise UA even more.

Jan 27, 2024 | 11:40 am

#29

HkCaGu

Join Date: May 2006

Location: PMD

Programs: UA*G, NW, AA-G. WR-G, HH-S, IHG, ALL. TT-GE.

Posts: 3,107

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kacee

IMO that makes it worse. UA gets PAID for those entries. Not to mention that SQ and BR agreed to give up their lounge space at SFO so UA could build PL.

AI and BR passengers (especially non precheck foreigners) don’t quite get to enjoy a G lounge when they need to board at an A gate.

SPN Lifer likes this.