jimmieg

Will be arriving Polaris J from LHR and xfer domestic to LAX? Is the SFO Polaris Club accessible or will I have to exit arrival terminal and clear immigration?
​​​​​Thanks!

pmarrsouth

Everyone arriving on such a flight from LHR has to clear immigration at SFO

WineCountryUA

Yes you will have to exit on arrival but then you will be re-clearing security for your domestic flight. Concourses E,F (domestic) and G (international and where the PL is) are connected airside. So once you clear security for the domestic flight you will have access to the G Concourse PL.

MatthewLAX

And in LA you will have access as well.

desafino

is it right that the australia flights leave late enough that we shouldn't plan to eat in the PL (for an 11pm departure, i'm probably getting to the airport at 8 or 830). Does the bar close the same time as sit down dining?

DELee

Just trying to clarify what you intended to ask about.

Are you asking if you should/need to plan to eat in the SFO Polaris Lounge (PL) prior to boarding a late night flight to Australia? If you are willing to eat what UA serves on the plane as your meal, you don't have to eat in the PL. You can ultimately do what you want.

If you are asking that, since the flights to Australia leave so late at night, is it right for UA to require passengers to arrive at the airport early enough to plan to eat in the PL instead of on the aircraft? Per se, no, but that's the challenge that current United Polaris flyers have to deal with given lounge server/preparer/food sourcing challenges as well as UA's issues with catering for its on-board meals and snacks.

David

Kacee

OP is asking when they stop serving dinner in the PL, and whether he can still get a decent meal arriving at SFO in the 8-8:30 pm window.

I haven't been recently, but my sense is it would be touch and go whether sit down dining will still be available by the time you've reached the lounge (and that they'll start pulling the buffet shortly thereafter).

Others who have been in the past couple months may have more accurate information.

HNLbasedFlyer

If Polaris Club sit down dining and buffet is closed - Napa Farms Market is open until 10pm, I'd grab something to go for the flight - it will certainly be better than what is served on board.

erics2356

I'm on UA926 FRA 7:20pm, how early should I arrive to get a meal in the dining room? I'm not holding out for anything good inflight

jja34-1

I flew SFO-MEL recently and the buffet was open when I left the lounge shortly before 10.

Food on the flight was decent.

dkc192

Plan to arrive by 5-5:30pm, which should give you a 1-1.5 hour window (1.5-2 hours if you don't mind boarding towards the end of the boarding process).

tcdtcd

I was in the SFO PL Sunday night from around 830-955pm. The dining room was still fairly full as I was leaving (I did not do ala carte, just buffet). I don’t know when those folks were seated, and if they were just finishing up?

I still think the SFO PL buffet is the weakest of all of them all.

COA777

I have been wanting to do this, and your post spurred me on. An ode for your journey…


Twas the night before Polaris, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The luggage was set by the front door with care,

In hopes that the Uber would on time be there;

The passenger was nestled all snug in their bed;

While visions of pre-departure beverages and warm breadbaskets danced in their head;

With the crew settled in too, and I in my cap,

Had just settled my brain for a long night’s nap,

When all of a sudden there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my nap to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Only to realize it was a dream - I was already at the bash.

The average cheeses, sandwiches, and store-bought cookies on display at the Polaris Lounge’s buffet show;

Gave something short of a lustre to the food that was in tow,

When what to my wondering eyes did appear,

But a dining room with a waiting list for a burger and a beer,

Then I looked at my watch and knew I needed to be quick,

I knew in that moment it was to the gate in a tick.
More rapid than eagles the gate lice they came,

And the PA system whistled, and shouted, and called out by name:

"Unaccompanied minors! now, Customers with disabilities! now Active military and Global Services!

“Now families traveling with kids 2 and under, now 1K! Then finally Group 1!”
It seemed like forever, I had waited a ton!

To the jetway! to the left turn after door 2L!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!

As I had hoped there were PDB’s offered before we fly,

But the “champagne,” it tasted like sprite and made me wry;

So back from the gate the ground crew made do

With the plane full of passengers, and some surly attendants too—

And then, in a twinkling, I heard from a member of the crew,

“Beef, chicken, or fish, and give me your order of preference, too.”

As I thought in my head, and wanted to know more,

They showed me a picture of what might be in store.

I ordered the chicken unsure of my choice,

At least it was real, albeit as dry as my voice,

A decent salad with a piece of bread wrapped in plastic,

Was all that accompanied this meal that was far from fantastic.

The crew members’ eyes—how they squinted! Their strange looks, how scary!

Their words were minimal, they returned to the galley in a hurry!

I was ready for dessert and wasn’t given a choice,
So I gambled on the sundae that was hard as a Rolls Royce;
At least I had a comfortable seat with a nice pillow and duvet,

But I could not the believe the price for Polaris some would pay;

As long as they can sell these seats, my hat to Scott Kirby,

But I won’t remember with fondness this experience that’s been more than topsy-turvy.

Shortly before landing I was awakened, “would you like some horchata or frittata with bacon?”

I had to say yes, given the fare they had taken;

A glare that was given and a twist of their head

Soon gave me to know I may have something to dread;

But actually, it wasn’t so bad.
Although that cold poor croissant and tiny fruit bowl made me kinda mad.
And pushing my tray table up to a close,

Our widebody aircraft would soon land to pose;

The captain sprang to his mic, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all gabbed and talked as fast as a missile.

Just seconds later I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—

“Welcome to Frankfurt to all, and to all a good flight!”

Skytizen

I recall there being some pictures posted of the PL at SFO... have those posts been removed?

econ

Was in there just after 9 pm last week. Dining room wasn't accepting any new guests, although there were a few groups still in there finishing up. Buffet was still available.

Lounge was packed on the bar/buffet side of the escalators (with a line of 5-10 people waiting for a drink at the bar each time I passed to/from the buffet). On the other side of the escalator, it was less than 50% full.