Apr 25, 2018, 1:48 pm
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, ..
May 24, 2018, 4:42 am
#271
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Amabassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,589
And just to pile on, they basically start cleaning up and shutting down at 11 pm. This is where the configuration of the lounge (long and narrow) becomes a problem because it's super loud wherever you go (especially near the bar and the service door on the ground floor) just past the check-in counter. I finally escaped to one of the "quiet rooms" down past the showers.
At least you are flying BR and not UA LOL
Sad fact - I have to fly UA next month to TPE or I may not requal 1K, I have been enjoying BR ad LH a little too much LOL, at least I have the 773 out of SFO
May 24, 2018, 4:03 pm
#272
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,461
May 24, 2018, 9:16 pm
#274
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, UA Gold, Marriott LTT, Avis President's Club
Posts: 1,539
May 24, 2018, 9:42 pm
#275
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,461
May 24, 2018, 11:19 pm
#276
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH, YYC
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 753
Tried out the Polaris lounge at SFO for the first time today and I have to say I'm extremely impressed. The food was great (including the dining service), layout was nice and it was by far the best lounge I've seen in North America, and maybe just squeezes into the league of some of the top first class lounges internationally. I'm writing this from UA869 currently over Northern Japan. When the "new polaris" experience is all pieced together I think its actually a very nice product. If only they can get the new lounges and seats into all theirs hubs / planes respectively.
May 25, 2018, 7:55 pm
#277
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA 1K/AS 100K …Bonvoy Titanium..Hertz Presidents Club
Posts: 1,117
In the lounge now at 6:40 PM. I would say there are about 100 paxs on both levels. Went to the dining room for a quick bite and was disappointed with the service. There were about ten people sitting so I sat at a table in the corner that had a couple of glasses and silverwear laid out. Waited about ten minutes but no one came over. I got up and asked an attendant for a menu. Ten more minutes went by before my order was taken.
Polaris Burger was good but requested condiments but never came. It also took 20 minutes to get the order. Observing the staff, they seem not to be too confident in their duties. My theory. SF City really pushes to hire locals whether they have experience or not. They were probably given a training program but have no experience in the hospitality business.
Lounge is miles ahead of the old UC Lounge. Mostly European flights going out at this time so not overly crowded.
Polaris Burger was good but requested condiments but never came. It also took 20 minutes to get the order. Observing the staff, they seem not to be too confident in their duties. My theory. SF City really pushes to hire locals whether they have experience or not. They were probably given a training program but have no experience in the hospitality business.
Lounge is miles ahead of the old UC Lounge. Mostly European flights going out at this time so not overly crowded.
May 26, 2018, 3:00 am
#278
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,337
There is no need to “have to” fly UA for 1K requalification. Continue to enjoy you BR and LH (not sure I agree with LH’s quality, OS is my choice) as much as you like.
May 26, 2018, 4:29 am
#279
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: AA PP, UA 1K/MM, WoH Globalist, HH Gold
Posts: 1,201
I am guess, from the statement above, you have to fly UA to requalify for 1K is because of PQD or the 4-segment minimum on UA metals. Try the credit card waiver and simple RT domestic trip with one connection, then you are there.
There is no need to “have to” fly UA for 1K requalification. Continue to enjoy you BR and LH (not sure I agree with LH’s quality, OS is my choice) as much as you like.
May 26, 2018, 5:46 am
#280
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
FWIW, in the ORD Polaris Lounge, there are from time to time families with small kids. They are either passengers having found good awards in Business, wealthy people or employees of companies paying for the whole family to fly or whatever other explanation. But, it's sure that there are not too many kids so maybe it does not warrant a need to put a family room especially when the Polaris Lounge space is limited.
May 26, 2018, 5:50 am
#281
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,461
There are still guest privileges in the Polaris Lounge for passengers flying Polaris First so a passenger flying SFO-ORD-international destination in Polaris First could invite a guest until the 3-plane class with Polaris First disappears (in March I still could have purchased First Class for a trip to PVG in July for just $1500 more than the P fare).
May 26, 2018, 6:07 am
#282
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
From ORD, these families exist. Maybe SFO has a different demographics (high prevalence of DINKs?). And although totally unrelated, in 1994, my wife was surprised that on her LHR-JFK flight on the BA Concorde there were 3 families with 3-4 small kids each. All coming from a continent that is not North America or Europe. I guess that's where the wealth is.
May 26, 2018, 7:58 am
#283
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Amabassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,589
I am guess, from the statement above, you have to fly UA to requalify for 1K is because of PQD or the 4-segment minimum on UA metals. Try the credit card waiver and simple RT domestic trip with one connection, then you are there.
There is no need to “have to” fly UA for 1K requalification. Continue to enjoy you BR and LH (not sure I agree with LH’s quality, OS is my choice) as much as you like.
I can and do book LH, but due to this year schedule and other things, been flying BR quite a bit and LH not so much, so I am just making sure. One flight on the 77W isn't going to kill me
May 26, 2018, 11:25 am
#284
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,462
Can't book BR on 016 stock for money, only for award tickets. If you can somehow, I am all ears.
I can and do book LH, but due to this year schedule and other things, been flying BR quite a bit and LH not so much, so I am just making sure. One flight on the 77W isn't going to kill me
I can and do book LH, but due to this year schedule and other things, been flying BR quite a bit and LH not so much, so I am just making sure. One flight on the 77W isn't going to kill me
May 26, 2018, 11:51 am
#285
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,856
BR blocks their discount fares via plating restrictions, making it hard or costly to book on 016 ticket stock
EVA (BR) not bookable through United?
==============================================
TOPIC REMINDER
However, we are getting pretty far off topic here, lets return to the thread topic, the SFO Polaris Lounge
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 26, 2018 at 12:16 pm Reason: highlighted link