Polaris lounge in HND instead of NRT?
May 20, 2019, 10:58 am
#31
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Out of curiosity has there been any discussion about expanding the size and facilities at HND by the airport authorities? IIRC the international terminal is a relatively new addition (2010?) but clearly the amount of demand for having an airport located close to Tokyo is exceeding supply. I understand they're making some improvements for the 2020 Olympics but suspect it won't be enough for the groundswell of international airlines wanting to swoop in. Also, how easy would it be to expand HND compared to, say, NRT?
New gate area being remodelled
Existing domestic terminal 2 with area under construction (bottom right)
May 20, 2019, 12:18 pm
#33
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Have you been to the nicer of the two NH lounges? I like it a lot better than the UC.
May 20, 2019, 5:57 pm
#34
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I agree. Love the noodle bar...and the plum wine. Not to mention I just generally find it less noisy even though it can get quite crowded, as not near as many chatting on their phones, having loud conversations, etc.
May 20, 2019, 6:13 pm
#35
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Well, take a look at a satellite image of Haneda: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ha...!4d139.7798386
About the only realistic possibility would be to reclaim land from Tokyo Bay. There's a reason that they built NRT in the first place.
About the only realistic possibility would be to reclaim land from Tokyo Bay. There's a reason that they built NRT in the first place.
It's Muñoz (although he often uses an Anglicized spelling and leaves it out).
I think the implication would be that I would have guested her in (if she could survive the jog between T6 and the Oscar Muñoz terminal - ~25 minutes in length - I really got to consider getting myself one of those Boosted Boards).
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 20, 2019 at 7:22 pm Reason: unneeded phrase removed
May 20, 2019, 6:41 pm
#36
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Noodle bar. Pour your own sake. I always go to NH over UC when in NRT.
May 21, 2019, 2:37 pm
#38
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Returning to the UA Polaris Lounge discussion UA will have to consider carefully whether it’s worthwhile building a Polaris Lounge at NRT. With a reduced number of UA flights departing from NRT they will have to depend on J passengers on other *A flights which is only possible if other *A airlines are persuaded to pay for the privilege.
May 21, 2019, 2:56 pm
#39
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It's not just number of flights though but connecting traffic. Even if the two airports had the same number of flights - NRT undoubtedly has more long-haul connections where the Polaris lounge would be incredibly valuable. Whereas at HND if a lot of travel terminates there it has little value for those passengers, and for folks leaving from HND I imagine folks arrive with less time than they do at NRT given the proximity to the city and types of travelers.
May 21, 2019, 3:36 pm
#40
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We are going very OT but my flights usually leave from 3x gates and it’s quite a trek from the lounge you mention which is near 5x gates.
I’m usually in a lounge at NRT mid-morning at the tail end of breakfast before they start bringing out food for lunch. According to ANA’s website made to order sushi is available in both lounges but for one hour each in the afternoon. I have therefore never had a chance to try it.
Returning to the UA Polaris Lounge discussion UA will have to consider carefully whether it’s worthwhile building a Polaris Lounge at NRT. With a reduced number of UA flights departing from NRT they will have to depend on J passengers on other *A flights which is only possible if other *A airlines are persuaded to pay for the privilege.
I’m usually in a lounge at NRT mid-morning at the tail end of breakfast before they start bringing out food for lunch. According to ANA’s website made to order sushi is available in both lounges but for one hour each in the afternoon. I have therefore never had a chance to try it.
Returning to the UA Polaris Lounge discussion UA will have to consider carefully whether it’s worthwhile building a Polaris Lounge at NRT. With a reduced number of UA flights departing from NRT they will have to depend on J passengers on other *A flights which is only possible if other *A airlines are persuaded to pay for the privilege.
But on a more serious note, I would always do the short walk to the upstairs NH lounge.
Concerning a Polaris lounge: UA will probably have to figure out at which airport there are more *A airlines willing to pay UA for access.
May 21, 2019, 4:15 pm
#41
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I will be interested to see how international Polaris lounge access plays out. For example, I would have to imagine that something like LHR-ZRH or LHR-FRA should not have access, once the LHR lounge is built, based on how UA treats access for Canada/most Latin America flights.
May 21, 2019, 5:20 pm
#42
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This is United we are taking about....Polaris Lounge at international locations is a wishful thinking at the moment despite what the website indicates.
For example, has anyone even stand back and consider whether building a Polaris Lounge in HK to just serving three flights a day is even realistic! It is on the website so it must be true!
If it ever happens, chances are it will be yearsssss away!
Regarding NRT vs HND, the granting of HND slots is a perfect excuse for UA to do more research and planning about building a Polaris Lounge and push back the decision well into the future.
For example, has anyone even stand back and consider whether building a Polaris Lounge in HK to just serving three flights a day is even realistic! It is on the website so it must be true!
If it ever happens, chances are it will be yearsssss away!
Regarding NRT vs HND, the granting of HND slots is a perfect excuse for UA to do more research and planning about building a Polaris Lounge and push back the decision well into the future.
May 21, 2019, 5:58 pm
#43
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I will be interested to see how international Polaris lounge access plays out. For example, I would have to imagine that something like LHR-ZRH or LHR-FRA should not have access, once the LHR lounge is built, based on how UA treats access for Canada/most Latin America flights.
I assume they wouldn’t mind
May 21, 2019, 8:03 pm
#44
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Have you seen the number of domestic flights they operate?
If that were the case, AC and CM J flyers would already have access.
The reason that they restrict Polaris to long-haul flights is that they're aware that crowding has been an issue at the UC, and, rightly or wrongly, they've decided that's how they're going to segment the passengers between the UC and Polaris Lounge. I doubt that will change.
May 22, 2019, 12:26 am
#45
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It's no mystery at all. They want the Polaris experience to be exclusive, and that means not filling them to capacity every hour of the day.
Sometimes UA can't win. People criticize UA for overcrowded UCs, then carp about limited Polaris lounge access.
Sometimes UA can't win. People criticize UA for overcrowded UCs, then carp about limited Polaris lounge access.