IAD Polaris Lounge to open 21 October 2021?
 

MWAA has posted documents for their upcoming board meeting; it includes an agreement with UA to build a 20,000 sf addition to Concourse C at IAD for the new Polaris Lounge.

http://www.mwaa.com/sites/default/fi...al_airport.pdf

The location would be right near the tunnel to the AeroTrain; it would require some modifications to gate C18. There is a diagram in the presentation linked above.

From the linked document in previous post:

"United has commenced planning and intends to undertake a design/build project to deliver the Polaris lounge by the end of 2019."

Any takers on 2020?

and here
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...873ad05216.png

Under this deal, UA will direct all of the design and construction, with MWAA reimbursing it $33.8 million to cover those costs. A paragraph in the 2019 budget notes that the ground floor of this expansion will include baggage facilities, which matches what UA's IAD manager told me and cova at the FFG luncheon this summer.

20,000sf is a solid footprint. Larger than IAH (12.5k), ORD (16.2k), smaller than EWR (27k) and SFO (28k). I'm not sure about LAX, but I'm betting it'll be closer to the low end; maybe IAH-sized. Sounds about right.

It's also worth noting that the $33m is for construction of the building shell and enabling work. The Polaris Lounge interior work isn't included in that figure.

Good news - finally, a Polaris Lounge at IAD.
So-so news - it will be 2020 before it is open.
Bad news - the decrepit C/D Concourse is never going to be torn down and replaced by a proper terminal.

Is it too late to move the train station? ;)

Totally agree... there no chance UAL would invest millions into a Polaris lounge if the C/D replacement were imminent...

it is possible the new Polaris lounge can be a part of new concourse or connected to the new concourse. Otherwise, i won't spend 33M on it.

The replacement C/D concourse is all planned, including the location. They just have no plans to start building it. At one time, in one of the rail stations, they had pictures of it up, and it would look like A/B. Those pictures are long gone. So this new Polaris lounge, if they build it, would never be part of a new renovated C/D. I suspect it is a tacit admission that the current C/D will be there for decades more. I also note that the MWAA information does not seem to have a project start or end date. I wonder if 2020 is optimistic. The proposal does indicate that they plan to make back their 33M from fees from either the current or future C/D. It is supposed to be voted on tomorrow, so maybe there will be an announcement then.

IAD Polaris lounge (2020?)
 

Yesterday on a tight connection I got a ride on the tarmac (always a bit embarrassing, but at the same time very much appreciated!) to my connecting gate. Due to some traffic we had to park on the opposite side of the concourse from my gate (C17). A big section was roped off at ground level, with some early construction work beginning (looked like clearing space and other prep work). The very nice GS agent explained that they were at long last starting construction of the Polaris lounge! She said they were losing one gate (appears to be C20 based on where we were) and that some UA office space was being relocated to make room. Glad to see this is finally getting started.

That's great news. Hopefully an early (ish) 2020 opening.

It was mentioned in the UA Quarterly Earnings phone call today --- IAD Polaris Lounge in 2020

queuing up for comments on the past predictability of Polaris Lounge opening dates