Oct 21, 2021, 1:16 pm
Last edit by: SPN Lifer
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. IAD-LHR
Connecting: The airport to or from which you have a short-haul flight to connect to a longer flight, i.e. SFO-IAD-LHR or LHR-IAD-SFO
Arrival: The airport you arrive at after your long-haul flight, i.e. LHR-IAD
Hours - 5:30 AM- 10PM
Related Threads:
EWR Polaris lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..
ORD Polaris lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..
IAH Polaris lounge (E11/12 - top fl) -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ...
SFO Polaris Lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..
LAX Polaris Lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..
Consolidated "Polaris Lounge Access Questions" Thread
Best *G IAD Lounge for UA flyers
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. IAD-LHR
Connecting: The airport to or from which you have a short-haul flight to connect to a longer flight, i.e. SFO-IAD-LHR or LHR-IAD-SFO
Arrival: The airport you arrive at after your long-haul flight, i.e. LHR-IAD
Hours - 5:30 AM- 10PM
Related Threads:
EWR Polaris lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..
ORD Polaris lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..
IAH Polaris lounge (E11/12 - top fl) -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ...
SFO Polaris Lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..
LAX Polaris Lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..
Consolidated "Polaris Lounge Access Questions" Thread
Best *G IAD Lounge for UA flyers
IAD Polaris Lounge -- Reviews, Experiences, Q&A, ..
Oct 22, 2021, 11:37 am
#46
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,452
The post-pandemic reopening would have been a natural opportunity for UA to "rationalize" or "streamline" the Polaris Lounge product, and, it would appear that is not the case. Thus far, I am impressed.
Oct 22, 2021, 3:58 pm
#47
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
My dining experience
I had less than two hours in the lounge. I stopped by restroom first. Then I asked a server for private dining area. Eventually, an assistant manager guided us in. There were very few people in the dining room with two servers. The soup and tiny bit came very quickly. But chicken and salmon came out after 30 min waiting. The ramen soup came out in ten min after order. The total time in the dining room was about 80 min. I spent about 20 min for the shower, which was excellent. However, I had to ask for toothbrush and toothpaste.
I did not have time to sample the drinks except for two glasses of red wines. I did not check the buffet area, either. Three hours may be minimal to fully enjoy the lounge.
Cheers.
Balloons are still on display! But the entry is very small.
Very spacious lounge!
Here is the cocktail menu, but only I had red wines.
The pumpkin soup was very good, not too sweet. The small but was good. Took about 5 min to get both served.
There was four people in the dinning room at 4 pm. There were less than ten after I left after 5 pm. It was difficult to find the dinning area, which is private.
The chicken dish was so so, but salmon was very good.
The ramen was very bad. A clear soup should be better. It was too sweat.
The shower is very nice.
I did not have time to sample the drinks except for two glasses of red wines. I did not check the buffet area, either. Three hours may be minimal to fully enjoy the lounge.
Cheers.
Balloons are still on display! But the entry is very small.
Very spacious lounge!
Here is the cocktail menu, but only I had red wines.
The pumpkin soup was very good, not too sweet. The small but was good. Took about 5 min to get both served.
There was four people in the dinning room at 4 pm. There were less than ten after I left after 5 pm. It was difficult to find the dinning area, which is private.
The chicken dish was so so, but salmon was very good.
The ramen was very bad. A clear soup should be better. It was too sweat.
The shower is very nice.
Oct 22, 2021, 4:16 pm
#48
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 17,976
I had less than two hours in the lounge. I stopped by restroom first. Then I asked a server for private dining area. Eventually, an assistant manager guided us in. There were very few people in the dining room with two servers. The soup and tiny bit came very quickly. But chicken and salmon came out after 30 min waiting. The ramen soup came out in ten min after order. The total time in the dining room was about 80 min. I spent about 20 min for the shower, which was excellent. However, I had to ask for toothbrush and toothpaste.
I did not have time to sample the drinks except for two glasses of red wines. I did not check the buffet area, either. Three hours may be minimal to fully enjoy the lounge.
Cheers.
The shower is very nice.
I did not have time to sample the drinks except for two glasses of red wines. I did not check the buffet area, either. Three hours may be minimal to fully enjoy the lounge.
Cheers.
The shower is very nice.
Oct 23, 2021, 1:07 am
#52
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
Actually, I did not know that I was in the picture when I posted it at IAD😂. When I arrived at BRU, I noticed it on another social media platform. Fortunately, I was not naked. Otherwise, FT will ban me for life.
Oct 23, 2021, 7:58 am
#53
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
Wow, you were hungry. I guess I prefer it over what I get on board. Anyways, thanks for the photos.
Oct 23, 2021, 8:07 am
#54
Join Date: May 2006
Location: New to BWI as of 2021; say hi if you're in the area!
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 421
I had less than two hours in the lounge. I stopped by restroom first. Then I asked a server for private dining area. Eventually, an assistant manager guided us in. There were very few people in the dining room with two servers. The soup and tiny bit came very quickly. But chicken and salmon came out after 30 min waiting. The ramen soup came out in ten min after order. The total time in the dining room was about 80 min. I spent about 20 min for the shower, which was excellent. However, I had to ask for toothbrush and toothpaste.
I did not have time to sample the drinks except for two glasses of red wines. I did not check the buffet area, either. Three hours may be minimal to fully enjoy the lounge.
Cheers.
Balloons are still on display! But the entry is very small.
Very spacious lounge!
Here is the cocktail menu, but only I had red wines.
The pumpkin soup was very good, not too sweet. The small but was good. Took about 5 min to get both served.
There was four people in the dinning room at 4 pm. There were less than ten after I left after 5 pm. It was difficult to find the dinning area, which is private.
The chicken dish was so so, but salmon was very good.
The ramen was very bad. A clear soup should be better. It was too sweat.
The shower is very nice.
I did not have time to sample the drinks except for two glasses of red wines. I did not check the buffet area, either. Three hours may be minimal to fully enjoy the lounge.
Cheers.
Balloons are still on display! But the entry is very small.
Very spacious lounge!
Here is the cocktail menu, but only I had red wines.
The pumpkin soup was very good, not too sweet. The small but was good. Took about 5 min to get both served.
There was four people in the dinning room at 4 pm. There were less than ten after I left after 5 pm. It was difficult to find the dinning area, which is private.
The chicken dish was so so, but salmon was very good.
The ramen was very bad. A clear soup should be better. It was too sweat.
The shower is very nice.
Just curious -- you didn't happen to take a pic of a floor map, did you? (If they even have something like that)
Oct 23, 2021, 8:08 am
#55
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 4,998
Hipster chefs seem to always want to change something to put their "signature" on it. With ramen, the traditional ways are invariably the best. My relatives are always trying to take me to some "new" fancy ramen restaurant when I visit them because they know it's my favorite food. But, no matter how upscale or expensive these restaurants are, nothing compares to my regular salaryman Tokyo ramen shops-Tenkaippin being my favorite.
Oct 23, 2021, 8:45 am
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
I had less than two hours in the lounge. I stopped by restroom first. Then I asked a server for private dining area. Eventually, an assistant manager guided us in. There were very few people in the dining room with two servers. The soup and tiny bit came very quickly. But chicken and salmon came out after 30 min waiting. The ramen soup came out in ten min after order. The total time in the dining room was about 80 min. I spent about 20 min for the shower, which was excellent. However, I had to ask for toothbrush and toothpaste.
I did not have time to sample the drinks except for two glasses of red wines. I did not check the buffet area, either. Three hours may be minimal to fully enjoy the lounge.
Cheers.
img
Balloons are still on display! But the entry is very small.
img
Very spacious lounge!
img
Here is the cocktail menu, but only I had red wines.
img
The pumpkin soup was very good, not too sweet. The small but was good. Took about 5 min to get both served.
img
There was four people in the dinning room at 4 pm. There were less than ten after I left after 5 pm. It was difficult to find the dinning area, which is private.
img
The chicken dish was so so, but salmon was very good.
img
The ramen was very bad. A clear soup should be better. It was too sweat.
img
The shower is very nice.
I did not have time to sample the drinks except for two glasses of red wines. I did not check the buffet area, either. Three hours may be minimal to fully enjoy the lounge.
Cheers.
img
Balloons are still on display! But the entry is very small.
img
Very spacious lounge!
img
Here is the cocktail menu, but only I had red wines.
img
The pumpkin soup was very good, not too sweet. The small but was good. Took about 5 min to get both served.
img
There was four people in the dinning room at 4 pm. There were less than ten after I left after 5 pm. It was difficult to find the dinning area, which is private.
img
The chicken dish was so so, but salmon was very good.
img
The ramen was very bad. A clear soup should be better. It was too sweat.
img
The shower is very nice.
Hipster chefs seem to always want to change something to put their "signature" on it. With ramen, the traditional ways are invariably the best. My relatives are always trying to take me to some "new" fancy ramen restaurant when I visit them because they know it's my favorite food. But, no matter how upscale or expensive these restaurants are, nothing compares to my regular salaryman Tokyo ramen shops-Tenkaippin being my favorite.
From the look and description it reminds me of the pho ORD PL served for a while, which was terrible: sweet and incoherent.
Oct 23, 2021, 9:10 am
#57
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 4,998
Actually to me that ramen looks like it doesn't have even hipster signatures, but rather it just has a mishmash of Asian ingredients without any basics of ramen (good broth, noodles).
From the look and description it reminds me of the pho ORD PL served for a while, which was terrible: sweet and incoherent.
From the look and description it reminds me of the pho ORD PL served for a while, which was terrible: sweet and incoherent.
I agree about the pho at ORD. I only had it once and only ate a few bites. Maybe this dish at IAD is based on that one because OP did say it was too sweet.
Last edited by zombietooth; Oct 23, 2021 at 9:37 am
Oct 23, 2021, 2:00 pm
#58
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
It reminds me of the "sweet and sour chicken" that use to be in the ORD UC sometimes. Basically more like sweet and sour soup with boiled chicken, some rice, and random veg (water chestnut). It's like when trying to create a dish you've never tasted or even seen before.
Oct 23, 2021, 2:08 pm
#59
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
I recall discussions regarding staff not doing anything when observing guests picking up food (cookies, nuts, etc) from the buffet with their bare hands.
Oct 23, 2021, 2:09 pm
#60
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: ORD / PHX
Programs: UA LT 1K 3MM (former 12 yr GS), Bonvoy Amb/LT Plat
Posts: 1,341
Thanks for the pre-Covid nostalgia!