Will Polaris lounge close later due to delayed departures?
 

My wife and I are booked on flight 90 from EWR to TLV tomorrow night (Wednesday night). The scheduled departure is 10:55 PM. However, UA just informed me that they expect that the departure will be delayed until 12:25 AM due to "forecasted severe thunderstorms across the Northeast."

The Polaris lounge normally closes at 10:00 PM. Is there any chance that it will stay open later on account of the flight delay?

Thanks!

There’s a chance, but at EWR I wouldn’t expect it. I posted in another thread about IAH sometimes staying open later. If they do stay open, expect only a chair (bar, food, etc shut down).

I would not expect it in the sEWeR.

Perhaps you will be surprised and even possibly delighted.

Was at EWR on Jun 15 when there were severe thunderstorms in the area. almost every flight to LHR was delayed till after midnight. Polaris lounge promptly closed at 10pm :rolleyes:

That isn't exactly surprising - I suspect some of those staff use public transportation - and some of that staff have to get home - and others don't want to be out and about after midnight. You can't tell a group of employees - your end of shift is when the last flight departs.

Sure you can. That is exactly how it works with Ground staff and Gate Agents.

United may not want to pay the necessary wages to make it happen, but it is absolutely possible.

It's all about the contract.

Optimistic question. Polaris Lounge isn’t likely to stay open late for a flight. That would be unnecessarily be adding to the cost of the delay.

I have been asked to leave the lounge 10 minbefore the official closing hour at SFO.

Food was gone 30 min before closing…

Just to add to the chorus, sadly it won't stay open late. That's life in the USA right now. I wouldn't expect any better even from Delta.

Not staying open past published closing for delayed flights is understandable, if not annoying and bad customer service. This, however, is completely unacceptable, as I'm sure has been discussed elsewhere.

Yep. On Friday a bunch of flights (including mine) were delayed and they promptly kicked me out of the regular (new) UC at 950pm. I asked if any other lounges were open because of the late flights and was told no. Walked by Polaris on the way back to my gate and it was also very clearly closed.

Sigh. What part of "closes at 10:00pm" do these people not understand? :mad:

I definitely would've told them "OK noted" and then stayed until 10:00 on the dot.

When lounge staff were airline employees, it was easier to authorize overtime and keep lounges open in the event of flight delays. Now that nearly all are vendor employees, their company is unlikely to pay OT in the event of United-operated flight delays.

Sure. Antagonizing people for no purpose is always a good idea.

Some people take 10-15 minutes just to gather their stuff up. I'm sure nobody got kicked out early, they were probably just told to gather their belongings so they could leave by the time the club was closing.