Review: United Polaris Lounge Chicago O'Hare Airport

I much prefer the Virgin lounge at Heathrow when flying Delta One.

United is somehow shocked, SHOCKED, that when you build a nice lounge, many more people actually want to come to it! What a concept.

I look forward to the inevitable chair fighting at the likely-too-small EWR Polaris lounge.

Do you think the Polaris Lounge model is sustainable, in terms of 1) the ability to serve many customers a le carte meals (is it restricted to dining area only?) and 2) the cost (it seems really nice but is the delay in other locations related to funding?)

I just have a gut feeling that UA will 'enhance' the lounge by lowering services and amenities standard...

I was extremely impressed with this lounge on my visit before flying ORD-FRA-JNB on LH in C class. Probably my favorite in the US. The food was excellent, as was the drink selection. Really didn't care about the small buffet plates -- I think that's by design, as you're supposed to take your substantial meals sit-down style.

I couldn't believe it was United. Was a great start to our trip, and they blew LH Biz class lounges out of the water.

When flying Star Alliance in the future, I'd go out of my way to route via ORD or wherever there's a Polaris lounge open as my US International gateway (don't live in a *A int'l gateway city)... seriously, we were that impressed.

Ben, I must say you are doing a fantastic job keeping the quality content flowing while you’re in Israel, which must be hard. Keep it up! 🙂

I’ve visited several times this year and the experience has always been top-notch.

While it does get a bit busy in the afternoons, it’s not too hard to get a table for sit-down dining. Definitely try the ribeye, it’s freaking delicious!

P.S. you forgot to mention how you can control the temperature of the heated floors in the shower suites. Not even The Private Room offers that luxury 🙂

It seems way too expansive and over-the-top for the few passengers that are actually eligible to use it... If they put all of their efforts into these lounges and continue to restrict access to United Club members, I can see their membership base declining significantly.

Wow that menu looks amazing although the presentation of that tuna starter made me laugh - it looks like it was plated by a child.
If I was flying *A long haul to Europe from the US I would go out of my way to fly from ORD to experience this lounge. I imagine it would be absolutely packed to the rafters in the late afternoon/early evening when most European flights depart though.

As to why no one was utilising the restaurant I can only imagine that they assume it is either terrible, or there is a cost attached given it's very unusual to have a la carte in a J lounge, especially in the US

I'll be flying Polaris to Europe next spring, and have the option of connecting either in Chicago or in Houston. I've read the planes are much nicer out of Houston (I believe they're the former Continental planes) and that the 777-200s they fly from Chicago are not great in business class. I'm leaning towards Houston for the nicer plane, but this lounge sounds awesome and if I picked Chicago I'd have a 5 hour layover to enjoy it! Do you think it's worth it to skip the Polaris lounge for a slightly nicer plane? (This will be my first time flying biz and I want to be sure to do it right!)

@Lucky and others:

How does the look of the Polaris lounge compare to that of the United Club/Global First lounge at Heathrow T2. I was blown away by how good they looked especially compared to United's lounges in the States.

Not an accurate review. Go at 3pm before all the flights leave at 6.
It’s an f###ing zoo.

Since you’re becoming quite famous and you’re getting all these invitations for the special experiences, which I’m sure you like and want more of. But it also doesn’t help us, the common traveler, get the real experience if these companies are going out of their way to accommodate a celebrity like you with top notch service most of us won’t get, so you can write up a very positive blog post. Such as El Al putting their head FA on your flight.

I was there shortly after Travis and if you compare his pics to yours you'll see they increased seating. The banquette tables were small and round before while your pics show a denser configuration of square tables. They've also put a lot of armchairs near the buffet. This area used to be poorly utilized, although a nice place to sit by the window, with two large coffee tables with a few large modern lounge chairs around them.

Thanks for the review! Looks better than Classified....

Interesting they have Crown Royal XR- the rest of their whiskey slections are fairly low endish but the XR is at a higher price point....

FDW

"As to why no one was utilising the restaurant I can only imagine that they assume it is either terrible, or there is a cost attached given it’s very unusual to have a la carte in a J lounge, especially in the US"

Initially there was signage and an announcement by the staff that tipping was expected at normal levels. This has disappeared and stopped.

I have never had a meal there because I haven't had time and/or I am about to get on an 12+ flight which I will want to eat a meal on even if the food in the club is better. If I were on a <10 hour flight I think I would try to schedule my meal there so I could go directly to sleep and bypass the meal.

On a first class ticket to Rome, I spent 30 mins in the lounge last month. Not a single seat to sit down in. No place to dine in. Bar a mob scene. Sat outside and waited for my flight. They were refusing entry to new people on business class tickets.

Victim of their own success.

I understand the expanded Polaris space Lucky mentioned is coming from the existing UA Club in C, which will be smaller when it reopens.

Did you have the same issue of the servers asking for a tip like Travis did?

I think it's mostly people don't have the time for a sit down meal. For breakfast nearly everything is on the buffet in some form or another.

Never stopped me in the slightest though. I've think I've had everything ing on both menus at least twice. Delicious each and every time. I just wish to God they'd get LAX or SFO open.

I was impressed with the Polaris lounge too. I would have liked more active attention to the unisex bathrooms, but the rest of the staff were amazing. The afternoon buffet was nice. I didn't try the a la carte dining because I was going to save room for the flight. I wish I hadn't! United has cut back on the in air catering quality and no more wine flights. Now I really wish I'd checked out the lounge cocktail menu....

LOVE this lounge, although I prefer to get my long-hauls out of the way through LAX or SFO (being based out of San Diego) its always a pleasure to visit this lounge if going through ORD. The private dining is my favorite part! I always hope for at least an hour to spend there alone.

Great review! Why are the wines numbered? Are you supposed to order by number?

Great review. The meal looked delicious and the privacy of the daybeds is quite interesting.

@Xtina
Is this true about UA stopping the wine flights for Polaris international travel? They don't use those 3-glass holders anymore?

They still have the wine flights as of October.

Ben,

Are all the dishes on the menu are prepared and made fresh, or do we know if they are utilizing frozen ingredients to save time and money? Such as the fried chicken, meatballs, hamburger? Thanks

I’m flying United Polaris out of SFO at the end of March, and was hoping the lounge would be open by then. I don’t think so.

Great review.

I used the ORD Polaris lounge in August, on a Saturday afternoon. It was just as Lucky described, excellent but filled up around 4pm.

Expanding the capacity by about 70 people doesn't sound like much.

To get people to use the sit down meal service (I had the seared rib eye) United should be stressing the convenience of eating before you fly (especially on TATLs) and being able to go straight to sleep after takeoff. I tried that and couldn't sleep because of the meal service around and over me (aisle seat in the middle four of a 772).

To the person that asked how it compares to the Heathrow UC, I'd give Heathrow the edge. It's much bigger and feels more spacious, and I prefer the workbenches either side of the huge bar. Aside from the sit down meal option and the "beds" (both available in the Global First lounge) and slightly poorer quality buffet food LHR is already Polaris quality and more. Indeed I'd leave the LHR UC as is and have the GFC lounge converted to a Polaris "add on" just for the extras.

menu looks delicious, cant wait to try the lounge out!

Wow, this is impressive, especially for United. Looks great. Especially since this is just a glorified business class lounge.

I’m still convinced if Smisek had wanted to improve the airline after the merger, they wouldn’t be phasing out F now.

@Donald - I saw only one wine holder left after they got through the first two rows of 777 business on a recent flight. They definitely weren't replenished for the rest of the cabin. I also asked about getting a mattress pad and they said they were only stocked for Polaris First.

@AL

The planes out of IAH are no different than any other hub...

Try to get a 777-300, which features the new Polaris hard product (seat). I would connect in ORD for this lounge (unless you are only able to fly the 777-300 via IAH, in which case I would go for the new seat).

Good review. I have been there 4 times now and I can tell you when no one sits at the tables for sit down meals......... I had no idea they offered it! There is nothing to me that denoted this at all, so I would think some awareness should be made in some fashion as I would have enjoyed my stay much more. Is this only avialble if you happen to find a seat in the 6 tables and 5 booths? if so that is disappointing.

The buffet is short on offerings I must say and there is room to utilize it more IMO. The drink selection is fine and enough options are there.

The showers are great and the bathrooms are great! These are two prime amenities that I look for an appreciate in a lounge. I haven't used the daybeds as I wasn't on a layover to necessitate them, however I would prefer an actual twin bed to that lounger. Good to have the option, but with limited hours of operation 7:15AM to 9:00PM it doesn't surprise me they aren't utilized more. The entry space doesn't seem utilized as good as it can be. You could push the entrance to where the signage actually is and use the present space used as the check in desk as additional lounge space which would increase capacity.

I don't know the expansion plan you mentioned, but any space to increase would be valuable to the experience.

I want to note you DO HAVE ACCESS AS AN ARRIVING POLARIS BIZ PASSENGER!

Thanks! Still be able to have a look inside. Looks GREAT ! Denied access with Swiss F boarding pass. Will have to try again when on UA itinerary next time

@eric -- You were denied access when flying ORD-ZRH in F? Sounds like someone violated policy.

In general, I think there are a few reasons few people avail themselves of a la carte dining:
1) They are short on time and would rather grab something that's right there and then relax/work.
2) Sometimes when traveling people are exhausted or have a long journey ahead and want to minimize interactions in the lounge.
3) People mistakenly believe they'd have to pay.
4) People don't want to have to tip even if the food itself is free.
5) People are simply unaware of the offering.

I think 3-5 are the most salient reasons.

@Jose

For my flights, the only planes are 777-200 going out of both hubs unless something changes in between now and March. The ones flying out of Chicago have a 2-4-2 configuration and the ones flying out of Houston have a 2-2-2 configuration. (Version 1 vs. Version 2 at the following link.) I've read a few unfavorable reviews about the seats in the 2-4-2 version unfortunately.

https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/inflight/aircraft/777/200/default.aspx

"@Xtina
Is this true about UA stopping the wine flights for Polaris international travel? They don’t use those 3-glass holders anymore?"

I flew from NRT to SFO Polaris Class on Nov. 7. I asked for the wine-tasting course, and the steward was more than happy to oblige with three glasses of wine in the curved holder. And he offered me a refill when I was through.

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Originally, my flight was reserved for NRT - ORD, but it got cancelled, so I had to rebook on an earlier flight to SFO and then on to ORD. I was really looking forward to using the ORD Polaris Club in the late afternoon and early evening on my arrival, since I have only experienced it in the morning. A bummer, but on the plus side I got to experience the Polaris hard product for the first time (quite nice, but feels like having a small cubicle in an office with little passenger interaction) and UA gave me a 10,000 point bonus for the inconvenience. NRT-ORD is my primary route, so all my layovers at ORD are from 5 to 6 hours long, which is just fine with me as long as I can get into the Polaris Club.

I don't understand the hype with this lounge. It's too small, often wildly overcrowded, and not at all relaxing. The food selection is absurdly limited.

Traveling to Rome on United Polaris today, my wife and I are both Global Service but we were not allowed to enter the Polaris lounge with our minor daughter who is traveling in Econ Plus. Super poor form United.

The Buffet was exzellent. The ‚tiny‘ portions were perfect: you can try different Service is excellent. A large Selection of Drinks and Cocktails.
A wonderful Lounge. Congratulations to United.

I've visited the Polaris lounge in EWR, SFO and IAH and have been impressed with the space, offerings and service each time. I have not visited the lounge in ORD. The sit-down dining areas in EWR, SFO and IAH are much better better than what is shown in your photo of the ORD lounge. For an American airline, United does a superb job.

I am traveling on TAP business class and would love to try out this Polaris lounge. What would be the best way to go about this? (assuming TAP will be leaving from Terminal 5)