We arrived on our United "Polaris" flight from London and had a four hour layover in Chicago before our connecting flight. This gave us plenty of time to check out the brand new Polaris Lounge which we were rather excited about. Unfortunately, it was a few days before they began serving restaurant-style order-off-the-menu meals so…
Continue reading: Review: United Polaris Lounge Chicago
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I give it 6 months before they start bringing in contract workers to do a half-assed job with the food. That's what's happening at the LGA Centurion lounge anyway. Quality always falls off after a while. Decor looks awesome though.
Kind of hard to believe that this is a United lounge. Looks fantastic and a very nice wine selection as well.
There is also an entire sit down menu selection which is awesome, especially the fried chicken. It's a bit hidden and only in the sit to dine area.
Bummed that you were there right before the a la carte menu started operating. There's only one online review that I could find, and that was only a couple days after they opened so I think they were still working out the kinks and on their "best behavior," so to speak. With all the travel blogs now you'd think they'd be popping up. (It shows that even with Polaris starting to roll out, those in the know would still rather fly long haul on airlines OTHER than UA. I know I would!)
Not too surprised you all weren't feeling your best though. Traveling with 3 children that young is a constant battle. There is barely any down time. But at least when they're grown they can't say you never took them anywhere! 😉
I was there in December (so before the a la carte option). We were connecting from Maui to Brussels, and it was SO crowded in the lounge. There was also almost no food. For me it was a disappointment...
Does anyone know if I can access the Polaris lounge if I arrive in Star Alliance (ANA) F and connect on UA domestic first?
@Charles
Who can use the United Polaris lounge?
Only customers traveling in United Polaris business class or United Polaris first class on long-haul international flights, as well as customers traveling in international first or business class cabins on Star Alliance™ partner airlines, will have access to the United Polaris lounge.
As always, great review Travis! Thanks!
@Lloyd - Not completely correct. Passengers departing or connecting to/from UA Polaris First Class or Business Class can use the lounge. *A First and Business pax must be departing from that particular airport in *A First/Business for lounge access. Some airlines extend lounge access (maybe LH?) with a same-day premium BP, but that's not required.
@Charlie - You won't have access to either the Polaris lounge or United Club with your NH F BP. If, however, you're *G, you can still use the UC.
Not allowing premium pax lounge access throughout their journey is a messed up *A policy that really should be changed... http://www.staralliance.com/en/lounge-access-policy
Nice to see Duckhorn and some other nice wines, but a bit odd that they have no French wines at all outside of Champagne. A white burgundy and a bordeaux would be nice to see ...
Are you sure about the Air Canada info? When the lounge first opened there was talk of buying a cheap r/t Business class fare out of Chicago to Toronto where you'd be up and back in the same day just to be able to try the lounge. Then it was reported that it had to be Air Canada long haul to get the access. I nearly routed a trip over the holidays thru Toronto and ORD, but I would have had to spend the night in Chicago and I just couldn't make it work. If you were able to get in, I'd love to hear about someone's actual experience.
I'm not sure how anyone could find anything negative to say about this lounge. For a U.S. carrier it clearly sets a new standard pretty much across the board. In fact it's competitive with many very good international carriers as well. And remember this is business class not true first class. Frankly it's impressive as hell.
John -- Yeah, it's a little odd. But there are so many people showing up at the lounge without the proper credentials that it does sort of make sense to do some pre-screening out front. Otherwise a line would form at the reception desk as the staff tries to politely explain that this isn't a United Club. I saw at least 3-4 passengers get turned around out front, and honestly I think that's better than having them clog up the main counter.
Was just in this Lounge yesterday (12 Jun 2017); NOT impressed at all, especially when compared with even the tiniest Lufthansa Lounge. They ran out of food multiple times (I had a 6 hr layover); they ran out of silverware (no excuse for this in a 'premium' Lounge); bathroom occupancy signs so tiny in a very dark hallway that they are still impossible to see (why hasn't this been fixed in 6 months?!?, and SO crowded by 3pm. UGH. Typical of United Airlines to offer a half-assed product.
A great review.
I have been in this lounge a number of times now, and every time it is ever more crowded. Yesterday (July 12th, similar to the post above), while flying to Rome, I went in to find every single seat taken - every seat at the bar, every pod, every bench seat. Even the seats at the front desk were full. I appreciate 4pm is a busy time with all the flights to Europe about to depart, but it is not the level of service that United is claiming to offer. It was also very noisy as there were a lot of kids in the lounge.
Moreover, as a Global Services level frequent flyer (sorry to get on the high horse), it falls well short of what competitor airlines offer their top customers.
Lounges are cool, but am I the only FF who plans accordingly and arrives as soon as possible before takeoff?
Just to be clear, I can access the lounge when I depart in LH F but not when I arrive in LH F when connected to UA domestic F? Thanks.