Let's look closer. Typical business decisions to cut down on expenses. They're stocked with Sunday Riley toiletries, which are pretty high quality for an airport lounge. While under normal circumstances I would have easily ordered the United Polaris burger and washed it down with a Samuel Adams draft beer, I was showing self-restraint that evening for some reason. Pretty sure the answer is yes but ORD to boston in premium economy (5 hour layover) then Boston-LHR in Polaris on same itinerary, we can use Polaris lounger's at ORD? Learn more: Is a United credit card worth it? Email needed if you'd like comment updates. Polaris is what United calls its premium travel product, which extends beyond class of travel to encompass the entire travel experience: a personal on-board suite, sleep-centric amenities, upscale dining options and of course Uniteds Polaris lounge access. Rather the only people who can access United Polaris Lounges are those traveling on a flight marketed as United Polaris, or those traveling in select markets in business or first class on a Star Alliance partner. The experience starts on the ground at the beautiful Polaris lounges. All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty. That is including The Dining Room which is a restaurant-inspired, full-service dining option complete with menus and waiters. Nice lounge with a la carte food and good drinks! And if the United Polaris Lounge Chicago were bigger, it would certainly be better much better. One thing that I did notice was the abundance of excellent workspace options. There is an excellent bar with multiple draft beers, an extensive wine list, craft cocktails, and an impressive spirits menu. Passengers flying United Polaris business class on long-haul international flights, as well as certain Star Alliance business and first-class passengers, have access to these lounges. while the second drink station near the back of the lounge has Illy espresso machines, if you want a cappucino or Americano with just a few taps, as well as some other beverages. And showers across the hall. So while you could get into the Polaris Lounge if you've got a Turkish Airlines business class ticket or flying TAP Air Portugal business class, it's a major headache. (See full menu.). Much like the United Polaris Lounge Newark (EWR) and locations at other major United hubs, this lounge puts your standard airport lounge to shame. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. The design, layout, food, and service were all top-notch and better than almost anything you can find at a U.S. airport run by a U.S. airline and I didnt even get to experience everything they had to offer! I recently connected through both of those airports and the connection time was somewhat tight and the Polaris lounges were much too far away. Airline Lounges | Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) I am flying ORD TO DEL (first flight is STL TO ORD and last is DEL to AMD) with United Polaris Business boarding pass. While you may not be able to purchase a day pass or flash a credit card to get into a United Polaris lounge, there are several ways to gain entrance by flying in Polaris class even if you didnt originally book a Polaris fare. Theres no way to enter them based on elite status, but rather these lounges are exclusively available to long haul first and business class passengers on Star Alliance airlines. Guide To United Polaris Lounges (Access & Locations), United Polaris Lounge San Francisco (SFO), Accessing Polaris Lounges when flying United, Star Alliance first & business class Polaris Lounge access, United Airlines To Place Huge Boeing 787 Order, All United Boeing 787s Now Have New Polaris Seats, United Adds Routes To Croatia, Greece, And Iceland, Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners, You must have at least one flight marketed as United Polaris, which is the name of business class on most international long haul United routes; if your United flight is marketed as first class or business class, you dont get access to Polaris Lounges, You can expect that flights marketed as United Polaris will be those to Asia, Europe, the South Pacific, and deep South America, You can access a lounge either on departure, at a connecting airport, or on arrival, The same access restrictions apply regardless of whether you paid cash, redeemed miles, or upgraded, You can use a United Polaris Lounge prior to a long haul Star Alliance partner flight in first or business class; this is only possible at the long haul international gateway prior to your long haul flight, and not at other points during your connecting journey, Star Alliance first class passengers can bring one guest traveling on the same flight, while Star Alliance business class passengers cant bring any guests. There is also a United Club lounge next to gate C16, so just be sure to not confuse them or you will likely be quite disappointed after reading this review! For more information on our advertisers, see here. @Ben At LHR United Club Lounge T2 there is another lounge within called the Global Services Lounge, that space was previously the International United First lounge. We wish that United had included phone rooms in the design of the Polaris Lounge, in order to accommodate passengers who need to make phone calls. As expected, the amenities list at the United Polaris lounge at ORD is quite comprehensive. After a brief wait and then a quick scan of my boarding pass, I was quickly escorted back to one of seven shower suites. See our Advertiser Disclosurefor more details. 2023 Thrifty Traveler. Lounge Review: United Polaris Lounge - ORD - LoungeReview.com To see the full list of Star Alliance-affiliated lounges, go to the Star Alliance website. For starters, these suites are massive, with more than enough space for a bench to lay out your luggage and get changed heck, you can even walk around. This 12,000-square-foot outpost originally opened in 2019, but closed shortly thereafter at the outset of the pandemic, along with United's other Polaris Lounges. Passengers can have the option to sit in a private booth or a table with chairs. Back toward the entrance, you'll find the long like, really long corridor of single-stall restrooms, with about a dozen available. The oversized rooms come with an elegant sink, a Toto toilet, a hansgrohe rain shower, and an additional hand-held shower head. United Polaris lounge, Terminal 1, Concourse C. The United Polaris lounge is the best airline lounge at ORD airport and can be found in Terminal 1 in Concourse C, next to gate C18. The shower itself is huge, too, with both a wall-mounted showerhead and a rainfall setting, too. Offerings include a buffet with sandwiches, small entrees, cheeses, and a make-your-own salad bar, along with desserts. One near the entrance has coolers full of soft drinks, water, and drip coffee. You have successfully joined our subscriber list. In the years since, the airline has opened outposts in all the aforementioned U.S. airports, except for Washington Dulles. As an example, a lot of people matched to Air Canada's Aeroplan 50k elite status in 2021 which yielded Star Alliance Gold status. Everything here is first come, first served there's no way to reserve a shower in advance. Beyond the shower itself, there are plenty of fluffy, Saks Fifth Avenue-branded towels ready for you, along with an excellent pair of slippers. The menu was very complete with multiple options for drinks, small plates, entres, and desserts. You can also make yourself a coffee or espresso if needed. 5 Things to Know About United Club Access - NerdWallet But even with a footprint of 16,000 square feet and change, it may not be big enough to handle the influx of travelers heading somewhere abroad. In this post I wanted to take a look at United Polars Lounges, as they have totally different features and access requirements (in separate posts, I contrasted American Admirals Clubs and American Flagship Lounges). If you are hungry, you have the option to grab something quick at the buffet or sit down in The Dining Room. The United Polaris Lounge Houston is open daily from 5:30AM until 9PM, and its located in Terminal E, near gate E12. While any United passenger with a valid same-day boarding pass can buy a one-time pass for United Club lounges (or a United Club membership), not just anyone can get into the coveted Polaris lounge. Most importantly, the water pressure was excellent. At the end of the day, whatreally sets United Polaris Lounges apart from other airlines is dining. I am finding that I probably made a mistake getting the United Club chase card this past year. United Polaris Lounge at Chicago, IL - O'Hare (ORD) welcomes: Note: A same-day boarding pass for an international flight in a premium cabin is required. With a sleek and modern design, this lounge features custom chairs, private daybeds, spa-like showers, bespoke art installations by artist Wolfgang Buttress, and chef. If you are flying a Star Alliance partner in business or first class, you can access this lounge if you are departing from this airport. If youre flying United from Frankfurt to Chicago, then you could use the Polaris Lounge in Chicago, while if youre flying Lufthansa from Frankfurt to Chicago, you couldnt use the Polaris Lounge in Chicago. The lounge features a library where guests can enjoy Washington DC-inspired decor, a bar area with a coffered ceiling, and an a la carte dining room behind lattice pocket doors The lounge is located across from the United Club at gate C17, and is open daily from 5:30AM until 10PM United Polaris Lounge Washington Dulles For solo travelers, there are these nice pods available with oversized chairs and a slide-out table to get some work done on. The space is elegant and functional, with several luxurious touches such as shower suites, relaxation rooms, private pods, and a-la-carte dining. In case you want to take a shower before or after your trip, the Polaris Lounge boasts six gorgeous shower suites. FIRST LOOK: United Polaris Lounge at Chicago O'Hare That's right: Your dinner (or lunch, breakfast, or all three) is complimentary. But while there are more than 45 United Clubs (plus participating Star Alliance lounges), there are far fewer Polaris lounges. Austin (near Gate 22). Cleveland (between Gates C14 and C16). Polaris is what United calls its premium travel product, which extends beyond class of travel to encompass the entire travel experience: a personal on-board suite, sleep-centric amenities,. Ben, worth clarifying that for entry based on a United flight, the seat must *both* be marketed as Polaris *and* the flight must be international (i.e., SFO and LAX flights to/from EWR marketed as Polaris will not get you in -- they'll just get you regular United Club access). Alisha McDarris is a freelance travel writer and photographer. FIRST LOOK: The new United Polaris Lounge Chicago O'Hare expansion I'd much rather eat this than the subpar food United serves on its long-haul international flights. No matter what amenity you're looking for, head through the buffet and dining room and straight into the amenity check-in area. If you look closely at the seating photos above, you will notice almost all of them have a nice spot to place a laptop and an outlet nearby. With a central location near most flights with the Spot on. It was wonderful. When it's time to get ready after freshening up, there's a sizable vanity with mirrors as well as a blowdryer available. Connecting and arriving passengers are not allowed access. I have been given conflicting information as well. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. If it is anything like the Polaris lounge in IAH that I used, it was very nice and above average for U.S. airline lounges. Great views, super staff, lots of seating & charging options, good food selection, dark hall with toilet & shower rooms - only complaint was that there was no easy place to refill your water bottle. With so many United international flights taking off from Chicago around 6 p.m., I imagine this lounge starts to empty out by 5 p.m. or so. Amateur level service at the dining room, burgers that make you wish you had McDonald's instead. Can't say my first United Polaris flight was enjoyable. So how do we make money? The lounge is open from 7:15am until 9:00pm seven days a week. Use our lounge access wizard and find out, or log in or create an account and we'll keep track of your lounge memberships and premium credit cards. The location you list for SFO is for a United Club, though. And by 3 p.m. or so, as many international departures drew near, it was difficult to find an open seat, period. Around the back of the lounge, you will find more of these sofa-style lounge chairs, which may be a quieter option if the lounge is busy. Though small in size, the setting is still great. Review: United Polaris Lounge Chicago (ORD) | Thrifty Traveler who also have one of these United-Chase credit cards may score a complimentary upgrade if available: ) has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card. Review: The Woodward Hotel Geneva, Oetker Collection. This United Polaris lounge is open from 7.15 am - 9:00 pm and we reviewed the Chicago Polaris lounge previously. And if this was it at the United Polaris Lounge, it would still be better than even some of the top airport lounges in the country. United Domestic First Class flying has also started being a disappointment. With Polaris, United finally offers a product that is competitive with foreign airlines, and which currently beats domestic competitors. But depending on where youre traveling, you may also have access to one of Uniteds Polaris lounges, a distinct upgrade on the typical United Club lounge. At the back of the lounge you'll find you guessed it even more seating, like this long bench with tables. I follow recommendations and booked United Polaris SFO - London - first advice I read somewhere to take one of the last rows for privacy and less ppl walking around (due to covid precaution) well I did that, and it was a bad choice, first if you do that, you may not get what you want for dinner because you endup being the last one to get serve - the only choice that was left it was horrible and I spoke with the attendant and she got me a meal from Economy because my first and second choice was gone.yes from Economy an almost 5K ticket - on the way back I took row 5 and was much better - I got chocolates in SF to share with the flight attendants as I always do that just to do something nice for them - im getting ready to go back to Europe and decided to try a different airline - bed and amenities were good -ah also being in the last row ppl from economy kept walking and using the business class restroom - I cared about that because I wanted to be away from people - so don't get the last row EVER! It's yet another example of how United Polaris lounges blend both fashion and function together. The lounge offers showers, sleeping pods, food, drinks, and plenty of. To me, the sign of a good lounge is if you wouldnt mind getting stuck there for hours if your flight was delayed. Open Now 6:00am - 9:00pm Top Complimentary Amenities Premium Food Snacks Spirits & Liquor Beer & Wine Wi-Fi Showers United has enlisted the services of an expert: the former Head Concierge at the Drake hotel in Chicago, who also helped launch the St. Regis luxury hotel in New York City. on long-haul international flights are allowed complimentary lounge access before departure, during connections and upon arrival. She is the creator of Terradrift.com. They've changed the hospitality company running them since they were first opened and were good. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. It's almost unbelievable that United can offer an experience of this caliber inside of a business class lounge. A brutal reality check I suppose. I started lunch off with the Iceberg wedge salad, which was wonderfully crisp though I wish the bacon was a bit heartier. So as I found out firsthand ahead of my first-ever United Polaris business class flight over to London-Heathrow (LHR), when this lounge gets busy it getsreallybusy. Just typing out that name is enough to make my mouth water. What Airports Have the Polaris Lounge? A professional journalist, he joined the company in November 2018 after five years covering state and national politics for The Associated Press and working at several newspapers across the country. Hot Tip: Here is our review of the United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and our review of the United Polaris Lounge at George Washington Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston. We may be compensated when you click on links from one or more of our advertising partners. The wireless internet in the Polaris lounge was fast and easy to access. However, the credit card information that we publish has been written by experts who know these products inside out, and what we recommend is what we would (or already) use ourselves.
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