United Polaris - Seat, Amenities, Routes, Lounges & More [2023] I love the lighting overhead, too. Just typing out that name is enough to make my mouth water. Learn more: Your guide to the Star Alliance. Review: The Woodward Hotel Geneva, Oetker Collection. The United Polaris Lounge Newark is open daily from 5AM until 10:30PM, and its located in Terminal C, between gates C102 and C120. They may be a case of style over function, thoughwe would prefer a more traditional, fully-flat day bed. A-la-carte service is only offered in the dedicated restaurant zone, but patrons sitting in other areas may help themselves from the buffet and order drinks from servers. If its calm and rest youre after, there are also showers and quiet suites with daybeds. This is my first experience. Your feedback is important in helping us keep our community safe. Much like the United Polaris Lounge Newark (EWR) and locations at other major United hubs, this lounge puts your standard airport lounge to shame. Although the butternut squash soup sounded delicious, I decided to order the harvest pear salad to try and keep things light. Jeanette Margle leads the home loans content team at NerdWallet, where she has worked since 2019. The Polaris lounge has a full service bar and hot food. But when it's not so busy, this lounge is a real treat. All 6 United Polaris Lounges have officially reopened It's almost unbelievable that United can offer an experience of this caliber inside of a business class lounge. At 28,128 square feet, featuring 440 seats, and spanning across two stories, the lounge is almost three times larger than the former United Club it replaces, twice as large as the Polaris Lounge at Chicago O'Hare, and sports some of the airport's best views.. 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. United Polaris Lounge Chicago Quiet Suites (Sleeping Rooms) Four daybeds are available. Even if you didnt request an upgrade during initial booking, there are still ways. Priority Pass, over 1,000 lounges at your fingertips. Clearing security might require a boarding pass departing from the terminal. Offerings include a buffet with sandwiches, small entrees, cheeses, and a make-your-own salad bar, along with desserts. The space itself is beautiful, and it was well-stocked with tasty food: fresh fruit, baked goods, eggs, bacon, ham, and oatmeal for breakfast until 11 a.m. or so, at which point servers brought out a whole new spread of tasty sandwiches, salads, charcuterie, soups, and more substantial entrees. As part of my whirlwind trip between Rio de Janeiro and Boston, I found myself flying 3 different airlines and visiting about a half-dozen airport lounges. All Polaris members can access United Clubs, but United Club members cannot access Polaris lounges. We are going through ORD on a flight this summer and will have access to this lounge. To me, the sign of a good lounge is if you wouldnt mind getting stuck there for hours if your flight was delayed. I refuse to use regular United Club because as we all know, it blows. So how do we make money? No other carrier does business class lounge food better. 12/07/21 UPDATE: The United Airlines Polaris Lounge has reopened in Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD). Carol were you able to access the Polaris Lounge? For those who want to watch some TV or prefer the movement of the bar, there are barstools along the gorgeous bar as well as small tables spread along the perimeter. I honestly felt like I was eating at a fine-dining restaurant. Lounge Review: United Polaris Lounge - SFO - LoungeReview.com For the last month, food has been served buffet style in the lounge. The United Polaris lounge at ORD is located in Terminal 1 in Concourse C inside of security, right next to gate C18 which was perfect as that was my gate. Copyright 20042023 Yelp Inc. Yelp, , and related marks are registered trademarks of Yelp. Best Airline Lounges At Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD) The Space. However, there are much better options available. Other amenities at the Polaris include a wellness room with a sink for new mothers, as well as a selection of newspapers. Soda, juices, and bottled water to go are available for self-service in coolers by the buffet area. For instance, MileagePlus Upgrade Awards arent available when flying on award tickets or if you booked a basic economy fare. But United Polaris Lounges are just another caliber and that means they're even harder to get into. Can I use the Polaris lounge on the 5th before my LAX-LAS segment? United Polaris Lounge Review - Chicago O'Hare Airport [ORD] Some travelers can even enjoy free upgrades, including to United Polaris class, which will grant you access to a Polaris lounge. Thanks. The flight must be on a participating airline, and even then, some routes on participating airlines are excluded. We have an extensive network of lounges around the world for you to visit. That's right: Your dinner (or lunch, breakfast, or all three) is complimentary. The Polaris Lounge welcomes exclusively United Polaris business and first class customers, as well as Star Alliance premium passengers departing on international flights (Canada and Mexico excluded.). 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! I have my family as well flying on Economy Plus. Just follow the signage for Terminal 1, then take the underground tunnel from Terminal B over to Terminal C. Head down the disco walkway, head up the escalators, and you'll find the Chicago Polaris Lounge almost straight ahead, right in the middle of Concourse C. You can't miss the entrance. In my experience as a 1k that is the only one. Do I have access to United Polaris Lounge at ORD? Answer is no. They feature everything from a la carte dining and buffets, to nap rooms and shower suites, to great decor, to cocktails and barista-made coffee. After a brief wait and then a quick scan of my boarding pass, I was quickly escorted back to one of seven shower suites. Our partners compensate us. The Lunch and Dinner menu is served from 11:00 am - 8:30 pm, and it is very, very good. For me, the food and beverage was the star of the show at the United Polaris lounge at ORD. How Much Are Travel Points and Miles Worth in 2023? 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. A tad exhausting, but also great for people like me who love checking out new lounges! For me, the problem with nice lounges is that no matter where I decide to sit I will always think that there is probably a nicer seat available somewhere else and that was no different here because there were so many seating options. Blankets are available upon request and even heated. I am finding that I probably made a mistake getting the United Club chase card this past year. This information may be different than what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider or specific products site. 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. The United Polaris Lounge expansion at Chicago O'Hare airport is located in the rear of the lounge, to the left of the bar area, in the footprint of the former United Club near gate C16 which has been vacant for over 18 months. United Polaris Lounge Chicago - Entry & Access The lounge is located in Terminal 1 of O'Hare Airport. So then, who can access United Polaris lounge? This bonus value is an estimated valuation. Lounge Review: United Polaris Lounge - ORD - LoungeReview.com You can access United Polaris Lounges if youre traveling the same day on a United Polaris ticket: United Polaris Lounges are also open to premium cabin passengers traveling long haul on Star Alliance partners: The policy on connecting itineraries is an area where the Star Alliance lounge access policy is stingy compared to the oneworld lounge access policy. United Polaris Lounge accepts credit cards. And the starry sky lighting overhead is a nice touch. For lounges inside security or immigration, you must first check your baggage and obtain your boarding pass. Sign up and well send you Nerdy articles about the money topics that matter most to you along with other ways to help you get more from your money. I love the look of these bars with the underlighting and black leather stools. The bottom line is, if you are flying through Chicago OHare International (ORD) and have access to this lounge, you should make a point of visiting. 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. Loved the dinner service and the showers are nice. Airports may require you to re-clear security and immigration control to reach the lounge. Review: United Polaris Lounge Chicago | Prince of Travel And by 3 p.m. or so, as many international departures drew near, it was difficult to find an open seat, period. It was light but delicious, topped with whipped cream and chocolate cookie crumble. I arrived in the evening, so all of the lights were dimmed. The United Polaris Lounge at Chicago O'Hare (ORD) United Airlines gave the media a preview today (Nov. 30) of the first of nine Polaris lounges being opened in the next year to serve the carrier's international business class travelers. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. If you fly United Airlines, youre probably at least somewhat familiar with its comfortable and spacious Polaris class: lie-flat seats, elevated dining options, bedding and plenty of comfortable amenities. The lounge features four relaxation suites that have custom-designed day beds. First look inside the new United Polaris Lounge in Washington Dulles As I walked out of the lounge ahead of my 3:45 p.m. boarding time, the lounge was clearly near capacity. I recently used Chicago's United Polaris Lounge on a trip to Asia during a 4 hour layover. That left just enough time to take some pictures, have a few drinks, and enjoy a 3-course meal before boarding my flight to So Paulo. United Polaris Lounge Chicago Review | Million Mile Secrets The United Polaris Lounge Chicago is open daily from 6AM until 9PM, and it's located in Terminal 1, Concourse C, near gate C18. The Polaris Lounge makes for a great way to start a flight. United originally promised nine Polaris Lounge locations: Chicago O'Hare, Hong Kong, Houston, London Heathrow, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, Tokyo Narita and Washington Dulles. United Polaris passengers are prioritized in terms of the situations under which they can access (while connecting and even on arrival), while passengers on Star Alliance partners can only access these lounges prior to long haul flights. Since you are departing from ORD on an international business class flight, yes you should be allowed to use the lounge. Your email address will not be published. Essentials such as combs, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shower caps and shaving kits, are available upon request. United Polaris Lounge Chicago Access Rules & Location Delta has its Delta Sky Clubs, which almost anyone can get into. You want a travel credit card that prioritizes whats important to you. The United Polaris Lounge Houston is open daily from 5:30AM until 9PM, and its located in Terminal E, near gate E12. We love the small details that make a difference: the digital clock, the USB outlet to charge your devices while you shower, and the convenient bench in the shower. Just make sure that if youre traveling with more than one other person, your party is comprised of more Premier members than nonmembers. There's a small concierge desk after walking into the lounge, which is staffed from mid-day onward for travelers who need some help. Blue accent lights highlighted different areas and stars on the ceiling created a sense of relaxation before even getting settled in the 15,000+ square foot lounge. I was only using my phone for social media purposes, so nothing too heavy, but I was able to upload photos and videos with ease. With a sleek and modern design, this lounge features customMore, Terminal 1, Concourse C (Inside Security), Relax and unwind in the brand new Polaris Lounge. On the United website, navigate to Advanced Search and select the MileagePlus Upgrade Award upgrade type under Upgrades, certificates, and promotion codes. Youll then be able to see whether a MileagePlus Upgrade Award is available for the flights you want. Or can we? FIRST LOOK: The new United Polaris Lounge Chicago O'Hare expansion The United Polaris Lounge Washington is open daily from 5:30AM until 10PM, and its located in Concourse C, near gate C17. The Dining Room is a restaurant-inspired, full-service dining option complete with menus and waiters. Today, United introduced full service sit-down dining menus in the ORD Polaris Lounge. With floor-to-ceiling windows, the Polaris Lounge offers terrific views on the tarmac and parked aircraft. Closed now : See all hours. 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,. Its garnished with cucumber zest and mint and served over ice. When it's time to get ready after freshening up, there's a sizable vanity with mirrors as well as a blowdryer available. View all lounges in O'Hare International Airport. All rights reserved. A brutal reality check I suppose. Required fields are marked *. The United Polaris Lounge at Chicago OHare features an upscale dining experience, with food created by celebrity Chef Art Smith, who served as Oprah Winfreys personal chef for 10 years. Passengers can have the option to sit in a private booth or a table with chairs. {"hide_search_input":"","hide_near_input":"","bg":"","mt":"","mr":"","mb":3,"ml":"","pt":"","pr":"","pb":"","pl":"","border":"","rounded":"","rounded_size":"","shadow":"","show":""}. United Airlines opened its brand new Polaris lounge in October 2021, welcoming business travelers flying internationally. If you'd like to add a comment to this article and share your valuable feedback and opinions, please click here to leave your comment. United Club members and Star Alliance Gold membersdo not have access unless they are ticketed in business class, but may use one of the three United Clubs. If you're departing on a United long-haul flight (or departing on another United flight after landing from a Polaris long-haul journey) you're in luck: The United Polaris Lounge Chicago is located in United's Terminal 1. The lounge is 16,300 square feet, putting it in the middle of the pack as far as size goes. Still, the Polaris Lounge does get busyand noisyat peak times, especially in the afternoons when flights to Europe depart. Lots of private restrooms, offers showers and very friendly service. Relax and unwind in the brand new Polaris Lounge. While award tickets arent normally eligible for MileagePlus Upgrade Awards, Premier elite status members who also have one of these United-Chase credit cards may score a complimentary upgrade if available: Once you upgrade, youll have access to Uniteds Polaris lounges. The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered. FIRST LOOK: United Polaris Lounge at Chicago O'Hare For starters, if you're looking to freshen up before or after a flight, you're in luck: This lounge has some of the nicest shower suites you'll find in an airport, bar none.