United debuts revamped Polaris Lounge in Chicago — this is a glance inside

Airport lounge overcrowding is not simply restricted to credit score card-branded outposts.

Even essentially the most unique airline lounges can get busy, particularly throughout peak departure banks. United Airways admits that its lounges can endure from this drawback — “fairly frankly, some lounge[s] are getting a bit of constrained and overcrowded,” Aaron McMillan, United’s managing director of hospitality packages, informed TPG — but it surely’s doing as a lot as it will possibly to deal with this.

Whereas tightening entry insurance policies helps, the last word panacea for lounge overcrowding is making outposts greater. The issue, nevertheless, is discovering sufficient airport actual property to assist lounge expansions. However generally alternatives come up to seize extra actual property, reminiscent of when a concessionaire situated subsequent to a lounge closes — which is precisely what United has capitalized on at a few of its most closely trafficked membership-based golf equipment and business-class-only Polaris lounges.

United’s newest lounge growth, the Polaris Lounge at Chicago’s O’Hare Worldwide Airport (ORD), is now open to welcome premium flyers. This location was really the airline’s first-ever Polaris Lounge when it opened in 2016, and it has been fairly busy ever since, particularly when flights to Europe depart throughout the afternoon and night.

Almost a decade later, the house simply obtained an enormous improve — and this is every part you might want to find out about it.

United Polaris Lounge Chicago overview

Eagle-eyed United flyers will rapidly discover the updates after they step inside. That is as a result of the directional fonts and Polaris brand have all been up to date to replicate United’s new model identification.

These modifications assist subtly modernize the house — however don’t be concerned, you will discover extra severe upgrades when you’re inside.

While you stroll in, you will be within the “previous” space of the lounge, however there’s nothing dated about it. United both reupholstered or changed all the furnishings on this space: in with the inexperienced couches and maroon recliners and out with the drab grey furnishings.

The structure as you enter is fairly easy and might be paying homage to the earlier lounge. There’s the reception desk, rows of particular person workstations and bench-style seating.

Proper close to the doorway is the lounge’s buffet, which incorporates a rotating choice of all-you-can-eat breakfast and all-day fare.

(United’s Polaris catering has just lately seen a noteworthy funding, and people {dollars} are paying off — every part I attempted was scrumptious.)

The buffet space offers strategy to one other small leisure house, in addition to the wellness space.

The wellness space options bathe suites and leisure pods with Therabody therapeutic massage chairs. You may as well lease some Therabody tools, like a Theragun therapeutic massage gun, throughout your keep on this space.

Close to the doorway, you will discover some extra seating and the lounge’s modernized major bar, which ought to look acquainted to Chicago-based flyers.

Earlier than these updates, that is principally the place the lounge ended. A small eating space behind the bar provided a la carte service, however that was principally it.

Now, nevertheless, there’s tons extra to get enthusiastic about.

United Polaris Lounge Chicago upgrades

To start out, the lounge’s footprint now extends far past the first bar.

Behind the bar, the house the place the previous a la carte eating space was is now house to extra couch- and recliner-style seating. This space traces the lounge’s exterior home windows, offering loads of pure mild and implausible tarmac and airplane views.

Higher but, the furnishings has additionally obtained an enormous improve — United is now sourcing items from Crate&Barrel, making this space really feel extra like a showroom on Michigan Avenue than an airport lounge.

Crate&Barrel’s design philosophy appears to have prolonged to the decor alongside the partitions and the brand new privateness partitions between the seats. I am an enormous fan and hope this tie-up extends to further Polaris lounges nationwide. (In truth, that is the primary United lounge that really seems prefer it may’ve been designed by the parents in Atlanta.)

One other new addition with the growth is a second beverage-and-snack station that bisects the house.

On the opposite facet of this beverage station are 5 new non-public telephone rooms which are obtainable on a first-come, first-served foundation.

The following huge improve is a second bar. This one, nevertheless, feels extra like a hidden speakeasy, because it options a wholly distinct (but in addition inviting) design scheme.

This bar works tighter hours, as it would solely be staffed (and open) throughout peak journey home windows, reminiscent of earlier than afternoon and night long-haul departures. It will additionally function its personal distinctive cocktail listing and is branded as “Chicago’s best-kept secret.”

Past the secondary bar is much more seating; United has expanded the lounge’s footprint by practically 40%, including extra room for flyers to unfold out. The lounge now measures a whopping 43,000 sq. ft with room for slightly below 360 passengers.

There are two different new areas on this house.

The primary is a stand-alone eating room, additionally obtainable on a first-come, first-served foundation. It too was designed in partnership with Crate&Barrel, and items of the model’s signature flatware and dinner service assortment are ready for you on the tables.

This house is the nicest eating space I’ve seen in a Polaris Lounge — and I am positive it’s going to be fairly widespread with flyers. The excellent news is that it seats as much as 50 company, excess of the previous lounge.

Subsequent to the eating space is a semiprivate hallway with 9 new leisure pods. With dim lights and art work impressed by Chicago’s structure and Lake Michigan, this appears like the best place to unwind earlier than boarding your flight.

Simply past this house is a hallway that includes all-gender restrooms. United added a bunch extra of those particular person loos, so there should not be a wait to make use of the restroom.

One factor that hasn’t modified is the lounge’s entry insurance policies, that are detailed in TPG’s complete information to United’s lounges. For many company, you will need to have a confirmed ticket in United’s long-haul Polaris enterprise class to enter.

Backside line

All in all, the expanded and renovated Chicago Polaris Lounge is a significant replace for the hometown provider.

Not solely does the outpost embrace extra seating, a second bar and extra facilities, reminiscent of a correct eating room and second bar, however the design itself additionally feels way more trendy and welcoming.

Whereas this could be the primary Polaris Lounge to get a refresh and growth, it will not be the final. United is at present endeavor a comparable mission at Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport (EWR), and it is within the means of grasp planning its lounge areas at a few of its different hubs, reminiscent of Houston and San Francisco, McMillan mentioned.

Hopefully, the long run upgrades will look just like what United has accomplished at O’Hare, as a result of it knocked this one out of the park.

Associated studying: