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

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

Even the most unique airline lounges can get busy, particularly throughout peak departure banks. United Airways admits that its lounges can undergo from this downside — “fairly frankly, some lounge[s] are getting slightly constrained and overcrowded,” Aaron McMillan, United’s managing director of hospitality applications, instructed TPG — but it surely’s doing as a lot as it might probably to deal with this.

Whereas tightening entry insurance policies helps, the last word panacea for lounge overcrowding is making outposts larger. The issue, nevertheless, is discovering sufficient airport actual property to help lounge expansions. However generally alternatives come up to seize extra actual property, comparable to when a concessionaire situated subsequent to a lounge closes — which is strictly 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 enlargement, 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 area simply acquired a giant improve — and here is every little thing that you must learn 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 emblem have all been up to date to mirror United’s new model id.

These adjustments assist subtly modernize the area — however don’t fret, you may discover extra severe upgrades when you’re inside.

If you stroll in, you may be within the “outdated” space of the lounge, however there’s nothing dated about it.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

The format as you enter is fairly simple and can be harking back 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 includes a rotating number of all-you-can-eat breakfast and all-day fare.

(United’s Polaris catering has not too long ago seen a noteworthy funding, and people {dollars} are paying off — every little thing I attempted was scrumptious.)

The buffet space offers approach to one other small leisure area, in addition to the wellness space.

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

Close to the doorway, you may discover some extra seating and the lounge’s modernized main 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 begin, the lounge’s footprint now extends far past the first bar.

Behind the bar, the area the place the outdated a la carte eating space was once is now dwelling to extra couch- and recliner-style seating. This space strains the lounge’s exterior home windows, offering loads of pure mild and unbelievable tarmac and airplane views.

Higher but, the furnishings has additionally acquired a giant 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 a giant fan and hope this tie-up extends to extra Polaris lounges nationwide. (Actually, that is the primary United lounge that really seems to be prefer it may’ve been designed by the parents in Atlanta.)

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

On the opposite facet of this beverage station are 5 new non-public telephone rooms which might be out there 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 completely distinct (but additionally inviting) design scheme.

This bar works tighter hours, as it’s going to solely be staffed (and open) throughout peak journey home windows, comparable to earlier than afternoon and night long-haul departures. It will additionally function its personal distinctive cocktail checklist 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 almost 40%, including extra room for flyers to unfold out. The lounge now measures a whopping 43,000 sq. toes with room for slightly below 360 passengers.

There are two different new areas on this area.

The primary is a stand-alone eating room, additionally out there 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 area is the nicest eating space I’ve seen in a Polaris Lounge — and I am certain it’s going to be fairly common with flyers. The excellent news is that it seats as much as 50 friends, excess of the outdated lounge.

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

Simply past this area is a hallway that includes all-gender restrooms. United added a bunch extra of those particular person bogs, 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 friends, you should 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, comparable to a correct eating room and second bar, however the design itself additionally feels much more trendy and welcoming.

Whereas this is perhaps the primary Polaris Lounge to get a refresh and enlargement, it will not be the final. United is at the moment enterprise a related undertaking 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, comparable to Houston and San Francisco, McMillan stated.

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

Associated studying: