She is the creator of travel and adventure site Terradrift.com and has written about travel and rewards for many publications, including American Way and Johnny Jet. On the bright side, Terminals 1-3 at O'Hare are connected airside. With floor-to-ceiling windows, the Polaris Lounge offers terrific views on the tarmac and parked aircraft. 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. His professionalism, yet casual demeanor, explaining the menu and making suggestions really elevated the dining experience. Though small in size, the setting is still great. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. Safe travels! I'd much rather use the *A 1st class lounge in the TBIT; it's almost always empty, has better food and connects to the *A business lounge if you prefer to mingle or enjoy a more open environment. If you're just looking for a drink, there's a beautiful bar at the center of the lounge, which offers alcoholic drinks as well as barista-made coffee beverages. 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. The United Polaris Lounge Los Angeles is open daily from 6:30AM until 10:30PM, and its located in Terminal 7, between gates 73 and 75A. Do note, though, that not all tickets are available for an upgrade. American has its excellent Flagship Lounges like the Dallas Flagship Lounge, another step up from your standard airline club. If you are flying United Polaris (not regular business class) on a long-haul international flight, you can use this lounge before departure, during connections, or even upon arrival. There was an excellent selection of hot options, salads, sandwiches, snacks, and desserts and they all looked fresh and delicious. Servers roam the room offering drinks, and staff members offer proactive assistance. For solo travelers, there are these nice pods available with oversized chairs and a slide-out table to get some work done on. The ratio of staff to passengers is impressive, and demonstrates Uniteds commitment to offering personal service. I honestly felt like I was eating at a fine-dining restaurant. Overall our stay here has been one of the best lounge experiences we have had. Since you are departing from ORD on an international business class flight, yes you should be allowed to use the lounge. Clearing security might require a boarding pass departing from the terminal. 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. With the airline lounges at O'Hare International Airport, travelers belonging to different airline clubs can find a quiet environment to work or relax before their flight. Just make sure that if youre traveling with more than one other person, your party is comprised of more Premier members than nonmembers. I am a United Club member. Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ). The shower itself is huge, too, with both a wall-mounted showerhead and a rainfall setting, too. There are also individual day beds available upon request in this amenity wing of the United Polaris Lounge Chicago if you want to rest a bit, though I didn't have enough time on this visit. A staff member will be happy to fetch you ahead of your flight should you wish to indulge in a nap. 2023 Thrifty Traveler. In case you want to take a shower before or after your trip, the Polaris Lounge boasts six gorgeous shower suites. But as the day wore on and more travelers sat down for a meal, the staff struggled to keep up with taking orders and seating new visitors. We have an extensive network of lounges around the world for you to visit. 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. Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. If you are traveling with friends or family, I would suggest trying to grab some of these chairs and tables set up with incredible tarmac views. 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. My first impression upon walking into the lounge was, Wow, I already wish I had more time to spend here!. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners. 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. If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion directly. Learn more: Your guide to the Star Alliance. Airlines like Swiss, SAS, LOT Polish, EVA Air, and others all depart from Terminal 5 which requires a tram ride and re-clearing security at Terminal 1 and then again at Terminal 5. SAS Lounge Chicago O'Hare. If it is, book and your upgrade request will be confirmed instantly. I'm a big fan of the single work pods that run all the way through the center of the main lounge area. 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,. Get more smart money moves straight to your inbox. Unfortunately, my visit was brief, so I didnt get to test them all as I was clearly focused on the food and beverage. 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! Your feedback is important in helping us keep our community safe. Walk in with your boarding pass ready, chat up an agent at the check-in desk, and you'll be inside in no time. "Sky's the Limit" at O'Hare by w4nd3rl0st from Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) The Polaris Lounge is in the middle of Concourse C, near gate C20, in the location of the former United Global First Class Lounge . 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. Polaris Lounges are open in: Chicago O'Hare International (ORD) Newark Liberty International (EWR) George Bush Intercontinental-Houston (IAH) Los Angeles International (LAX) San Francisco International (SFO) Washington Dulles (IAD) Flying United business class out of Chicago is a treat for one reason and one reason alone: The United Polaris Lounge Chicago. Or can we? 5 ways to gain United Polaris lounge access, Things to know about United Airlines lounge access. Polaris lounges are exclusive lounges reserved for International Long Haul passengers whereas United Clubs are accessible via membership, or when a non US based Star Alliance Gold member is traveling within the USA. That means you can easily walk over to Concourse C in Terminal 1 to visit the Polaris Lounge Chicago no matter which airline you're arriving on without worrying about clearing security. After being closed for a good chunk of the pandemic, Polaris Lounges across the country have all reopened, and business class flyers with tickets on United or other Star Alliance carriers are flooding back into these exclusive lounges as international travel ramps back up. And there's also a toilet inside each suite. Boston (near Gate B24). You can read my pre-pandemic review of the lounge here. If the lounge is crowded, I could see grabbing one of these tables along the wall. Pressing service is available upon request: hang your clothes through the double door, and they will be returned to you wrinkle free while you freshen up. Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. The lounge is 28,000 square feet, making it the largest Polaris Lounge. As is the case at nearly every spot scattered across the lounge, there's charging and lights available at every seat. While the Plaza Premium Lounge at GIG was the highlight of the lounges that I visited in Brazil, it didnt hold a flame to the gorgeous Polaris lounge that I had the pleasure of experiencing at Chicago OHare International Airport (ORD) on my way home. The Dining Room is a restaurant-inspired, full-service dining option complete with menus and waiters. Passengers flying internationally in business or first class on a Star Alliance partner airline can get into United Polaris lounges, too, but only at the departure airport of their international flight. United Airlines' opened its first Polaris Lounge in Chicago O'Hare last month to complement its new Polaris onboard premium product. 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. No, all Polaris lounges across the country are reserved specifically for flyers in long-haul international business or first class on United or their Star Alliance partners like Lufthansa, SWISS, Turkish, TAP, and more. Most importantly, the water pressure was excellent. Does polaris have kosher food, 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. Entrance Jeanette earned bachelor's degrees in journalism and Plan II Honors from the University of Texas at Austin and has a Master of Education from the University of Houston. Personally I think United Polaris Lounges have the edge over American Flagship Lounges, though the catch is that the former have much tighter access requirements. Answer is no. 22 minutes at a pretty decent clip each way from T7 to TBIT. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Get our daily email for the latest in travel, flight deals, and how With complimentary meals, a unique cocktail selection, private pods, luxurious shower suites, pressing service and concierge service, the United Polaris Lounge is the best airline club at Chicago OHare. NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. But like the United Polaris Lounge here as a whole, there's a problem: It's just not big enough. But you didnt come here to read about a buffet review, lets check out The Dining Room. Your best bet would be to visit the United Club and purchase guest passes for your family. Any and all options, reviews, comments and analyses are the responsibility of the author(s) and not any Advertiser or credit card issuer. What are thoughts about going to the Polaris Lounge in ORD and then taking the train to T5 to re-clear security for a flight on LX in biz? United Polaris Lounge Chicago - Entrance sign Polaris Lounges have a rather unique set of rules for access. Open Now 6:00am - 9:00pm Top Complimentary Amenities Premium Food Snacks Spirits & Liquor Beer & Wine Wi-Fi Showers Can I use the Polaris lounge on the 5th before my LAX-LAS segment? She is the creator of Terradrift.com. Lounge Access. There are lots of touches and references to things celestial and starry throughout the lounge. There really arent many carriers offering first class these days and it really sucks to come off a sublime ANA F experience only to have to slum it out in the dumpster fire ORD is. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. But if you're there beforehand, prepare to bump some elbows. American wagu beef carpaccio. All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty. And if the United Polaris Lounge Chicago were bigger, it would certainly be better much better. Just allow 30 mins. on long-haul international flights are allowed complimentary lounge access before departure, during connections and upon arrival. In my experience as a 1k that is the only one. United Polaris Lounges are among the best lounges youll find in the United States, with a la carte dining, nice decor, great showers and rest areas, and generally friendly service. A lifelong Texan, Jeanette grew up in a small town in the Hill Country and lives in the Houston area with her husband and daughters. She is the creator of Terradrift.com. It will NOT be published. Any and all options, reviews, comments and analyses are the responsibility of the author(s) and not any Advertiser or credit card issuer. Relax and unwind in the brand new Polaris Lounge. Review: The Woodward Hotel Geneva, Oetker Collection. The United Polaris Lounge at Chicago OHare boasts a grand dimly lit entryway with a backlit marble reception desk, and a lighting sculpture by Wolfgang Buttress inspired by theChicago street network. These are a great spot to get some work done, with a slide-out surface, lamp, and charging available at each and every spot. Lets go over the very basics of each of these lounges, including their locations, hours, and square footage. Let's get straight to it: Like all of United's top-tier lounges, the United Polaris Lounge Chicago is an impressive space. A Boston native now living in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Chris has a passion for sharing travel tips for families and has been featured on BBC News, Parents.com, The Washington Post, The Weather Channel, and other publications. All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty. United Polaris Lounge Chicago Quiet Suites (Sleeping Rooms) Four daybeds are available. The Polaris lounge was busy during our visit, in the peak evening departure bank for European departures. Back toward the entrance, you'll find the long like, really long corridor of single-stall restrooms, with about a dozen available. The United Polaris Lounge Washington is open daily from 5:30AM until 10PM, and its located in Concourse C, near gate C17. While award tickets arent normally eligible for MileagePlus Upgrade Awards. Austin (near Gate 22). If not, any other options for them to accompany me like buying one time United Club pass? We have a 5 hour layover in OHare. Maybe LX departs from, I don't know. Connecting and arriving passengers are not allowed access. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). They're very similar to the day beds at the United Polaris Lounge Newark: Not quite a bed, but a nice, quiet spot to relax for a bit. Since opening after the pandemic, they have become crowded, often not able to find a seat. Essentials such as combs, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shower caps and shaving kits, are available upon request. @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.