I’m looking back fondly this morning on one year ago, when I enjoyed a tasty breakfast in United’s Los Angeles (LAX) Polaris Lounge after a 13-hour flight from Sydney, Australia.
Christmas Eve Breakfast @ LAX United Polaris Lounge
In what seems so long ago, I embarked on a mileage run December 22-24th last year to Australia…for a great cup of coffee…and to secure 1K status (for what turned out to be two years).
I left Sydney on the afternoon of Christmas Eve and arrived back in Los Angeles early morning on the same day: thank you International Date Line!
Rather than proceed directly home, I decided to have breakfast in the United Polaris Lounge (United allows departing and arriving passengers access to its lounges, when traveling on a United longhaul flight in Polaris business class).
I was welcomed as the first passenger of the day in the lounge. Although I had already reviewed the lounge earlier that year, I took a moment to take a few pictures:
Then proceeded to the juice bar for and a glass of Naked Green Machine and to the bar for a barista-made cappuccino.
I smiled at the gingerbread house and other holiday treats:
After catching up on email, I headed over to the restaurant for breakfast.
First, I ordered the breakfast burrito, which featured vegetarian chorizo, scrambled eggs, potatoes, cheese, and pico de gallo. It arrived wrapped in paper like you would find at one of the many taco trucks that dot the city. It was delicious too and I could not tell the difference between the faux chorizo and the real thing.
Next, I ordered stuffed almond crunch French toast, filled with lemon ricotta and drizzled in lavender honey. This was even better and I could have easily eaten another order, but figured I had just consumed more than enough calories.
I wished the staff a Merry Christmas and headed home…a perfect conclusion to a wonderful mileage run.
CONCLUSION
One year later, I look back and smile. Oh what a difference a year makes. On this Christmas Eve, the lounge is closed. It has been closed for nine months and I doubt it will re-open anytime soon. We live in a new world…but at least I can look back and smile.
This is sad. I’d rather stay home on Christmas Eve.
Totally agree Bo…this is sad. Especially if you have a family.
I was already there and my job is to write about travel and airport lounges, so not sure what you mean…
I thought Polaris lounge access on arrival was only if you had a connecting domestic flight or if you didn’t need to re-clear security after arriving.
From United’s website: “ Re-entry to the airport after clearing customs is not permitted without further eligible onward travel. Access upon arrival is available to customers who have already made a domestic connection.”
Well, they let me through.
how were you able to disembark the Syd flight and clear security back into the lounge?
Remember, this was a year ago.
I just went through transit security and right back upstairs.
No one ever even asked to see a boarding pass.
That sounds like a flaw in the system – someone who does not have a boarding pass was able to access secured area.
Granted, I never transited in LA using T7, so maybe there is a separate route that redirects you back to the terminal instead of dumping you into the main security.
Oh. You meant LAX. So sorry, I thought you meant SYD during my transit there. No, at LAX at I landed in the Bradley Terminal and walked over to T7. They let me in when I explained I wanted to visit the lounge. At LAX, they just scan your DL now, not your boarding pass. But I presented my SYD-LAX boarding pass which seemed to be enough.
Forget the haters ! Love the review. I put a lot of time and fun in with my three kids and a full time job. When I travel I get the full blessing from my wife! 24 he mileage run sounds awesome! Just build up your status at home and these trips become available 🙂
DL?
The good old days!!!
I really don’t like fake meats but I’m a sucker for Soy Chorizo.
What happens if you have checked bags and you wanted to spend some time in the lounge on arrival? Do they simply get removed from the baggage carousel for collection later from the baggage office? I appreciate the idea of lounge access on arrival but if the lounge is pre-immigration and baggage reclaim is it more hassle than it’s worth?
Correct. Lounge is post-security, but not on the other side of passport control since the USA does not offer sterile transit.