Earlier today I had the chance to check out the beautiful new Polaris Lounge at San Francisco. While I’ll save my full review for tomorrow, I want to post a handful of pictures I took of the stunning new facility.
The new lounge will include:
- Two levels across more than 28,000 square feet
- 440 seats
- 19 different types of seating
- 492 power outlets and 492 USB ports
- 8 pieces of art by prominent Bay Area artists, all San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) Society for the Encouragement of Contemporary Art (SECA) Art Award honorees
- 5 private daybeds outfitted with Saks Fifth Avenue bedding
- 8 luxurious shower suites, featuring rainfall showers and Soho House & Co’s Cowshed Spa products
- Personal valet services, including steaming garments
- “The Dining Room” – a private restaurant style dining area with a menu designed by Chef Tritia Gestuvo, a California native, that blends international comfort foods — such as a traditional Chinese congee breakfast and hand-cut pappardelle pasta with mushroom ragout — with staples like the United Polaris Burger
- A bistro-like buffet that includes a ramen noodle bar in the afternoon and additional unique-to-San Franciscotreats that align with the flight schedule and destinations of United and Star Alliance partners
- Cocktails inspired by the Bay Area, including the Mai Tai, invented in Oakland in 1944, and the Pisco Punch, featuring pisco which became all the rage during the California Gold Rush of 1849
United also released a set of beautifully choreographed press photos, but I’ll share ten of my own instead. Tomorrow’s review will have to close to 100 pictures.
United Polaris Lounge SFO Seating Area
United Polaris Lounge SFO Seating Area
United Polaris Lounge SFO Beverages
United Polaris Lounge SFO Seating Area
United Polaris Lounge SFO Buffet
United Polaris Lounge SFO Dining Room
United Polaris Lounge SFO Dining Room
United Polaris Lounge SFO Barista Bar
On hand for the press event today was Janet Lamkin, United’s President of California, and CEO Oscar Munoz. I was able to ask Oscar some questions…stay tuned.
CONCLUSION
This is an exceptional new lounge that should eliminate United’s overcrowding issue once and for all. I cannot wait to experience this lounge when fully operational. Tomorrow I will publish a full review.
But to have access to this place you still have to fly United, right? No thank you.
Nope, any Star Alliance business or first class (int’l) product will get you access.
Looks very good, and looking forward to the review.
I’ve been in the ORD Polaris lounge and that was excellent, but for ambiance I still preferred the Heathrow United Club (the workbenches are more practical and the high ceiling makes it feel much more spacious).
I’ll be gambling on a GPU clearing in late May for SFO-HKG so hopefully I’ll get to see this new lounge soon.
“…stunning new facility”.
New yes, Nice yes. But stunning? You’ve been to many fabulous lounges around the world, why would you call this stunning?
So you were at the SFO Polaris Lounge today and feel (having seen it /experienced it) that it doesn’t compare? Where would you rate this lounge (having experienced it) among other lounges? Or have you decided to judge something without experiencing it.
Wow, so defensive about the SFO Polaris Lounge. Did you or someone you know create it that you would take offense to my comment?
I am comparing it to the new Cathay Pacific First Class Lounge and their new Business Class lounge in Hong Kong. I have recently enjoyed both of them, and based on the photos of the SFO lounge that Matthew posted, the SFO lounge does not look stunning to me.
I have also seen photos of the Lufthansa and Air France First Class lounges that look much nicer than the SFO lounge.
While I have not personally experienced the SFO lounge, if the service is like any other US based lounges (which I have personally experienced) then the SFO experience will be inferior to the best foreign carrier’s lounges.
You don’t need to go that far. Virgin Clubhouse at LHR looks way superior than this one. No matter what US airlines try to do they will always have a cheap perception just based on how they operate. I would love to see what liquor is served by United on this lounge for example.
“Tomorrow’s review will have to close to 100 pictures.”
Wow. Go Matthew.
Most interested to see if you took the opportunity to ask Senor Oscar some meaningful questions, i.e. no puff ball ones like ‘Mr. Munoz, sir, what’s the best way to enjoy the new Polaris lounge?’ Right out of PR News Wire 101, and maybe good for a quick 5,000 UA points.
The lounge does look like a far superior offering to the old United Club. But UGH, more cookie cutter minimalism! I just don’t get the obsession with seemingly every public building using the same cold, monotone whites and grays and unimaginative, square stone work. Supposedly it’s because Milennials want minimalism, but the ones I know hate the exact same design we have in our building. If we must have minimalist design, I much prefer what SWISS did with their new lounge. At least it’s sleek and colorful.
Signed, a stodgy old fogey gladly stuck in the 1980s. 🙂
Very ordinary in comparison with some other lounges but infinitely superior to anything I’ve seen in the USA.
Why is it that Americans, luxury tragics in just about every other facet of life, have tolerated shitty lounges and abysmal domestic airlines for so long? At least it’s beginning to change for the better. I guess it’s President Trump weaving his magic and influence. If only the lounges could look a bit more like his lovely 5th Avenue Apt.
Where is the full review one day later? 🙂
Delayed, but out tomorrow morning. Thanks for your patience.
How do we know overcrowding is done once and for all.
They did as much as they could with the space – maxed it out – so not much more they could do. But having been in the AA JFK Flagship that gets crowded even with far fewer flights.