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Home » United Airlines » My Pictures from the New SFO United Polaris Lounge
Airport LoungesSan Francisco SFOUnited Airlines

My Pictures from the New SFO United Polaris Lounge

Matthew Klint Posted onApril 25, 2018November 14, 2023 14 Comments

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.

a room with chairs and tablesUnited Polaris Lounge SFO Seating Area

a row of tables and chairs in a restaurantUnited Polaris Lounge SFO Seating Area

a room with a black table and a black counter with a black counter with a black counter with a black counter with a black counter with a black counter with a black counter with a black counter withUnited Polaris Lounge SFO Beverages

a group of men sitting around a round table in a room with windowsUnited Polaris Lounge SFO Seating Area

a buffet line with food on itUnited Polaris Lounge SFO Buffet

a table with glasses and napkinsUnited Polaris Lounge SFO Dining Room

a group of tables with chairs and glasses on itUnited Polaris Lounge SFO Dining Room

a coffee machine with white cups and saucers on topUnited 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.

a woman standing at a podium with a microphone

a man standing at a podium

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.

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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14 Comments

  1. Santastico Reply
    April 25, 2018 at 7:29 pm

    But to have access to this place you still have to fly United, right? No thank you.

    • Matthew Reply
      April 25, 2018 at 7:44 pm

      Nope, any Star Alliance business or first class (int’l) product will get you access.

  2. USBusinessTraveller Reply
    April 25, 2018 at 8:22 pm

    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.

  3. Jay Reply
    April 25, 2018 at 8:41 pm

    “…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?

    • Mike J Reply
      April 25, 2018 at 9:51 pm

      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.

      • Jay Reply
        April 26, 2018 at 1:08 am

        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.

        • Santastico Reply
          April 26, 2018 at 2:07 am

          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.

  4. emercycrite Reply
    April 25, 2018 at 9:17 pm

    “Tomorrow’s review will have to close to 100 pictures.”

    Wow. Go Matthew.

  5. Rob S Reply
    April 25, 2018 at 10:27 pm

    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.

  6. MeanMeosh Reply
    April 25, 2018 at 10:32 pm

    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. 🙂

  7. Paolo Reply
    April 26, 2018 at 7:29 am

    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.

  8. a Reply
    April 26, 2018 at 10:00 pm

    Where is the full review one day later? 🙂

    • Matthew Reply
      April 26, 2018 at 10:08 pm

      Delayed, but out tomorrow morning. Thanks for your patience.

  9. Greg Reply
    April 27, 2018 at 9:05 am

    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.

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