United debuts the renovated Polaris salon in Chicago – here’s a look from the inside

The overcrowding of the airport lounge is not limited to the credit card brand advance.

Even exclusive Airlines can be borrowed, especially during peak departure banks. United Airlines admits that his deck chairs may suffer from this problem – “quite honestly, some salons (s) become a little limited and overcrowded,” said Aaron McMillan, manager of United’s hotel programs, TPG said – but it does as much as possible to handle it.

While Tightening of access policies helpsThe Ultimate Panacea for the salon overcrowding makes more advanced advanced. However, the problem is finding enough real estate at the airport to support the extensions of the salon. But sometimes there are opportunities to capture more real estate, such as when a concessionaire located next to a salon, it is exactly what United benefits from some of its most commonly used membership-based clubs and sun loungers only for a business class.

The last extension of the United Salon, the Polaris salon at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago (ODD), is now open to the greeting of premium leaflets. This place was actually the first Polaris salon of the airline when it opened in 2016, and since then it has been quite busy, especially when the flights to Europe have left in the afternoon and evening.

Almost a decade later, the space just got a great upgrade – and here’s everything you need to know about it.

Review of UNITED POLARIS Lounge Chicago

Eagle-Eye United Flyers will quickly notice the updates when they enter. This is because the Polaris logo and logo are updated to reflect The new united brand identityS

These changes help to modernize the space – but do not worry, you will find more serious upgrades after you are inside.

When you enter, you will be in the “old” area of ​​the salon, but there is nothing dated to it. United or repeated or replaced all the furniture in this area: in the green sofas and Moronic relations and out with the furniture of the gray gray.

The layout you are introducing is quite simple and will be reminiscent of the previous salon. There are reception, rows of separate workstations and bench -style seating.

Daily newsletter

Reward your Inbox with TPG Daily Newsletter

Join over 700,000 readers for Breaking News, in -depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG experts

By registering, you will receive ballots and promotional content and agree with our Terms of Use and to confirm data practices in our Privacy PolicyS You can unsubscribe at any time.

Right close to the entrance is the buffet of the salon, which has a rotating selection of breakfast, which you can eat and a full -day tariff.

(Recently Catering of United’s Polaris saw a remarkable investment and these dollars pay off – all I tried was delicious.)

The buffet area is inferior to another small space for relaxation as well as the wellness area.

The Wellness Zone has shower packages and relaxing pods with therabody massage chairs. You can also hire a little Therabody equipment as a Theragun massage gun during your stay in the area.

Near the entrance you will find some more seating and the modernized main bar of the salon, which should look familiar to the flyers based in Chicago.

Before these updates, this is mainly where the salon is over. A small dining area behind the bar offered a la Cart service, but it was basic.

But now there are many more things to get excited about.

United Polaris Lounge Chicago upgrades

For starters, the imprint of the salon now extends far beyond the main strip.

Behind the bar, the space where the old a la carte was previously was home, is now home to more space for sofa and beds in style. This area outlines the outer windows of the salon, providing an abundance of natural light and fantastic views of asphalt and plane.

Even better, the furniture has also received a big upgrade -United is already delivering pieces from Crate & Barrel, which makes this area feel more like a showroom on Avenue Michigan than at an airport lounge.

Crate & Barrel’s design philosophy seems to have expanded to the decor on the walls and new seats privacy barriers. I’m a big fan and I hope this connection extends to additional Polaris sun loungers across the country. (This is actually the first United Lounge to actually seem to be designed by Atlanta people.)

Another new addition to the expansion is a second drink and shaft station that divides the space.

On the other side of this drink station are five new private telephone rooms, which are available on the basis of the first place, the first service.

The next big upgrade is a second lane. However, this one feels more hidden as a speaker, as it is distinguished by its entirely distinctive (but also attractive) design scheme.

This bar works tougher hours as it will be staff (and open) during peak travel windows, such as in the afternoon and evening, long-distance departures. It will also include its own unique list of cocktails and is marked as the “best secret in Chicago”.

Beyond the secondary lane is even more seating; United has expanded the salon print by nearly 40%, adding more space for leaflets. The salon now measures the huge 43,000 square feet with a place for just under 360 passengers.

There are two other new areas in this space.

The first is a separate dining room, which is also available on the basis of the first service. It is also designed in partnership with Crate & Barrel, and pieces from the brand’s signature collection and dinner service await you at the tables.

This space is the best dining area I’ve seen in Polaris salon – and I’m sure it will be quite popular with flyers. The good news is that it has up to 50 guests, much more than the old salon.

Next to the dining area is a semi -conductive corridor with nine new pods for relaxation. With dark lights and works of art, inspired by the architecture of Chicago and Lake Michigan, this feels like the perfect place to relax before you get in your flight.

It is beyond this space that is a corridor, including toilets of all gender. United added a bunch of more of these individual baths, so you don’t have to wait for the toilet to be used.

One thing that has not changed is the lounge access policies that have been described in detail TPG’s exhaustive leadership to United Sun loungersS For most guests, you need to have a confirmed ticket in the United Long-Eull Polaris Business Class to log in.

Lower order

In general, the extended and renovated salon in Chicago Polaris is a major update for the carrier in the hometown.

Not only does Autpost include more seating, a second bar and additional amenities, such as a suitable dining room and a second bar, but the design itself also feels far more modern and attractive.

Although this may be the first Polaris salon to get refresh and expansion, this will not be the last. United is currently undertaking a A similar project at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)And this is in the process of a master, planning his salons in some of his other hubs, such as Houston and San Francisco, McMilan said.

Let’s hope that future upgrades will look like United in O’Hare because this was the one out of the park.

Reading Read: