United Airlines has unveiled the first of four new Polaris Lounges to be opened in 2018 with the launch of a 440-seat facility at San Francisco International Airport.
The two-level, 28,000-square feet (2601 sq.m) international lounge comes is part of United’s big push to upgrade its business class to the new standard.
Polaris was launched two years ago with lie-flat seats and revamped in-flight service but there has been frustration for passengers because of its limited roll-out. Only 24 aircraft have the new seat — a mix of new Boeing 777-300s and retrofitted older planes.
But United is moving to fix that by planning to roll out, on average, one aircraft sporting Polaris every 10 days through to 2020.
Also coming are new Polaris lounges at Newark Liberty International Airport, George Bush Intercontinental in Houston and Los Angeles International Airport. Newark is due to open in June, Houston during the US summer and LA in fall.
The new lounge will be available to departing and arriving United Polaris customers and is located in the international terminal near Gate G92.
The carrier says the San Francisco lounge incorporates “thoughtful California touches”, including art by prominent artists from the region, and will feature food and beverages showcasing the Bay area.
It features 19 different types of seating, five private daybeds with Saks Fifth Avenue bedding and eight luxury shower suites with Soho House & Co.’s spa products.
For those arriving with wrinkled clothes, there are personal valet services that include steaming of garments.
“The Dining Room” is a private restaurant-style dining area with a menu designed by Californian chef Tritia Gestuvo. It blends international comfort foods such as traditional Chinese congee breakfast and hand-cut pappardelle pasta with mushroom ragout with staples such as the United Polaris burger.
There is also a bistro-like buffet that includes a ramen noodle bar in the afternoon.
Beverages include cocktails inspired by the Bay area. This includes the Mai Tai, which travelers may be surprised to learn was invented in Oakland in 1944, and the Pisco Punch, which features a South American brandy that became popular in the area during the California Gold Rush in 1849.
United has also announced that all Polaris seats will get a cooling gel pillow from July 1. The pillow was previously available on request but proved so popular the airline has made it a standard offering.
READ: United expands free entertainment to more jets.
The downside of the Polaris fit-out is United will move to 10-across economy seating in its international Boeing 777-200s.
