United’s new Houston Polaris lounge.Tea-steeped bourbon and a margarita with jalapenos will be among the cocktails offered at United ’s latest Polaris lounge when it opens at its Houston hub on Friday.
The new lounge at George Bush Intercontinental Airport — open to travelers flying to Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands — is designed to feel like a boutique hotel with the flavor of Texas and Houston in particular.
It features artwork by two Houstonian artists Shane Tolbert and Terrell James while food highlights include a Texas breakfast skillet, Cajun andouille sausage and chicken étouffée, Argentinean roasted chimichurri chicken, tres leches bites and the ubiquitous United Polaris Burger.
The cocktail menu includes the Caliente on the Rocks, which combines tequila, orange juice and a homemade sour mix, garnished with a jalapeno for an extra kick as well as caipirinhas, the traditional Brazilian cocktail.
The new 191-seat lounge in Terminal E comes with two private daybeds, six luxury showers and private dining area accommodating up to 28 guests.
It will offer personal valet services such as garment steaming.
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“As we continue to increase the momentum of the roll-out of United Polaris, we’re thrilled to bring this industry-leading lounge concept to Houston, where the lounge décor, food and drink are all a reflection of the city,” said Mark Krolick, United’s Vice President of Marketing.
“We specifically designed this United Polaris lounge location to feel like a boutique hotel, with dedicated spaces for relaxation, refreshing and dining and we’re confident that our Houston customers and those connecting through this award-winning airport will enjoy a best-in-class lounge experience.”
This is third Polaris lounge opened this year and follows the debut of San Francisco International Airport in April and Newark Liberty International Airport in June.
The airline has been criticised for the slow roll-out of its flagship product but says it will be adding an aircraft equipped with its Polaris business seat, which offers more space and direct aisle access, every 10 days between now and 2020.
It is retrofitting Boeing 767, 777 and 787 aircraft but the latest Boeing 777-300s were delivered with the new seat and the same will be true to Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners due to arrive later this year.
