This stunning POLARIS business class lounge is clearly an international winner with its beautiful design, amazing food service and a product that would mark it close to any First Class lounges globally.

Introduction | United Polaris Lounge

Located in SFO’s International Terminal, this surprising business class lounge appears to punch way above its weight class, demonstrating superb service and a really viable hard product all around. The United Polaris lounge currently houses close to 400+ passengers across two floors, with a staircase and escalator connecting the upper and lower levels. Upstairs is where the food and beverages are at, while downstairs provides a more private space for work or a place to shower and rest.

The lounge is open from 6.30 a.m to 10.30 p.m daily, and access is available to:

United Polaris Business Class passengers
Long-haul* First Class passengers on a Star Alliance airline (+1 guest)
Long-haul* Business Class passengers on a Star Alliance airline

If there’s anything to call out, premium airline lounges like this particular Polaris Lounges exist to enhance the premium travel experience for those flyers who have already paid thousands of dollars to fly United or their Star Alliance partner's business or first class products. I really appreciate this as it helps elevate those that have actually spent money to get a great travel experience.

The Lounge | United Polaris Lounge

Downstairs as I mentioned are meant for more of a private traveler. For those who want some additional privacy, United designed a special “signature seat” with a wide leather chair, side table and personal reading lamp. I actually loved this setup downstairs as this gives me more room to work privately without truly be bothered by bypassing travelers.

Upstairs, it’s this massively slab of quartz and expensive materials that is extended into a dining buffet area, a dedicated dining room and a series of places to work and relax. Dramatic light fixtures are everywhere and the Polaris emblem are embedded across a series of areas in the lounge. The large lounge features plenty of seating both upstairs and downstairs, and has a variety of micro-kitchens that serve coffee and snacks, which is a great addition.

The internet here is blazing fast - I was able to utilize close to 120+ up and 200+ down, which is greatly appreciated in an era where fast internet is somewhat required for many business and leisure travelers.

Dining | United Polaris Lounge

Like everyone else that has visited this lounge, this was probably the highlight of the entire lounge,

If you find yourself in the Polaris lounge and have some time to spare, skip the buffet and head over to The Dining Room. It's a full-service sit-down restaurant where you can order items off a menu - everything is complimentary and you keep ordering it. I know I had the chowder and ice cream cookie so many times, haha.

Since I was dining close to the 7-8pm mark at night, there wasn’t a lot of guests and I had a blast with the waiters, as they can kept on serving champagne and chardonnay! Don’t mind if I do! Note that operating hours for The Dining Room are shorter than those of the main Polaris lounge, so check your flight time to make sure you don't miss out on this amazing experience.

The Dining Room comes with a full course set menu with various choices for light bites, entrees, drinks, and desserts that vary based on season and time of day. I mean, who can say no to a cioppino followed up by a burger? It was fantastic!

There’s also a full buffet setup along with a superb bar, which again is complementary and serves up some great cocktails. Too bad I was filled up with so much champagne at the dining room…even the buffet looked fantastic and by word of mouth, it seems that customers of the lounge enjoyed it a lot. This ain’t your typical American lounge anymore, kudos United Airlines!

Shower Room | United Polaris Lounge

Prior to boarding, I ventured to the Shower Room - I was quickly greeted and with a quick scan of my boarding pass and passport, got a lovely room to shower and dress up. The quality of amenities is top notch, ranging from Saks Fifth Avenue towels and slippers to an boutique shower/shampoo brand, Sunday Riley.

Once I arrived, the attendant asked for my boarding pass to ensure I had adequate time for a shower. Then, the kind lady showed me to my suite, guiding me through an impressive hallway design featuring shimmering LED lights simulating a starry night. This homage to the namesake of United's premium travel experience "Polaris" continues to showcase a premium product across this lounge, which I loved.

Shower pressure was great and I was easily impressed with the waterfall shower and handle combo. The bathroom is incredibly luxurious and all touch points just exude expensive materials. Kudos to you United Airlines for making everything so fantastic here! If you need anything like extra toothbrushes, combs, deodorant, simply ask the front desk attendant!

Conclusion | United Polaris Lounge

I’m incredibly amazed by this particular lounge in SFO, especially now that Business Class flights with Star Alliance along with POLARIS are given access to this beautiful haven. It’s well designed, super elegant and boasts that amazing Dining Room and buffet/bar combination. Great food and an attentive service has seriously elevated this particular lounge experience closer to that of a 1st Class Lounge.

Great job United Airlines for such an amazing turnaround and I can’t wait to fly out of SFO more!