Gourmet Flyer One of the most significant and enjoyable perks of flying international Business Class on United is access to the airlines’ exclusive and luxurious Polaris Lounge. This lounge is miles above the typical United Club, and it rivals some of the best in the business, including its many international competitors. Indeed, many of the lavish pampering and amenities of flying Polaris begins before you even step foot onto the plane.
Table of Contents
- Location
- First Impression
- Access
- Seating and Work Areas
- The Dining Room
- Breakfast
- Lunch and Dinner
- Bar and Beverages
- Conclusion
Location
United’s Polaris lounge is located in Terminal 7 of LAX airport and the entrance is just before the rotunda area, between gates 73 and 75A. After clearing security and taking the short escalator ride up, keep walking straight down the terminal. You’ll see the entrance to your right just after you walk past Wolfgang Puck. From the entrance, take the elevator to go upstairs.
First Impression
I think the two words that most closely describe the décor of the space are: Trendy elegance. There is not a sense of extravaganza or an excessive degree of opulence. The place exudes high-energy but relaxing vibes of contemporary sophistication that sets it apart from the traditional airport lounge environment.
In the morning, I love how bright and cheerful the place is when the large almost floor-to-ceiling windows let in an abundance of natural light. At night, I love the chic club-like atmosphere with the dimly lit tarmac at the backdrop.
Access
A sign at the entrance quite clearly outlines the eligibility for entrance into this exclusive club. First and foremost, the passenger needs to be traveling to an international destination listed on the sign in either first or business class. United Polaris passengers have access at their point of departure as well as connecting and arrival airports. First and business class passengers on a Star Alliance partner flight only have access at the departure airport of the international long-haul segment.
Rules and policies governing access are lengthy and complicated. Please visit the airlines’ website here for complete and accurate information.
Seating and Work Areas
The space here has tall and large windows for a panoramic view of a good part of the airport. My wife and I both love one of those fancy window-seats that come with a small coffee table where we can enjoy our drinks and snacks while watching all the actions on the tarmac.
Plenty of these fashionable chairs accompanied by round coffee tables are also scattered throughout the place, punctuated by sets of comfy traditional sofas.
Another one of my favorite spots – especially when I am travelling alone – is UA’s signature seat which features an extra wide sofa with a side table that works perfectly well for either eating a meal or working on a laptop. These seats are partitioned for some privacy and also come equipped with both USB outlets and international AC sockets.
Small round dining tables are arranged around the rotunda area near the buffet and The Dining Room. Note that the several tables directly opposite the dining room are often reserved for use by the restaurant.
The Dining Room
A major component that sets United’s Polaris Lounge apart from its competition and makes it a game changer in the world of Business Class amenities is a full-service restaurant called The Dining Room. At the time of its inception, it was probably close to one of its kind in the Business Class arena.
During peak times there is often a wait for a table. As I have mentioned earlier, some of the dining tables around the rotunda area are also used for restaurant seating when they get busy. If you want to enjoy a leisurely meal, the key is to get there early and avoid the rush hours.
The menu is rather limited, but it still provides an adequate number of choices for different dietary preferences. This is also in line with the current culinary trend that focuses on a smaller number of selections but perfect in their execution. I also like the fact that the menus rotate quite often and are somewhat different at each airport.
Breakfast
When my wife and I arrived recently for a morning flight to Hong Kong, we really enjoyed our cooked-to-order breakfasts. You can pretty much order any variations of eggs and omelets with a selection of sides. As you can tell from the picture above, they give you only very little potatoes. If you want a lot more, you can order another side of it. But let me give you a tip: It is a lot easier and quicker if you just walk 10 to 15 steps to the buffet and grab a plateful there. Trust me, they are exactly the same thing.
One particular item worth mentioning is the soufflé pancake, which is fluffy, buttery, and very tasty. Instead of traditional syrup, it comes with a honey sauce that has a hint of lemon flavor. Note that the portion size is very small, so you might want to order two of them.
The buffet is located just outside The Dining Room and there are more options in addition to the entrees at the restaurant. The usual staples for breakfast are scrambled eggs, bacon, and sausage.
A very popular favorite at the buffet is the Mexican dish Huevos Rancheros topped with a sunny side up egg. Other items in this section include pancakes and sautéed potatoes.
Over at the next section, an oatmeal bar on the left is accompanied by cold cuts and cheeses on the right.
Last but not least, there are plenty of breads, bagels, muffins, and other pastries for your enjoyment.
Lunch and Dinner
The menu in the full-service restaurant of United’s Polaris Lounge at LAX usually features a chicken dish, a seafood that could be fish, shrimp, or scallop, and a vegetarian dish that is either pasta or curry vegetables. These items rotate regularly and are also somewhat different at each airport. However, one particular entrée that has stayed on the menu since day one and is also featured on the menu at every airport is the Polaris Signature Burger. This is quite possibly UA’s flagship burger! The patty is made with richly flavorful beef short rib, and the toppings are customizable. Refer to the menu posted above for details.
The salad bar always contains plenty of ingredients for you to build your own plate, and it also comes with premixed dishes. When I was there for an evening flight to Asia, one of the two versions was roasted broccoli with beans, feta, and tomato. The other one was kale, roasted pumpkin, tomato, and apple in a honey balsamic chili dressing, which was refreshing and delicious.
Soup of the day on the night I was there for dinner was cream of butternut squash.
One of my favorites that night was sumptuous shrimps sautéed in a delicious garlic white wine sauce accompanied by a blend of peppers, onions, and tomatoes. To its left was a platter of vegetable quinoa.
I really enjoyed the Mediterranean dish of the night which was tender chicken breast meat stewed in a creamy white wine sauce blended with plenty of black and green olives. Other goodies included roasted vegetables, basmati rice, flatbreads, wraps, and sandwiches.
A colorful and abundant charcuterie board contains a mix of cheeses such as Gouda and goat and a selection of meats including Genoa salami, hard salami, and capicola. It is garnished with a generous sprinkle of dried fruits and accompanied by breadsticks. In the background, there are more sandwiches and wraps.
What appears to resemble a feast is certainly incomplete without desserts. And here we go! Selections for the night included cinnamon nutmeg vanilla mousse with coffee crust crumble, black forest trifle with cherry and whipped cream, chocolate cake, and snickerdoodle cookies.
Bar and Beverages
United’s Polaris Lounge at LAX features a full bar staffed with experienced bartenders and stocked with plenty of higher end call brand liquors, as well as premium beers and finer wines. There are about a dozen or so bar stools and the two TVs there are usually tuned to either news or sports programs.
A special section of the cocktail menu features what is called “Signatures of the Sky” which are supposed to be some of the most innovative and refreshing cocktails that are only available in this exclusive club. The section is followed by a selection of some other very popular drinks.
Their bloody Mary made with star anise-infused vodka is without a doubt, one of the best!
If you do not desire alcohol, there are plenty of non-alcoholic drinks available. During the breakfast hours in the morning, the juice bar is a popular spot. The same bar doubles up as a citrus-infused water and iced tea station during the rest of the day. There is no shortage of self-served coffee and tea options. The first time I was there I circled around for a while looking for a soda machine. But there was none. Instead, a good variety of canned sodas are stored inside a small fridge and are also self-served.
Conclusion
United Airlines’ Polaris Lounge at LAX is the smallest one in the network, but it is also the least crowded. Except for a couple of rush hours in the morning when there are many international departures, you can usually find a decent seat with plenty of personal space, as well as a table in the dining room without a wait. A full-service restaurant in an airport lounge is certainly an innovation that sets the bar even higher in the airline industry that continues to impress and compete for the affluent business class customers. Moreover, I am also impressed by the quality of the food in the restaurant which rivals many fine dining establishments.
So, indeed, you’ll enjoy some of the most memorable moments, delicious cuisines, and lavish pampering of flying business class on United before you even set foot onto the plane.
