A First Look at United’s Larger, Refreshed Polaris Lounge at Chicago O’Hare

Back in 2016, United Airlines made a splash by unveiling its all-new (at the time) Polaris Lounge concept at Chicago O’Hare, a space far more exclusive than the typical United Club and intended for those flying in United’s premium Polaris cabin or an equivalent (or higher) class of service on United’s Star Alliance partners on long-haul flights.

The Polaris Lounge pioneered the concept of a business-class-exclusive lounge among U.S. airlines and set a standard American Airlines and Delta Air Lines have been working to match ever since. The Polaris Lounge immediately wowed passengers with its hushed, elegant design, exclusivity, elevated amenities, plus excellent food and drinks. Following the debut of the Polaris Lounge in Chicago almost a decade ago, the airline has opened further outposts at most of its major hubs across the country.

However, the airline (and the industry at large) has seen a surge in demand for premium products, meaning it was time for the airline to give its O’Hare Polaris Lounge a thorough revamp and expansion.

Upgraded Points was invited to tour the lounge as part of a media preview ahead of the space’s official opening today, April 29, 2025. Here’s what you can expect after its renovation and expansion.

United Polaris Lounge at Chicago O’Hare

The United Polaris Lounge at Chicago O’Hare (ORD) is reopening in its same location: Terminal 1, after security, in Concourse C, next to gate C18. Note that there’s a standard United Club near gate C10, so be sure you’re entering the Polaris Lounge if you can access it (more on that later).

While the Polaris Lounge’s location has remained the same, not much else has. First and foremost, this lounge grew in size. The airline claims it’s grown by 50% to 25,000 square feet. With all that space comes more goodies for passengers. There are seats for 350 flyers, a sit-down dining room with capacity for 50 diners, a second full-service bar, 6 additional restrooms, more private spaces for relaxation or work, and more.

Aside from adding a significant amount of space and additional high-end amenities for flyers, United focused on elevating the design of the space. Similar to how the Chicago Polaris Lounge blazed the airline’s trail into dedicated business class lounges, this refreshed lounge will be an example for future renovations to other already-open Polaris Lounges and newly built spaces across the network.

“Customers are going to love our new Chicago lounge because it gives them more of all of the things they want — more space, more amenities, more dining options — and we’ll carry this new elevated design into future lounge openings and renovations across our United Polaris lounge portfolio,” Aaron McMillan, managing director of hospitality programs at United, said in a press release.

Let’s explore the lounge’s offerings in more detail so you can have a better idea of what to expect during your next visit.

Amenities

The expanded and updated Polaris Lounge in Chicago has a lot to offer qualifying passengers, from dedicated wellness rooms and relaxation pods to a restaurant-style sit-down dining space complete with Crate & Barrel flatware, dishes, and glassware, marking the Chicago-based brand’s first collaboration with an airline.

Seating

From the moment you walk in, you’ll notice just how plentiful the seating is at the Chicago Polaris Lounge. Opposite the check-in desk is a long bench clad in dark blue fabric opposite 2 comfy swivel chairs and a coffee table.

It’s not likely a place where a guest would spend much time, because the real attraction is the space that lies beyond, but it could be a great place to get yourself organized upon entry or before exiting — or to wait for others in your party.

Past the entrance is the first large seating area. Flyers who have visited this lounge before will recognize the center section of pod-like individual seats.

Each has an armchair, a coat hook, and 2 marble surfaces — one of which pulls out from below the other to provide more space for eating, working, or just holding your food.

The adjacent table lamp has an AC power outlet and a USB-A port built into its base, ensuring you can stay charged throughout your visit.

New to this area is an expansive leather bench with small bistro tables scattered around it — perfect for someone who may not have much time and simply wants a comfortable place to sit down and enjoy a quick bite or beverage before a flight.

If you’re looking toward the windows in this space, to the left is a wall with bench seating along its length on 1 side, individual chairs on the other, and larger dining tables in between.

Following the periphery of the space, you’ll find clusters of comfortable leather armchairs separated by attractive, translucent glass panels.

These seats are set up in rows of 2 or 3 and have power outlets between them. Some clusters have small separators between them, making them better for relaxation or watching content on your devices rather than working or eating a heartier meal. Others have larger tables in between chairs, making them appropriate for more activities.

Toward the back of the lounge, you find 2 living room-style areas, providing several comfortable leather high-back armchairs, sofas, and on-trend burl-wood side tables. Along the wall are a few bench-style nooks suitable for 1 person (or maybe 2 small people!) with small tables to hold a beverage, a small plate of food, or your laptop.

I particularly loved the design of these areas, feeling more like the living room of a high-end townhouse than an airport.

The Chicago Polaris Lounge also features a space dedicated to achieving Zen, thanks to a row of plush lounge chairs covered in cozy gray fabric.

Chairs are surrounded by curtains, adding even more privacy and silence. Each space has a soft pillow and throw from Crate & Barrel. Of course, power is available in each pod.

Relaxation Wing

The Chicago Polaris Lounge has a space dedicated to wellness and relaxation, featuring several individual rooms with zero-gravity chairs, and shower suites are available.

Here, you find the fruits of an expanded partnership with Therabody, including several massagers, zero-gravity chairs, and even RecoveryAir JetBoots available for guest use.

Each daybed room is a private, quiet space with a large reclining zero-gravity chair designed for relaxation. These can be reserved with a staff member.

Several spacious shower suites are also available. They’ve been refreshed to feature large standing showers with glass doors and rainfall showerheads like those you’d find in a high-end hotel.

Each shower suite has Therabody toiletries, towels, and plenty of space to store your belongings while you refresh with a hot shower.

On the hallway ceiling, you notice a cool starlight feature meant to evoke the night sky and support the Polaris theme (Polaris is also known as the North Star). It’s a very cool feature and contributes to the sense of calm and quiet in the area.

Phone Rooms

The Polaris Lounge has a row of phone rooms, providing private, quiet spaces to make a call or focus on an important task before your flight.

Art

United’s team emphasized the inclusion of local art while expanding and renovating the Chicago Polaris Lounge. The airline collaborated with Chicago-based art collective Johalla Projects to select artwork, including print photography, paintings, collages, and more from 9 local artists exemplifying the area’s artistic richness.

I was particularly impressed by the gallery wall in the living room area. It genuinely added to the homey feel of the space.

Internet

I didn’t notice a private network reserved for the Polaris Lounge. Instead, I joined the United Club network, which was not protected by a password but did require a few clicks to sign in.

I was only on my computer for a few minutes to look up a few things, but I had no trouble loading internet pages or saving the small bit of work I did while sitting in the lounge. The network should be sufficient for working, streaming, or downloading before hopping on a flight.

Restrooms

The Chicago Polaris Lounge has an entire hallway dedicated to individual restrooms for all genders. You’ll also notice the same starry sky theme here as in the relaxation wing.

Each marble-clad restroom has plenty of space and a single vanity with Therabody hand soap and lotion.

There’s also a wellness room with a baby changing table and a diaper disposal, perfect for parents who want a bit of privacy to attend to their baby’s needs.

Power

Any traveler knows that having access to power is crucial in the airport. The refreshed Polaris Lounge in Chicago was designed with the modern traveler in mind, offering plenty of power ports — whether AC outlets, USB ports, or both — near most seats and throughout the bar and dining areas.

Planespotting

AvGeeks will love this lounge, as it provides great views of several C gates and a portion of the ramp. During my short visit, I spotted a United Boeing 787 Dreamliner, an All Nippon Airways 787, and a Lufthansa Boeing 747-8, among numerous other narrow-body aircraft.

If you’re a fan of planes, definitely budget some extra time to gaze at the beautiful flying machines on the other side of the glass.

Food and Drinks

One of the primary reasons for visiting a lounge is to enjoy a meal and maybe a drink or 2 before your flight. United wanted to up the ante in that department when revamping the Polaris Lounge in Chicago — and it certainly delivers.

Main Bar

Repeat visitors will recognize the main bar, which is roughly in the same spot as it was before the renovation. Here, bartenders will mix you a craft cocktail, pour you a glass of wine, let you taste a local craft brew, whip up a coffee, and more.

The bar is attractive, with a diagonal bar top trimmed in backlit white marble. Behind is an artfully arranged variety of bottles. You’ll certainly find a beverage that suits your mood.

Speakeasy Bar

One of the lounge’s standout features is its brand-new speakeasy-style bar. It’s a beautiful space that’s open on either end to the rest of the lounge.

However, sliding doors on either end can be shut, closing off the space to the rest of the lounge and creating a truly hidden speakeasy space where patrons can enjoy a cocktail in a sophisticated, hushed setting.

The decor features a rich wood-paneled ceiling, deep blues, and a moody backlit bar stocked with plenty of high-end spirits, from Japanese whisky to Italian aperitifs and luxury Champagne, including Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée Brut.

Several dark blue bar seats are available, along with a few banquettes covered in rich blue leather opposite saddle-brown swivel chairs.

The speakeasy bar serves a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages that can be enjoyed right in the space or taken elsewhere. One of the featured drinks is a nod to Chicago. Called the Second City Sour, it features Rittenhouse rye, Malort (a Chicago staple), lemon, egg white, and Lingua Franca pinot noir.

The addition of the speakeasy bar means the Chicago Polaris Lounge has 2 full-service bars, making it one of a kind among U.S. airlines offering business-class-only lounges.

Self-Serve Dining

The Chicago Polaris Lounge offers a self-serve buffet area with hot and cold dishes available.

During my visit, there was a central area with hot dishes served in Le Creuset dishes in colors exclusive to Crate & Barrel. Dishes included miso-glazed salmon, balsamic braised chicken, orzo pilaf, and more.

Cold foods included a traditional salad bar with toppings like feta cheese, pickled red onions, marinated cucumbers, and more, plus prepared salads like a Mediterranean panzanella and couscous.

There was also a mezze station with numerous dips, cheeses, breads, olives, and more.

Additionally, there were assorted desserts, cookies, and an elaborate charcuterie board with crackers, cheese, and cured meats.

I fixed myself a couple of plates before leaving the lounge, and everything was hot and tasty. I particularly enjoyed the miso-glazed salmon!

You also find self-serve stations scattered throughout the lounge with fruit-infused water, coffee machines, drinking water, and small snacks.

One such station even had some sweet treats, including my favorite: gummy bears.

Dining Room

My runner-up for favorite space in the Chicago Polaris Lounge is, without a doubt, the Dining Room.

The 50-seat space makes you completely forget you’re in an airport. It looks more like a restaurant in a major city where it’s next to impossible to get a reservation.

Crate & Barrel provides the glassware, silverware, plates, and even the beautifully designed salt and pepper shakers here, adding to the space’s upscale vibe.

There’s a sort of waiting room that has additional seating.

This small area is separated from the rest of the space by a decorative display wall featuring a bonsai tree, which I was a big fan of.

Seating is primarily arranged for parties of 2, though there were a couple of 4-top tables toward the back.

Each wall has a combination of bench and chair seating. The moody color scheme is similar to that of the speakeasy bar, with rich wood panels and dark benches.

In the center is a row of 2-top tables with chairs on either side, and the back had a gorgeous-looking slab of predominantly black marble, making the space feel rich, warm, and sophisticated.

Lounge guests can order meals from servers, just like at a restaurant. Here’s a look at the menu that’s available now:

• First course
  • Asparagus soup with lemon crema and garlic croutons
  • Bocconcini and blistered cherry tomato salad with spring mix, dehydrated Kalamata olives, pesto oil, and parmesan crisps
  • Prosciutto parmesan crostini with pesto oil and tomato confit
  • Cheese plate served with extra virgin olive oil baguette toast
• Second course
  • Herb pan-seared chicken served with creamy sweet corn, roasted tomatoes, and roasted spring onions
  • Shrimp, scallop, and spring vegetable risotto with basil oil and parmesan cheese
  • Artichoke and spinach ravioli with thyme-roasted artichoke, chardonnay cream sauce, and fire-roasted red peppers
  • Polaris Signature Burger, which is made to order and served with potato wedges
• Dessert
  • Aperol spritz cake with prosecco-poached rhubarb
  • Citrus sorbet trio
  • Chocolate chip skillet cookie with vanilla ice cream

How To Access the Polaris Lounge at Chicago O’Hare

The Polaris Lounge is United’s flagship on-the-ground product, so access is similarly restrictive. If you’re flying in United Polaris, you must be departing from the airport on the same day to gain access to the lounge. If connecting, passengers can visit upon arrival or before departure, though guests are not allowed.

Hot Tip:

Find out what the Polaris experience is like in the sky with our full review of United Polaris on the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner from Tokyo to Los Angeles.

Passengers on a Star Alliance partner booked in business or first class on an international long-haul flight can also access the Polaris lounge, but only if they’re departing from that airport. These passengers do not receive access if they arrive on an international long-haul flight. Only those in first class may bring a guest.

If United markets a flight as United Business rather than Polaris, you do not have access to the lounge, even when flying internationally. Domestic business class and first class passengers (including to and from Hawaii) don’t have access.

United Club memberships do not give you access to the Polaris Lounge, nor does any level of elite status in the United MileagePlus program.

The Polaris Lounge Chicago is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Final Thoughts

United’s Polaris Lounge concept debuted in Chicago. Now, the airline is ushering in the next generation of these exclusive lounges with a renovated and expanded space in the Windy City.

With standout amenities like the speakeasy bar, a dedicated sit-down dining room, and a dedicated relaxation room with Therabody products, the United Polaris Lounge at Chicago O’Hare feels ready to fend off new challenges from American Airlines and Delta, which have been working hard to create high-end, business-class-exclusive lounges for their premium passengers.

Now that we have the blueprint for the next generation of United’s Polaris Lounges, we’re looking forward to seeing these new elements applied at additional lounges throughout the airline’s other hub airports.