United Airlines has officially opened its expanded Polaris Lounge at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), offering international business class travelers a more spacious and upgraded experience.
The renovated lounge, located at United’s main hub, is now 50 percent larger. It spans nearly 25,000 square feet and provides seating for more than 350 guests. Passengers can eat, drink, and unwind in comfort before their international flights.
One of the key upgrades is the enlarged private dining room. It now features 50 seats, almost three times more than before. The menu includes dishes like prosciutto parmigiano crostini, shrimp and scallop, spring vegetable risotto, and Aperol spritz cake. The lounge’s popular hot buffet and mezze station remain available.
Chicago-based home brand Crate and Barrel partnered with United for the lounge’s interior design. This is the company’s first collaboration with an airline. Guests will notice Crate and Barrel dinnerware throughout the space, including pieces from the Marin and Tuscan Marble collections, along with unique Le Creuset colors.
A second full-service bar has also been added to the lounge. Designed with a speakeasy-inspired look, it makes United the only U.S. airline to offer two full bars in a business class lounge. The new bar features a selection of premium wines and Champagnes, including Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée Brut, as well as cocktails inspired by Chicago. The original bar has been upgraded too and now offers more than 25 seats. Guests can choose to enjoy their drinks there or take them to other areas of the lounge.
Additional improvements include six new restrooms and more private areas for both relaxation and work.
“Customers are going to love our new Chicago lounge because it gives them more of all of the things they want most—more space, more amenities, and more dining options,” said Aaron McMillan, United’s managing director of hospitality programs. “We’ll carry this new elevated design into future lounge openings and renovations across our United Polaris lounge portfolio.”
United Airlines now operates six Polaris lounges for international business class passengers. The airline is also working on other lounge upgrades, including a larger United Club in Denver’s B West Terminal and a renovated dining room in the Polaris lounge at Newark. Both are expected to open later this year.
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