Connecting at ORD
I arrived in on a connecting flight from DCA, which arrived at gate B20, and I had to make my way to the Polaris Lounge from there.
I know ORD can be hectic, but I love the Terminal at ORD, it reminds me of Home Alone.
Don't forget to say hi to Ernie! The Brachiosaurus!
I then proceeded down "Rhapsody in Blue Tunnel" as I call it. It's the tunnel that connects concourses B and C in Terminal 1, and plays "Rhapsody in Blue" constantly. It's just what you need to get yourself in the mood for your United flight!
The Lounge: The Polaris Lounge
I’ve reviewed the Polaris Lounge at ORD before extensively. However, last year, United did a complete renovation of this lounge, including updating the furniture, adding some new amenities, and making it 50% larger! So, I decided that today, we should do a full review of the lounge again!
The Polaris Lounge has strict requirements for entry, so you’ll want to check out the access policy on United’s website: https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/travel/airport/lounge-access.html
The Polaris Lounge is located in the C concourse, just on the opposite side of the escalators that lead you to the tunnel to the B gates and the landside operations of the Terminal. There’s a big sign and a wall indicating the location of the Polaris Lounge. I always really liked this wall, because it makes it seem more exclusive. I don’t like the new Polaris branding, though. I thought the old branding was nicer and made the Polaris brand really “pop” with the star. So, I wish that United had kept the Star in the logo for its Polaris signage.
Just past the wall, you have the entrance to the Polaris Lounge through sliding glass doors.
Once through the sliding glass door, you'll find the lounge agents, who are ready to scan your boarding pass and admit you. I scanned my boarding pass, and the friendly lounge agent said, "Welcome to the Polaris Lounge! And, thank you for being a Premier 1K member with us, we really appreciate your loyalty to United, Mr. Shivpilot14!"
Once inside, the first thing you see is the hallway that leads to the bathrooms.
If you turn right, you're brought into the main seating area of the lounge, starting with some of the pretty familiar Polaris workstations.
If you continue straight in the lounge and turn right, you'll find the main seating area of the lounge with nice leather armchairs. It should be noted that this lounge was given all new furniture supplied by Crate and Barrel during the rennovation.
If you keep going, you'll find the expanded seating area. This is the part that was expanded, and now you can tell precisely how much larger the lounge is now.
It should be noted that the bookshelves on the left side are also brand new and designed by Crate and Barrel. These bookshelves are where the old dining room was located. This is also where the second bar, the "speakeasy" is located, but that only opens in the afternoon, so I had to circle back to that.
If you turn the corner, you'll find more seating, as well as the entrance to the dining room, and a hallway, where you'll find private working spaces that are really nicely designed!
Because I hadn't had Breakfast in the United Club at DCA, or on my last flight, I was pretty hungry when I arrived in the lounge and decided that I wanted to get some breakfast in the dining room.
I waited by the host stand in the dining room for about 10 minutes, and nobody came… So, I decided to just walk inside of the dining room to take a seat at an open spot, and nobody seemed to mind that. I'm sure that you have to still wait to be seated, but I think they were just short staffed this morning.
The dining room has some seating where you can sit, and I assume wait, if you don't have a table ready yet? to the right of that, is another seating area where they will seat you to be served.
Just past that is the actual dining room. At first glance, you can tell that this dining room is much bigger than the old dining room. Also, the color scheme and the decor are really nice. It makes the dining room, and honestly, the entire lounge, feel so cozy and premium!
As I took my seat, I was offered my choice of still or sparkling water, and handed the menu. I went with still.
When my server brought me my water, he came back to ask me if I was ready. I went with the Petit Monte Cristo and the Roasted Wild Mushroom Tartine. I also ordered a black coffee.
It didn't take long for the food to come out. The Petit Monte Cristo was really good. The Cranberry Jam paired perfectly with the Jalapeno. The sweet and spicy combination just blended together! The Tartine was also good, and what you would expect.
Once I finished that, I took a seat near the bookshelves and had a great view of the tarmac. Includign this 787!
After a wecided to go to the bar and grab a drink, and also check out the buffet.
The "speakeasy" bar wasn't open yet, but the main bar was open. In the Polaris Lounge, every alocholic beverage is complimenatary, and there's even a menu of cocktail menus that have locally inspired cocktails based upon which hub you are at. (Example: more latin themed cocktails at IAH).
Ater that, I went to the buffet area to check it out. The buffet has a seating area right next to it.
I decided to try the Vegetable Coconut Curry. It was not that great, honestly.
Around lunchtime, I decided to go back to the dining room to try the lunch/dinner menu. This time, there was someone there to show me to a table.
After I shown to my table, my server, Dustin, came by to introduce himself. He offered me my choice of still or sparkling water and also asked me if I wanted anything else to drink. I went with a gin and tonic, and I looked over the menu.
For my starter I got the Creamy Mushroom Soup, which was delicious.
For my main course I got the butternut squash ravioli, which was also delicious, but was on the sweeter side for my taste.
After I finished both of those, Dustin came by to offer me dessert. I went with the Red Wine Poached Pear, which was also delicous.
Once I finished lunch, I decided to check out the shower suites. United's Polaris Lounges have shower suites for your use, and these are spectacular, private suites with a shower, toilet, sink, hair dryer, and enough space to open up your bag to get clothes and toiletries out if needed.
The staff also have things like deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash… etc. available upon request. Additionally, there is a cabinet where you can put your clothes if you'd like them pressed while you shower.
After I finished with my shower, I sat down and relaxed for a bit, and waited for the "Speakeasy" bar to open up. I found out from the lounge staff, that the speakeasy bar opens up at 2:00 p.m. every day.
Sure enough, at 2:00, the bar opened up! The bartender was super friendly and gave me a gin and tonic.
Once I was about ready to leave the lounge, I decided to go to the bathroom before heading to the gate. In true Polaris Fashion, the lounge's bathrooms have a hallway with "Polaris star lighting." The bathrooms are all individual, all-gender private restrooms with a toilet, sink, paper towels, and enough space if you needed to open your bag and get some toiletries out if needed.
Boarding, the Cabin, and Seat
Boarding began right on time at 2:55 p.m. Boarding began with pre-boarding for passengers with disabilities, active duty military, global services, and then 1Ks. I boarded with my fellow 1Ks. Ordinarily, Polaris would board in group 1.
I was greeted by a flight attendant at the door, and told to cross the aisle to find m seat.
The first thing you notice on boarding is just how massive the cabin is on this particular aircraft, in this configuration
This “High-J” 767-300 is a very premium heavy aircraft. It has a large business class cabin with 46 Polaris seats! The Polaris cabin stretches to about half of the length of the entire fuselage! It is laid out in a 1-1-1 configuration across 18 rows, with rows 17 and 18 having only 2 seats in them along the windows. Each seat offers every passenger direct aisle access. The odd rows face straight, and the even rows are at an angle. I always prefer the odd, window seats as a solo traveler for the most privacy. Note, that rows 7 and 11 have strange window placements and are generally avoided.
Then, past that is the Premium Plus cabin with 22 seats arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration across 4 rows, with the first row, row 20, only having window side seats, and no middle seats.
Then, past that is the Economy cabin, which features… are you ready for this? 45 Economy Plus seats, and 52 regular Economy seats. Meaning that 46% of the Economy cabin is composed of Economy Plus seating! Wow!
I quickly found my seat, 5L, a window seat on the left side of the aircraft. At my seat, was all of the bedding and the amenity kit.
The seat controls are located in the right armrest, with a wheel that allows you to adjust between fully-flat bed mode, and the fully-upright taxi, takeoff, and landing mode. You can also adjust your footrest, lumbar support, and recline with a lot of different combinations.
There is a faux marble countertop on the right side where you can set things on top of.
Just above the countertop is the IFE remote control, the universal power outlet, a USB-A charging port, the headphone jack, and a small vanity closet where you can store a few things during the flight. In there was a water bottle for use during the flight, as well as the headset. I find this spot perfect for storing my toiletries and chargers.
The seat is well padded, comfortable, and extremely private. You can’t see another passenger in the cabin unless you really start looking for them, and nobody else can see you. Which is what I love about the Polaris seats. Unlike this aircraft’s brother, the 767-400, this seat features two individual air vents, as opposed to just one.
Additionally, this seat featured two windows.
This 767-300, unfortunately, had united's older IFE UI, but the content is still the same as in Polaris on any other aircraft.
Pre-Departure, Taxi, and Takeoff
By 3:05, a Pre-departure beverage of either water or sparkling wine was served. I hadn’t even sat down yet!
Once I settled in to my seat, I took a look at the menu.
At 3:19, a flight attendant came by to confirm my meal choice. I hadn’t even sat preordered the Chilean Seabass. I had also said that I wanted express dining, which is an option that United has where you get everything at one time and typically get served first. That way, you can maximize your rest. I was asked what dessert I wanted, I chose the cheesecake, and was told it would all come out on one tray. (It didn't).
At 3:23, it was announced that boarding was completed. The flight was actually really empty today! Everyone who requested an upgrade had cleared!
At 3:24, the captain became into the Polaris cabin to introduce himself and say that our flight time is 7 hours 24 minutes to London, and that we would actually be arriving early!
We started pushing back at 3:41, about 4 minutes ahead of schedule. The safety video also began to play.
At 4:00, we took runway 28R for departure.
We had a great view of O’Hare as we climbed out.
Cruise
At 4:04, we reached 10,000 feet, and we were well on our way to London.
At 4:17, the first officer came on to announce that we had reached our initial cruising altitude and that they’d be turning off the fasten seatbelt sign.
About a minute later, the in flight service began with the distribution of a hot towel.
At 4:28, service continued with the service of drinks and making up our tables. I ordered the Tenuta Guado al Tasso Vernentino, which is a white wine that, according to the menu, pairs best with fish. It tasted great, and was served with warm nuts and some water!
At 4:44, my meal was brought out.
The meal was horrible. And undercooked. I didn’t eat more than a few bites. It was awful. The rice wasn’t even cooked.
I wasn’t even offered another meal. In order to get something substantial in me, I was forced to wait for the dessert cart. I was hungry. And this didn’t make me happy at all.
At 5:37, the dessert cart came around and I ordered the ice cream sundae. I apologize for not taking a picture when it was first delivered but I was just so hungry!
The sundae was great l, as always! I just wish that I had gotten an actual meal!
At this time, I decided to switch my clock to London time, making it 11:42 pm in London.
At 11:50 am local time in London, I decided to make up my bed. I apologize for the lack of “prettiness” of the bed makeup. But, I was tired and frustrated, and ready for bed.
I woke up at 4:03 am local time in London, and found that the lights were already on in the cabin and the crew started taking breakfast orders. I didn’t wake up for breakfast and had planned on sleeping for another half hour or so, but I woke up really needing to use the bathroom.
This means I got just north of 3 hours of sleep on the flight which isn’t great honestly. I try to get at least 4 hours of sleep on flights to Europe. But with a flight time of 7 hours and 24 minutes, it wasn’t bad. I feel like I could’ve gotten more sleep if the meal wasn’t so bad and I could’ve skipped dessert.
I used the lavatory and when I got back at 4:11, the flight attendant asked me if I wanted breakfast. I normally would’ve just waited until I got to the arrivals lounge to eat, but with an hour and twenty minutes to go in flight, I decided to order something. I ordered the French toast.
The French toast was good but I didn’t finish it, I really just got it to cure my boredom!
Descent and Arrival (Including the Heathrow Arrivals Lounge!)
At 4:50, the captain came on to announce that we’d begun our descent and would be on the ground in about 35 minutes. I decided to use that time to put some of my things away in my carry on bag, and I watched “Skyfall” for the remainder of the flight.
At 5:02, the fasten seatbelt sign came on and my Coke Zero was cleared away.
we touched down on runway 27R at 5:26 am.
We parked at gate B49 in Terminal 2 at 5:32 for an arrival that was about 23 minutes ahead of schedule.
I literally breezed through the UK border, and the automated passport control machines weren’t even running. I arrived at the door of the arrivals lounge at 5:46 am. And it was closed, the sign outside said it would open at 6:00. There were even staff members going in to start their shifts while I was waiting.
As more people came off of the flight, a line started to form behind me for entry. When the doors opened at 6, I was the first one in and the agent scanned my boarding pass and asked if I wanted a shower. When I said “yes,” she assigned me a shower and showed me to a shower suite. She was the only agent at the entrance, so that line that formed behind me? They had to wait for her to come back.
The shower suite I was assigned to was on the smaller side. I’ve definitely had larger shower suites in this lounge. But it would do. The shower suites have shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, towels, a shower cap, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, and cotton swabs. There’s also slippers.
Each suite features a cabinet in the door where you can hang clothes that you wish to have pressed or ironed. When I got to my suite, the agent asked me if I had anything that needed to be pressed, so I assume that they don’t check every single cabinet. I think it’s upon request.
The shower itself has both a rain can style shower head and a handheld groomer. The problem with the design of these showers is that they don’t close and the shower heads are so close to the opening that water ends up on the floor outside of the shower. This happens to me every time I visit this lounge so I knew not to leave any of my things on the floor. Just a warning!
After I showered, I made my way to the seating area in the lounge. There’s some leather armchairs and tables. There was nobody in the lounge, which makes sense because my flight coming in was pretty empty! I sat in one of the armchairs and headed to the buffet. When I was at the buffet, a lounge attendant said, “Sir you can also order from the menu if you’d like.” I told her that I’d have a look at the menu and do that.
A few moments later, she came to ask if she could get me anything. I went with the Sausage and Avocado Muffin.
About 10 minutes later, it was brought out.
I stayed in the lounge for a bit until it was time for me to head out into London. As more flights landed, more people started coming into the lounge as well. This lounge is restricted. No level of status or membership will gain you entry. You must be arriving in Polaris on a United flight or in Business class on an Air Canada flight before 12:00 pm in order to gain entry. In fact, while I was in the lounge, I overheard the lounge agent tell someone he can’t gain access simply because he has a maple leaf lounge membership with Air Canada.
