United Polaris Lounge in Chicago Sets the ‘New Standard’

The United Polaris lounge at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) has a new look, and it’s unlike any of the existing Polaris lounges. While much of the core layout is the same, an updated color palette and new amenities help breathe new life into the space that first opened in 2016.

The lounge, which reopened April 29, 2025, after roughly four months of renovations, is nearly 50% larger at almost 25,000 square feet. New features include a second full-service bar, a row of semi-private relaxation areas for those wanting additional privacy, six additional all-gender restrooms and a complete remodel of the sit-down dining room.

“This is the new standard going forward,” says Aaron McMillan, United Airlines’ managing director of hospitality programs. “We’ll continue to modify and adjust as time moves on, but this has become the new benchmark.”

The airline’s Polaris lounges are exclusively for United Polaris business class passengers, as well as those traveling on a first or business class long-haul flight on a Star Alliance partner. The Chicago lounge is located by Gate C18 and is open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

United invited NerdWallet to a press preview event before the lounge’s official opening to the public. Here’s what you can expect from the Polaris lounge at Chicago O’Hare.

The United Polaris lounge in Chicago has a modern design and reflects the airline’s updated branding for Polaris.

United partnered with Crate & Barrel — the first airline partnership for the Chicago-based home retailer — for the lounge’s dinnerware and decor, outfitting the space in a way that embraces additional colors beyond the blues and grays typically found in Polaris lounges.

You won’t find the Crate & Barrel partnership at other Polaris lounges; however, McMillan says there’s a potential it could expand to other locations.

The contemporary palette features reds, blues and greens, bringing it in line with the design at the airline’s newer lounge locations, such as the nearby United Club at Gate C16.

The United Polaris lounge has 359 seats that can accomodate solo travelers, couples and larger groups. Windows wrap around the main seating areas of the lounge, bringing in a lot of light and making it a great place for plane-spotters to hang out.

As part of the refresh, United added a hallway with nine semi-private relaxation areas. These are first come, first serve, and they’re a great place to get some peace and quiet. Each area also comes with a pillow and blanket.

Like other Polaris lounges, you’ll find a buffet with hot and cold options, as well as a dining room for a sit-down restaurant experience.

The buffet, which is near the lounge entrance, is open for all-day dining, with dishes like miso-glazed salmon, a charcuterie board and desserts.

There, you’ll also find a mezze station, with flatbreads and a variety of dips and add-ons.

You can also head to the dining room, which offers elevated dining and has seating for up to 50 guests, nearly three times the previous capacity. The extra seating in this area should help with overcrowding during peak hours.

United’s Polaris dining rooms can feel a bit cookie-cutter with their standard white marble walls, but the new Scandinavian design touches at the O’Hare location are anything but. The striking wood-paneled walls help give the space an identity of its own, making it feel as if you’ve stepped out of the lounge and into a restaurant.

Dishes on the a la carte menu include prosciutto parmigiano crostini, spring vegetable risotto and Aperol Spritz cake.

With the renovation, the lounge now has a second full-service bar, designed to have a speakeasy vibe. It’s a dark and moody space, sure to be popular among guests.

​​Here, you’ll find premium wine and champagne, including Laurent-Perrier La Cuvee Brut, which United serves onboard for Polaris passengers. You can also sample specialty cocktails inspired by Chicago, such as the Second City Sour, which features Malort, a popular Chicago liqueur. The lounge also pays tribute to Chicago through its collection of artworks from Chicago-based artists.

The second bar is open from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., when the lounge is busiest. Outside of those hours, you can still order drinks from the main bar. The design of that bar is more in line with what you’d find at other Polaris lounges, with soft white marble and navy blue bar seats.

Besides the new semi-private relaxation areas, the lounge’s amenities are largely the same as they were before. Next to the buffet, guests can find another relaxation area, which has shower suites and quiet areas with Therabody loungers.

The loungers, which recline into a zero-gravity position to simulate the feeling of weightlessness, are a step up from the uncomfortably hard daybeds that used to be there. United has been rolling out the loungers across the Polaris lounge network, such as in San Francisco.

If you need to take a call, you can use one of the lounge’s five phone booths, which are new to the space.

As part of the expansion, United added six private restrooms, bringing the lounge’s total to 18. There’s also a wellness room for parents needing to feed or change their children in private.

The new Polaris lounge at ORD is certainly worth a visit with amenities like shower suites, relaxation areas and sit-down a la carte dining. However, make sure you meet the strict admission requirements. You must be flying in United Polaris business class or departing from ORD on a long-haul business or first class flight on a Star Alliance partner. There’s no other way to get in.