United Polaris Lounge – San Francisco Newark/New York Airports
It’s no secret that United’s rollout of its new Polaris business class offering – and its associated airport lounges – has been much slower than expected. However, the US airline appears to be moving ahead at full speed, with its second and third Polaris Lounges now open.
This includes a facility at San Francisco (SFO) that launched back in April as well as Newark/New York (EWR) that opened its doors to customers earlier this month on June 4. Both lounges have a similar seating capacity – 440 for SFO and 455 for EWR – and feature small details such as Saks Fifth Avenue bedding for those looking to get some rest.
Houston (IAH) is next to get a Polaris lounge, with the facility due to open this summer, followed by the airline’s fifth space at Los Angeles (LAX) in autumn. Washington Dulles, Tokyo Narita and Hong Kong are expected to see their own lounges in 2019, though London might not see a change until 2020. reportedly under consideration, which would be the second-largest Centurion Lounge in the world behind the company’s JFK lounge.
ANA Lounge – Honolulu International Airport
Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) is set to make a splash in Honolulu next year when it will begin flying three Airbus A380s – its first and only superjumbos – between Japan and Hawaii.
But the debut of its superjumbo isn’t the only new thing ANA is bringing to Honolulu – the carrier also aims to open up a new lounge next spring on the third floor of Daniel K Inouye International Airport’s Terminal 2 building.
The lounge will be separated into two areas – an ANA Suite Lounge for first class passengers and Diamond Service members, as well as the main ANA Lounge – and will notably offer direct boarding access to the upper deck of the aircraft straight from the facility.
British Airways – Aberdeen and Rome Fiumicino Airports
British Airways has now opened two airport lounges under its “new design concept” – one at Rome Fiumicino airport that opened in April and another at Aberdeen Airport that reopened a month later following its closure last summer for renovations.
This new concept has been described by British Airways as featuring “the very best of British and European design, and delivering a luxurious and contemporary look and feel”. Just what does that look like, you ask?
Well for starters, it includes marble tables and artwork from local artists, along with what is arguably the lounges’ feature piece, a granite-topped bar.
The Rome lounge is the larger of the two, coming in at 460sqm compared to the Aberdeen lounge’s 380sqm. The two facilities will be joined by the airline’s New York JFK Terminal 7 lounge, which will be the third to sport the new British Airways design.
Alaska Airlines – New York JFK Airport
Speaking of New York JFK, Alaska Airlines opened its first lounge at the airport in May, which also happened to be the carrier’s first lounge on the US East Coast.
That being said, the lounge has more than a hint of the Seattle-based airline’s West Coast origins, with a casual living room feel, a food menu that includes a selection of West Coast wines as well as Starbucks-trained baristas.
First class passengers are able to enter the lounge for free, as are Alaska Lounge members. Other passengers can also purchase day passes to the lounge for US$45.
Brussels Airlines, The Loft – Brussels Airport
While Brussels Airlines’ The Loft lounge at Brussels airport isn’t a new facility, it has been recently given an 800-sqm extension upping its overall size to just over 2,000 sqm with space for some 500 guests.
The new expansion was designed in partnership with Japanese luxury car brand Lexus and now notably features a VIP area for HON Circle members. There is also a game room with a red velvet pool table, a Grohe spa with 11 bathrooms and private nap rooms inspired by the airline’s forthcoming new long-haul business class offering.
The loft is located within Pier A at Brussels airport.
American Express – Melbourne, Denver International and Los Angeles International Airports
American Express is ramping up its lounge presence with a series of new spaces in both Australia and the US.
For starters, the company opened up a new 260-sqm lounge at Melbourne Airport’s Satellite Departures area within Terminal 2 back in March. The new facility is located next to the Plaza Premium lounge, which also opened that same month and with which it shares bathroom facilities.
And the Melbourne space looks set to be followed by two new Centurion Lounges in the US. American Express was reported to have signed a deal to open a new lounge at the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport back in April, and yesterday officially announced that the 1,290-sqm lounge will open in 2019.
Meanwhile, a 1,360-sqm lounge at Denver International Airport’s Concourse C is also under consideration, which would be the second-largest Centurion Lounge in the world behind the company’s JFK lounge.
Did we miss any? Take a look at our previous roundup of new, upcoming and revamped airport lounges.
