Where Exclusive Luxury Meets a Calming Environment: Inside the United Polaris Lounge at Newark
by Krish Patel
Despite having been around since 2018, United’s Polaris Lounge in Newark (EWR) still holds its luxurious charm. There aren’t many lounges in the U.S. that capture the same exclusivity and tranquility as the Polaris Lounge. With several amenities and seating options that cater towards all travelers, the Newark outpost is one of United’s best lounges.
Polaris Lounge Newark Location, Hours, and Access
The lounge in Newark is located airside in Terminal C between gates C102 and 120 and is open daily from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Polaris Lounges aren’t like your typical United Club Lounges, the latter of which can be found almost everywhere in the U.S. and even at some international airports. You’ll find these swanky spaces at six of United’s seven hubs, with strict entry requirements. There are no credit cards or elite status tiers that will get you in.
Instead, you’ll need to be departing on a long haul international flight in United Polaris Business Class or in the premium cabin (First or Business) on a Star Alliance partner. What counts as a long haul international itinerary are those involving the following places:
Select South American countries (Ex. Argentina, Brazil, Chile; Not Colombia or Venezuela)
Europe
Africa
The Middle East
Asia
Australia/Oceania
Additionally, Polaris customers can also access the lounge during connections and upon arrival at their final destination.
Polaris Lounge Newark Seating, Layout, Design, and Amenities
The lounge’s entrance makes a solid first impression, with a hanging constellation-inspired art installation. What’s also very captivating is the marble front desk that’s backed by a stunning white wall with black stripes.
Making your way to the left of the entrance foyer of the lounge, the space really opens up. Measuring at over 30,000 square feet, this is the largest United Polaris Lounge in the network. Lining the walls to the left of the entrance are several inspiring works of local art and plush accented couches. At nearly every seat in the lounge is plenty of side table space and charging outlets.
Much of the furniture in the lounge adopts a blue, dark, or cream color palette. There are several seating variants to choose from, including private nooks, swivel chairs, armchairs, and some more couches. The darker tones with light gray and white accents paired with the cozy lamps gives off a very exclusive feeling. Most other lounges in the country don’t capture the same level of exclusivity the Polaris Lounge holds.
Also found on many of the lounge’s walls is signage to direct you towards each of the amenities.
Found in the back most seating area of the lounge are several amenities, including a customer service desk, phone booths, shower suites, and the quiet rooms. Neither the service desks nor the phone rooms were occupied and remained empty during my time in the lounge.
Both the quiet rooms and showers can be found in the same area, serving as the perfect place to refresh before a long flight or during a layover. I highly suggest reserving a shower suite or nap room once you enter the lounge since the space tends to get more crowded as the day carries on.
Several amenities are available upon request for both the showers and sleeping pods, including earplugs, a duvet, dental kit, and hair dryer.
The quiet rooms don’t have actual beds and instead come with lounge chairs that are reclined at a slight angle. Each of the rooms already comes provided with a bottle of water, eye mask, and Saks Fifth Avenue pillow. To the side of the lounge chair is a side table with some storage space and a charging outlet.
I was lucky enough to also reserve a shower when in the lounge. There are several luxurious shower suites found along a single corridor, above which is some bright star lighting.
Inside, the shower suites are very roomy and easily wheelchair-accessible. The sink is very spacious and you’re provided with Therabody soap and body lotion. Additionally, there’s also a pair of slippers similar to the ones you’ll get onboard and several towels. However, instead of a shower curtain, I wish there was an actual door.
The main seating area in the Polaris Lounge can be found towards the front of the space, with several semi-private work cubicles that come with partitions. Each of the cubicles include charging ports and sufficient table space for working. Avgeeks will definitely appreciate the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the aircraft parked across the terminal.
Found across the seating area are black dividers separating every few seats. They really pair nicely with the blue carpet and make for a luxurious touch.
To the left of the main seating area is some more comfortable furniture. There are several restaurant-style chairs and an elegant gray couch that resembles a combination of modern upholstery and artistic inspiration. Hanging above the couch are several eye-catching light bulbs, a signature decoration in Polaris Lounges.
Polaris Lounge Newark Dining Experience
United doesn’t have the best reputation for its inflight catering and the buffet options in United Clubs, but that’s not the case in the EWR Polaris Lounge.
You’ll find a premium cafeteria-style dining area towards the center of the lounge. The dining chairs alternate between a mix of blue and light brown leather, with white marble tables. Note that this dining area is located near the buffet and there’s an actual á la carte restaurant in the lounge as well.
The buffet spread in the lounge is very extensive and consists of a variety of hot and cold foods. There’s a full salad bar complete with various greens and toppings, as well as quinoa and roasted vegetables. Other options include rice, braised chicken, pasta, and several breads, only to name a few. The presentation of each of the dishes at the buffet feels very high end as if you’re dining in a fine restaurant, not an airport lounge.
Dessert options included pastries, individual slices of cake, and chocolate chip cookies. While you’re not going to be hungry at the buffet, I recommend saving your appetite for the sit-down restaurant, also known as The Dining Room.
Also found in the buffet area are several self-serve drink stations offering flavored water, illy coffee, tea, and soft drinks. There are several flavored waters to choose from, including cucumber-lemon and peach.
Not too long ago, United Airlines expanded and remodeled its Dining Room in the Polaris Lounge, with new furniture and more space. Despite the many tables, it can take as long as 35 to 40 minutes to get a table. I only had a half hour in The Dining Room and could order just a few dishes.
In the á la carte restaurant, the seating adopts either a brown, blue, or purple color palette. Its ambiance feels very calm and luxurious, with sconce lamps and a dark blue wall. Some of the chairs even feature throw pillows. Best of all, you’re treated to incredible views overlooking several United widebody planes.
The presentation of each table setup is very elegant, with proper cutlery, placemats, and a Polaris-branded menu.
I started off with the mushroom bisque that was very delicious. The fried mushrooms in the soup added for a nice crunch with the creamy dish.
I passed on the entree since I wouldn’t have enough time to eat before boarding and jumped straight to dessert. Of course, I couldn’t resist the signature Polaris Lounge dessert, which is a warm chocolate chip cookie in a hot skillet topped with vanilla ice cream. The portion is actually a little small and not super big.
As is the case with all other Polaris Lounges, the Newark outpost features a gorgeous bar. A variety of cocktails and alcoholic beverages are available complimentary, as well as non-alcoholic drinks. Many of the seats at the bar were occupied, but it’s still possible to order drinks.
Overall Thoughts
United’s Polaris Lounge in Newark has an aesthetic that’s not present in most other U.S. Business Class lounges. Its design feels very spacious, exclusive, and private, offering seating options for every type of traveler. The Polaris Lounge is a great space to relax, but many of its amenities and seating can become quite crowded during the evening hours, which is the timeframe for most of the European departures. If you’re flying United Polaris Business Class on a long-haul flight, you’re going to enjoy the lounge experience and feel refreshed once you’ve boarded the aircraft.