Stephanie Holmes visits United Airlines' Polaris Lounge at San Francisco International Airport.
The greeting: I was confused about whether this was the right lounge, or whether I should be looking for one further into the domestic terminal, but the staff on the desk gave me a warm welcome and some information about how long it would take me to get to the gate when it was time to leave. I instantly felt right at home.
First impression: It was a beautiful, calm, sanctuary after the cattle-herding transit experience I'd just been through. Travelling from Auckland and with a connecting flight to Portland, I'd been in various queues for more than 90 minutes, so it was joyous to be in the lounge's peace and tranquillity.
What's there: The Polaris Lounge spans two floors with seating for up to 440 people. On the first floor there's a shower room, quiet room, and various secluded seating areas; upstairs there is a large bar, a range of places to sit, a small self-serve buffet, plus a seated dining room for up to 40 guests offering a full service menu. Both floors have lots of natural light to help reset the body clock, and tasteful contemporary artworks from local Bay Area artists.
Who's there: A mix of ages, cultures and nationalities — international travellers waiting for connecting flights, plus Americans on their way to domestic destinations.
