The bottom line: United reopened the renovated Polaris Lounge at Chicago O'Hare Terminal 1 on April 29, 2025, expanding the footprint by approximately 50 percent to 25,000 square feet with capacity for up to 350 guests. The expansion adds two full-service bars (the first US carrier to install dual bars in a single business-class lounge), expanded dining for 50 guests, a wellness area, Crate & Barrel-sourced decor, and Chicago artist commissions. Open daily 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

United reopened the renovated Polaris Lounge at Chicago O’Hare Terminal 1 on April 29, 2025, marking the first major renovation and expansion of the original December 2016 build that established the Polaris Lounge programme. The renovated facility is approximately 50 percent larger than the previous footprint at roughly 25,000 square feet, with capacity for 350 guests, dual full-service bars, expanded dining, a dedicated wellness area, and a Chicago-led decor programme.

This piece is a 2026 operating-profile analysis of the renovated ORD Polaris Lounge — what United built, how it changes the Polaris Lounge network reference standard, and where the reopened facility lands against the broader US-carrier premium-cabin lounge competitive set.

Quick Answer

The renovated United Polaris Lounge at Chicago O’Hare is, in 2026, the largest Polaris Lounge in the network and the new reference standard for the broader Polaris Lounge programme. The 25,000-square-foot expanded footprint, the dual full-service bars (a US-carrier first), the 50-guest dining capacity, the dedicated wellness area, and the Crate & Barrel decor programme position the reopened facility as one of the strongest US-carrier premium-cabin ground products in operation. The Chicago build now sits ahead of the SFO, Newark, IAD, IAH, and LAX Polaris Lounges in the network and competes credibly against the Delta One Lounge programme at JFK on amenity inventory if not on raw square footage.

What Changed in the April 2025 Reopening

The previous Chicago Polaris Lounge — operating since December 2016 — had become the smallest of the principal US Polaris Lounges by published footprint as the network expanded around it. The April 2025 reopening addressed three structural constraints in a single buildout:

Footprint. The lounge expanded by approximately 50 percent to roughly 25,000 square feet. The expansion brings the Chicago build to the largest scale in the Polaris Lounge network.

Dining capacity. The dining area was expanded to accommodate 50 guests in sit-down service. The previous dining-room footprint had been a known capacity constraint during the principal European departure bank.

Beverage programme. Two full-service bars were installed, with 25 seats spread between them. United has positioned the dual-bar configuration as a US-carrier first for a single business-class lounge. A separate speakeasy-style bar runs a curated premium wine and Champagne programme.

The decor and dinnerware are sourced from Chicago-based Crate & Barrel — a deliberate locality signal that distinguishes the ORD build from the network’s other Polaris Lounges. Artwork from nine Chicago artists is installed throughout the space, providing visual signalling that the lounge sits in Chicago rather than in the brand-generic Polaris Lounge format.

The Wellness Programming

A dedicated wellness area is one of the most-cited additions in the renovated build. The wellness footprint sits separately from the principal lounge floor and provides quiet space designed for either relaxation or pre-flight preparation. Six additional restrooms have been added beyond the previous footprint, addressing a recurring capacity complaint in the prior generation of the lounge.

The shower-suite count and the specific wellness amenity inventory have not been publicly committed at the level of detail the SFO and IAD facilities publish. Operationally, the renovated ORD build is the Polaris Lounge programme’s most-watched 2025 opening and the new reference standard against which subsequent Polaris Lounge renovations elsewhere in the network will be calibrated.

Operating Position Against the US Premium-Lounge Set

In 2026, the renovated Chicago Polaris Lounge is the largest single-carrier US premium business-class lounge after the Delta One Lounge at JFK Terminal 4 (over 39,000 sqft, June 2024). The Chicago facility sits ahead of the SFO Polaris Lounge, the IAD Polaris Lounge, and the Newark Polaris Lounge on published square footage, and is the new network reference standard for amenity scope.

Against the Delta One Lounge programme, Chicago closes the gap that opened when JFK launched in 2024 but does not match the Delta facility on raw square footage. The American Airlines Flagship Lounge network at JFK, LAX, MIA, and Chicago remains the principal three-carrier comparison set; the renovated Chicago Polaris Lounge is now the strongest US-carrier premium-cabin lounge at any Chicago airport.

For corporate travel managers building Chicago-based premium programmes, the renovated Polaris Lounge is the recommended Star Alliance long-haul anchor. The principal weakness of the network — that Polaris Lounges remain a small number of locations against the broader United long-haul network — is unchanged by the Chicago renovation, but the Chicago facility itself is now competitive against any peer US-carrier premium-cabin lounge.

Sources

Public reporting tracked for this analysis includes Business Traveller, The Points Guy, AFAR, NerdWallet, United mediaroom, and Upgraded Points.

Frequently asked questions

When did the renovated Polaris Lounge at Chicago O'Hare reopen?
April 29, 2025. The Chicago Polaris Lounge originally opened in December 2016 as the first Polaris Lounge in the United network; the 2025 reopening is the first major renovation and expansion since the original opening.
Where is the lounge located in O'Hare?
In Terminal 1, near gate C18. The siting reflects United's principal long-haul international departure cluster at O'Hare, which operates from the C concourse gates in Terminal 1.
How large is the renovated Chicago Polaris Lounge?
Approximately 25,000 square feet — a 50 percent expansion from the previous footprint. Capacity for up to 350 guests across the principal lounge zones. The renovated build is the largest Polaris Lounge in the United network.
What is distinctive about the dining and beverage programme?
The reopened lounge includes two separate full-service bars — making United the first and only US carrier to install dual full-service bars in a single business-class lounge. The two bars seat 25 guests combined. The dining area has been expanded to accommodate 50 guests for sit-down service. A speakeasy-style bar runs a curated premium wine and Champagne programme. The decor and dinnerware are sourced from Chicago-based Crate & Barrel.
What wellness amenities are available?
A dedicated wellness area, six additional restrooms beyond the previous footprint, and private spaces designed for either relaxation or work. The wellness programming reflects the broader Polaris Lounge brand standard with the Chicago build acting as the network's reference for the dual-bar configuration and the wellness-area integration.
Who can access the lounge?
Access is restricted to passengers travelling in United Polaris business class or an equivalent (or higher) class of service on a Star Alliance partner airline. Standard Star Alliance Gold status alone does not confer access; the lounge is a cabin-only product.