United to close invite-only Newark restaurant in favor of Polaris Lounge expansion

This week, United Airlines will close the door on its semisecret, invitation-only restaurant inside Terminal C at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), TPG has learned. The closure will make way for an expansion of its Newark Polaris Lounge.

As of Oct. 30, United will end dining service at Classified, an outpost inside the restaurant Saison within Newark's Terminal C, next to its Polaris facility. It's not far from where many of United's international flights depart.

The invitation-only dining concept offers travelers who score seats a chance to enjoy a sit-down meal in a more intimate setting away from the noise of the terminal concourse.

This fall, though, United is pivoting away from Classified and plans to use the space to bolster its dining capabilities inside its EWR business class-only lounge.

"United is expanding its Newark Polaris Lounge into the Classified space, adding a large dining area and making other enhancements to the customer experience," a spokesperson for the Chicago-based carrier told TPG this week. "We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer to opening."

The move will likely be well-received by United's most high-end customers.

While Classified has offered something of a secret, exclusive experience — typically extended to some combination of Premier and premium-cabin flyers — its menu has drawn mixed reviews.

It's also a paid menu, unlike the crosstown experiences travelers might find at New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), including the Delta One Lounge or American Airlines Flagship First dining area (albeit, that's an experience extended to a wider range of customers).

For United's part, the carrier has grown and improved its United Club portfolio in recent years at Newark, its biggest hub in the New York metropolitan area. But its Polaris Lounge has been in need of an expansion, particularly as the carrier continues to grow its international footprint at a fast pace — most recently with the launch of its inaugural service to Marrakech, Morocco.

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This expansion to the Polaris Lounge, right next to Classified, will give the business class outpost an additional 60 seats, bringing its capacity to nearly 500 guests, United said.

Construction is set to begin later this year, with the new Polaris dining area slated for opening sometime in early 2025.

Related reading:

• The best credit cards for airport lounge access
• The ultimate guide to United Club access
• The 8 do's and don'ts of visiting an airport lounge
  
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• 9 domestic lounges that are worth going out of your way for
  
• The best United Airlines credit cards

This article has been updated to reflect that Classified is currently located in Newark's Terminal C.