Virgin America Elevate - Priority security lane at SFO?

Is it still the case that there is no priority security lane at SFO (for the concourse that VX occupies)?

I thought that I'd read somewhere that SFO had added one, but I can't seem to find the post.

Assuming that there is one, is it likely to be open at around 8:00 AM on a Friday?

Thanks for any information!

As of a few weeks ago (my last trip through the int'l terminal) there were no priority security lines. Even during the afternoon rush when you have three or four European flights plus VX flights going out, the line is never an issue and is probably the best run check-point in the airport.

I can confirm this from last week at the A terminal. But, it was a fast and smoothly running general check-in line, so the wait was minimal.

There is a priority lane, it is called CLEAR and you have to pony up $129 and a pound of flesh to the TSA to get it. Oh and it is only open until 1pm in the Intl Terminal.

There was a premium security lane as of about five weeks ago, directly next to the CLEAR lane. The TSA was completely confused by it, but there is definitely a new lane there.

There was a premium security lane as of about five weeks ago, directly next to the CLEAR lane. The TSA was completely confused by it, but there is definitely a new lane there.

Which side of the Intl Terminal? I was flying out of the A gates on NW two weeks ago and Clear was closed and I was told there was no priority security line, nor could I see one.

Which side of the Intl Terminal? I was flying out of the A gates on NW two weeks ago and Clear was closed and I was told there was no priority security line, nor could I see one.

This was on the A side. My husband and I were flying VX F and the VX agent stamped "Premium" on our boarding passes. The agent told us to use the "Premium" line just next to the Clear lane. Sure enough, there was a lane right next to the Clear lane that had a standing sign marked "Premium" passengers. It was closed, but a TSA agent opened it for us when we showed her our boarding passes. When we got to the ID checker, he told us that we were in the "family and medical liquids" lane and that there was no such thing as a "Premium" lane. We pointed out the sign and he seemed surprised.

In any event, it sounds like they tried to implement something but didn't follow-through.

This was on the A side. My husband and I were flying VX F and the VX agent stamped "Premium" on our boarding passes. The agent told us to use the "Premium" line just next to the Clear lane. Sure enough, there was a lane right next to the Clear lane that had a standing sign marked "Premium" passengers. It was closed, but a TSA agent opened it for us when we showed her our boarding passes. When we got to the ID checker, he told us that we were in the "family and medical liquids" lane and that there was no such thing as a "Premium" lane. We pointed out the sign and he seemed surprised.

In any event, it sounds like they tried to implement something but didn't follow-through.

That doesn't sound like the TSA to me! :D

I've seen these 'Experienced Traveller' aisles at airports before where it mentions Elite status as a qualifier to gain access but the TSA folks never seem to enforce it, oh and it says you can go into that lane if you fly more than twice a month. Huh?!

That doesn't sound like the TSA to me! :D

I've seen these 'Experienced Traveller' aisles at airports before where it mentions Elite status as a qualifier to gain access but the TSA folks never seem to enforce it, oh and it says you can go into that lane if you fly more than twice a month. Huh?!

IIRC, this sign said "Premium" and also said "first/business class."

IIRC, this sign said "Premium" and also said "first/business class."

I flew shortly after it was mentioned in the other thread, and it was already gone.

I was at SFO today in the Intl terminal and I searched high and low for this lane, yet it was nowhere to be found. It was probably too confusing or angered the CLEAR folks, I mean why pay if you can get it for free. ;)

I was at SFO today in the Intl terminal and I searched high and low for this lane, yet it was nowhere to be found. It was probably too confusing or angered the CLEAR folks, I mean why pay if you can get it for free. ;)

Apparently a very short lived premium lane. Premium passengers don't usually fly out of international terminals anyway, right? ;)

As of a few weeks ago (my last trip through the int'l terminal) there were no priority security lines. Even during the afternoon rush when you have three or four European flights plus VX flights going out, the line is never an issue and is probably the best run check-point in the airport.

Just went through. Other then CLEAR, everyone goes through the same set of lines. However, the lines split into several id check points, and I was through in < 15 minutes (despite it looking a little daunting when I first entered the line).

The security line in Intl A was much less annoying than the line for AS/WN/CO in terminal 1, where they now seem to merge the premium passengers at the end of the regular line after the id check.

Just went through. Other then CLEAR, everyone goes through the same set of lines. However, the lines split into several id check points, and I was through in < 15 minutes (despite it looking a little daunting when I first entered the line).

The security line in Intl A was much less annoying than the line for AS/WN/CO in terminal 1, where they now seem to merge the premium passengers at the end of the regular line after the id check.

That premium lane in T1 is also relatively new (meaning within the past couple of years). The SFO TSA is not the brightest group when it comes to handling new things.

The SFO TSA is not the brightest group when it comes to handling new things.

Security at SFO is handled by a private firm. I actually find them to have the friendliest screeners.

Having just moved to Denver, I can say for certain that Denver has nicer screeners than SFO. Additionally, we should all be aware that CLEAR has ceased operations and references to the CLEAR lane in this thread are now moot.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8330/4.5.0.138 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

This afternoon, there was only one person checking IDs and BPs. While we were standing near him (but dozens of bodies deep in line) a gentlemen walked up to the right of the queue with a premium-looking BA boarding pass. The checker stopped the line to let him through, at which point I asked, "Is that a First Class line?" He said yes and invited us to come on through. ^

I just wonder how the BA pax wound up on that side of the line, since the "pre-checker" didn't tell us to take a different line. Maybe they don't even realize that VX has a premium cabin? In any case, it was an unexpected treat!

So the confusion continues. How wonderful. Gives us all something to talk about.

Our family is booked into first class the Sunday after Thanksgiving. It only cost us $25 each more than coach. It will be my first time on VX. I'm looking forward to it.

First time flying VX today in F, almost, missed the flight because there is no priority security line at A gates of SFO....

Being a long time EXP with AA I am spoiled showing up at security <30 mns and making flights almost 100%.

Figure VX needs to figure out a way to get priority security for F customers expecially.

What time were you flying?
There is priority security at the A gates most of the day (last I checked).
Also, showing up 30 min before departure in front of the TSA Circus is just asking for trouble at any airport. Your EXP status at AA might be helping you at your primary airport, but at others it might not be sufficient time. Just ask elites at Denver on a busy day. Can take 45 minutes to get through security and onto the train to get to the gates. And that's with "elite" security lanes. I miss CLEAR.

I sent an e-mail via the web site complaining about the inconsistent SFO priority line and inquiring about whether there would be more consistency in the future, noting that this factor could influence my future bookings. The site said to expect a response within 14 business days. It's been over 3 weeks, and still no response. :(

So I just called and asked for Guest Care (though it seemed a regular agent answered). After I explained my inquiry, she put me on hold for 8 minutes. She came back to say that a supervisor was asking around "at headquarters" to find a specific answer.

After another 3 minutes, sounding like she was reading off a script, she replied that all aspects of security screening at SFO Int'l. Terminal A, including staffing levels and potential priority lines, are the responsibility of the TSA and completely outside the control of VX. She also said, "For example, this morning we had 600 people trying to get through security in that terminal, and the line moved very slowly." So that's a reason to not consistently have a priority line? :rolleyes:

I thanked her for checking and told her I understand the current arrangement. But I pointed out that it looks different from the customer's perspective when I know that I can fly UA and almost always be guaranteed a separate priority security line. I said I didn't know what was different with UA's relationship with TSA, but suggested that VX should similarly step up to the plate in the future at their home hub.

Conclusion: The lines will continue to be consistently inconsistent, at least until VX moves into its dedicated gates at the renovated Terminal 2.

I sent an e-mail via the web site complaining about the inconsistent SFO priority line and inquiring about whether there would be more consistency in the future, noting that this factor could influence my future bookings.


Emphasis added was mine.

While I really really understand your frustration with inconsistent Priority lanes at the airport, if that's the reason you would/wouldn't book VX, I'm puzzled. That's really the last reason I'd book VX. Heck, you could argue then that JetBlue needs to do more since they are there too. And maybe all the Int'l carriers that fly out of that terminal could contribute to opening up and staffing an extra lane during non-peak times for VX's premium pax.

While UA's line is open most all the time, UA is the sole operator of flights in that part of the airport. AA has their own line over on their side, though I am not at all certain it is open as reliably as UAs.

Choose VX for everything else. Or don't. But Priority Lane @ TSA. Blah.

It might influence whether I find First worthwhile, especially if I know I'll be hustling to SFO at the end of the workday. No doubt, it's usually at the bottom of my list of factors, but not always, and that's not the case for everyone. And I realize that, even on the UA side, the premium lines can be sluggish.

I can also understand that VX would not guarantee priority lines in a shared terminal, which is why we'll just have to wait and see what happens once they're in T2. But I wanted to get them on record given the speculation in this thread. I was also peeved that they didn't respond to my e-mail in a timely manner.

In any case, SFO and its carriers should aspire to have generic premium lines for both Terminals A and G, given all the premium traffic on the various carriers there. It's such a modern facility in so many ways, save for that aspect. While the lines seem to be dreadful mainly during certain peak periods, it would still be nice to have that perk.

It might influence whether I find First worthwhile, especially if I know I'll be hustling to SFO at the end of the workday. No doubt, it's usually at the bottom of my list of factors, but not always, and that's not the case for everyone. And I realize that, even on the UA side, the premium lines can be sluggish.

I can also understand that VX would not guarantee priority lines in a shared terminal, which is why we'll just have to wait and see what happens once they're in T2. But I wanted to get them on record given the speculation in this thread. I was also peeved that they didn't respond to my e-mail in a timely manner.

In any case, SFO and its carriers should aspire to have generic premium lines for both Terminals A and G, given all the premium traffic on the various carriers there. It's such a modern facility in so many ways, save for that aspect. While the lines seem to be dreadful mainly during certain peak periods, it would still be nice to have that perk.

While I agree with your frustration as well, I have to say that Terminal A has such little traffic, except during certain international flight times, which always seem to be different from the VX flight times (at least for me). I've never had to wait, even when there's no priority line.

In fact, before FlyClear went out of business, they started limiting their hours at Terminal A before all of the other terminals, because there was simply nobody there.

Choose VX for everything else. Or don't. But Priority Lane @ TSA. Blah.

It's enough of a reason for very frequent flyers. Getting to the airport at about 30 minutes prior to flight is easily doable for elites flying on any airline at SFO except those flying from the international terminal. (UA is sometimes a mess but most elites know that the AA lines go to the same secured area and rarely have a wait). This is unfortunately just another way VX is demonstrating that it is disregarding very frequent flyers in favor of aviation buffs and fare sensitive leisure travelers.

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Had another positive experience at SFO this afternoon. I asked the initial document checker, "Is there a First Class line today?" She opened up a lane for me to the right of the checkpoint entrance, allowing me to bypass all the folks lined up for ID/BP check. After TSA checked my docs, I was second in line for the right-most checkpoint lane.

When is Terminal A busy with international flights. Is that late afternoon/early evening.

When is Terminal A busy with international flights. Is that late afternoon/early evening.

That's right. I think there is another wave late in the evening as well.

Speaking of SFO, how does the baggage claim work? Is there a separate-from-customs carousel?

Speaking of SFO, how does the baggage claim work? Is there a separate-from-customs carousel?

Yes, I think that there are actually two or three carousels that are not behind customs and immigration. I believe that all VX luggage always arrives on a particular carousel, but I don't remember the number.