San Francisco - Transiting in SFO....is 90 minutes enough?

Hi all,

I just got a call from SQ in regards to having to change my connecting flight to an earlier time. Just a bit of a backgrounder here, I'm taking AC 759 (departure of 7:50 pm) from YYZ to SFO on the 18th of December, and then connecting to SQ 001 from SFO to HKG. SQ wants me to take the earlier (5:30 PM) flight to SFO , but I will not be able to make that flight. Thus, here are some questions:

1) How reliable are the baggage handlers in SFO in transferring baggage to connecting flights?
2) Will 90 minutes be sufficient to transfer from the AC flight to the SQ flight, especially since I've pre-cleared US Customs in YYZ?
3) Would I be able to ask Air Canada staff to put a priority tag on my luggage to ensure that my luggage gets to the SQ flight?

Any input would be appreciated, thanks!

YYZflyboy

At least you're in the evening when you're not likely to encounter fog problems.

Still, though, I can't see how you wouldn't have to go through the immigration line. Does your luggage check through or do you have to recheck? (For domestic onward flights it's always recheck but I don't know about international to international.)

If you have to recheck I would call it out of the question--making the recheck deadline would be questionable.

No, I wouldn't have to recheck, as my luggage is checked all the way through to HKG

SFO is a small airport, IMHO. Flights from Canada arrive at the domestic terminals, I believe, but even so, that is still plenty of time. If you arrive in domestic you will need to clear security in the international terminals but SFO TSA is pretty quick. I'd say anything over 60 minutes is plenty of time.

I have no idea about the baggage handlers though. It always takes quite a while for our bags to arrive on the carousel in SFO.

2) Will 90 minutes be sufficient to transfer from the AC flight to the SQ flight, especially since I've pre-cleared US Customs in YYZ?

The Air Canada gate is right next to the AA gates in T3. You can walk to the international terminal in about 10 minutes without having to reclear security. Be careful to watch the signs and not exit the secure area, as you'll pass by several exit points. I'm just not sure if you'll come out on the correct side. The side with the UA gates is connected. Is Singapore on the same side in the international terminal? (edited to add: I went and checked the airport web site, and both are on the G side, so you'll arrive without having to reclear security..flysfo.com).

I'd be a little worried about SFO weather in December. If it's raining and they go to single runway ops, things can get backed up an hour or more very quickly. Just this last week when I was flying from my DFW in early afternoon we were given a 90 minute ground stop due to fog at SFO (though they let us go after an hour). Rainy season here typically starts mid-November, so something to keep an eye on as the day progresses. The FAA web site is pretty accurate when it comes to SFO delays.
http://www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/usmap.jsp

2) Will 90 minutes be sufficient to transfer from the AC flight to the SQ flight, especially since I've pre-cleared US Customs in YYZ?

90 minutes is plenty if your incoming flight is on time.

However, flights into SFO other than the first flight in the morning are often delayed. Anything other than clear weather cuts SFO's landing capacity in half, resulting in two hour delays for the rest of the day. Morning fog or clouds is common, even on an otherwise clear day.

At least you're in the evening when you're not likely to encounter fog problems.

Still, though, I can't see how you wouldn't have to go through the immigration line. Does your luggage check through or do you have to recheck? (For domestic onward flights it's always recheck but I don't know about international to international.)

Originating at YYZ, the OP will have precleared US immigration and customs before boarding the YYZ-SFO flight, which will go to the domestic terminal -- no need to go US immigration and customs at SFO. Then the OP just goes to the international terminal to board the SFO-HKG flight (may require security screening, though).

But flight delays into SFO are the main issue. Morning fog or other weather can cause two hour delays that last for the rest of the day.

If you arrive in domestic you will need to clear security in the international terminals but SFO TSA is pretty quick. I'd say anything over 60 minutes is plenty of time.



Incorrect, you are not familiar with SFO I guess.

AC use T3 in SFO, AA gate 61, this is all connected to all the UA gates nearby, and also there is an airside bridge connected from T3 to international G gate, that is where SQ flight departs. Therefore, it is absolutely no need to reclear security again in the international terminal.

But flight delays into SFO are the main issue. Morning fog or other weather can cause two hour delays that last for the rest of the day.

Pay attention to when SQ 1 departs ! It leaves close to or after midnight.

(For domestic onward flights it's always recheck but I don't know about international to international.)



Canada to US is actually consider as transboarder, not international. All Canada flights depart and arrive in domestic terminal in the US.

If you arrive in domestic you will need to clear security in the international terminals but SFO TSA is pretty quick.

This would be correct for the "A" gates where BA, Cathay and Qantas fly from, but Singapore goes from the "G" side which is connected by a walkway to the T3 domestic terminal. You walk right by the Burger King near UA gate 74/75, and the walkway is right after that. The Red Carpet Club is right at the top of the walkway as you come into the international terminal. This is all new in the last 3-4 months.

3) Would I be able to ask Air Canada staff to put a priority tag on my luggage to ensure that my luggage gets to the SQ flight?



Probably not, priority tag is for star alliance gold or executive class pax, it is not design for people have tight connection. So either you change for an earlier flight or you chance yourself your luggage will not make it to your connecting flight.

Please continue to follow this discussion in the SFO Forum.
Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator