Last edit by: WineCountryUA
SFO/OAK/SJC Bay Area Happy Hour Thread
Plane Spotting
At SFO:
Plane Spotting
At SFO:
- The new SFO outdoor observation deck is located at the far end of the G side (United/Star Alliance) of the airport's international terminal. It will be open daily from 7:00 am until 11:30 pm as of Wednesday, 6 Feb 2019. Only passengers using Terminal 3 (United) and the International G-side will have access to it...The 2,997 square foot, roofless deck, offers expansive 180+ degree views of the ramp and runways on the north side of the airport and beyond. Link to full article and slideshow from sfgate.
(TEMPORARILY CLOSED DUE TO COVID)the SFO Sky Terrace is landside (pre-security) in Terminal 2: "... open to the general public seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. 10:00 p.m. There is no cost to enter and you dont need a ticket or boarding pass. Visitors will undergo a security check. Food and beverages are allowed but smoking is not permitted."
- Assuming typical "West Plan" operations, Coyote Point Recreation Area (https://goo.gl/maps/DAUZv7A9bFS2) is an excellent location. There are a few overlooks on the trails by the water, depending what angle you want. Vehicular access is via Coyote Point Dr and costs $6 per vehicle.
- For free alternatives consider parking at Ryder Park (https://goo.gl/maps/h48Dk8PhNGk) or Seal Point Park just down the street. There is a flat paved path between here and Coyote Point, although there are overhead power lines along the shore. (Coyote Point and Seal Point parks have unobstructed views however)
Consolidated "What to do during layover/stopover at SFO" thread
#123
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#126
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#127
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Another option... you appear to be on the last nonstop of the day to HNL. UA has another nonstop (on most days anyway) leaving at ~4:20pm. You could pay $50 and go standby on the earlier flight.. if you do just be sure you tell the agent at checkin you're doing standby so they can correctly tag your bag.
Depending on the speed of BA checked luggage delivery (no experience here), this should be eminently do-able. Five extra hours in paradise is worth a little stress spent hustling to the earlier flight (and 5 hrs in Oahu is slightly better than mass transit to and back from In-N-Out ).
The reason I think you can do this is that non-US immigration lines shouldn't be too busy at 2:30 and security lines to get back into airside should be reasonable at 3 pm. It will be a wee hike from intl arrival to the high-80 domestic UA gates but you'll need the walk by then anyway and compared to transiting LHR it's not far at all.
If you have OneWorld status you can use the AA premium line once in T3 domestic (contiguous security space with UA) but the extra 5 min walk to get there from Intl terminal might offset the shorter wait in queue.
Last edited by 130 fsw; Jul 23, 2010 at 12:26 am Reason: clarity
#128
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Over the bay it's water vapor that obscures the view, but towards the city it's all over land and it's more likely be pollution from SSF, Brisbane, and SF light factories (at least when it's not foggy ).
There's a small strip mall with a couple of grocery stores and 3-4 restaurants. To the north a few blocks is "downtown" millbrae and there's a bunch more restaurants. Though I'm not sure that I'd really head down there for a few hours.
I'd say it's SFO or maybe Tanforan (if you really need to pick up something).
I'd say it's SFO or maybe Tanforan (if you really need to pick up something).
#129
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where to eat pre-security at SFO?
my buddy is flying jetblue, i'm getting off a United flight. Where do I meet him for dinner before security?
Or do I change terminals to meet him inside Jetblue? no checked bags
Ben
Or do I change terminals to meet him inside Jetblue? no checked bags
Ben
#130
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I have a 6 hour layover at SFO the first weekend on November. I arrive Saturday at 5:00p and depart at 11p.
I intend to get the BART to Emarbadero. My plan at the moment is...
17:00 Arrive SFO
17:15
17:30 BART SFO - Emarbadero
17:45
18:00 Arrive Embaradero
18:00 - 21:15 ????
21:15 Depart Powell / Civil Center - other suggestions based on where I may be?
21:30
21:45 Arrive back at SFO
22:00
22:15
22:30 Board flight
22:45
23:00 Depart SFO
I work out that I'll have around 3 hours free around San Fran. This will be my first time going into the city. Any suggestions of 'must-see' attractions would be appreciated (China Town, Fisherman's Wharf, Cable Carts etc). I'd like to see the Golden Gate Bridge. Will it be too dark after 6? Or is it too much out of the way?
Looking forward to any suggestions / opinions.
Thanks.
I intend to get the BART to Emarbadero. My plan at the moment is...
17:00 Arrive SFO
17:15
17:30 BART SFO - Emarbadero
17:45
18:00 Arrive Embaradero
18:00 - 21:15 ????
21:15 Depart Powell / Civil Center - other suggestions based on where I may be?
21:30
21:45 Arrive back at SFO
22:00
22:15
22:30 Board flight
22:45
23:00 Depart SFO
I work out that I'll have around 3 hours free around San Fran. This will be my first time going into the city. Any suggestions of 'must-see' attractions would be appreciated (China Town, Fisherman's Wharf, Cable Carts etc). I'd like to see the Golden Gate Bridge. Will it be too dark after 6? Or is it too much out of the way?
Looking forward to any suggestions / opinions.
Thanks.
#131
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Sorry I didn't see this before - there are quite a few good places to eat in the International Terminal outside of security. That's the Jetblue terminal, so I would just head over there and pick something.
#132
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Location: Portland
Posts: 11,569
I have a 6 hour layover at SFO the first weekend on November. I arrive Saturday at 5:00p and depart at 11p.
I intend to get the BART to Emarbadero. My plan at the moment is...
17:00 Arrive SFO
17:15
17:30 BART SFO - Emarbadero
17:45
18:00 Arrive Embaradero
18:00 - 21:15 ????
21:15 Depart Powell / Civil Center - other suggestions based on where I may be?
21:30
21:45 Arrive back at SFO
22:00
22:15
22:30 Board flight
22:45
23:00 Depart SFO
I work out that I'll have around 3 hours free around San Fran. This will be my first time going into the city. Any suggestions of 'must-see' attractions would be appreciated (China Town, Fisherman's Wharf, Cable Carts etc). I'd like to see the Golden Gate Bridge. Will it be too dark after 6? Or is it too much out of the way?
Looking forward to any suggestions / opinions.
Thanks.
I intend to get the BART to Emarbadero. My plan at the moment is...
17:00 Arrive SFO
17:15
17:30 BART SFO - Emarbadero
17:45
18:00 Arrive Embaradero
18:00 - 21:15 ????
21:15 Depart Powell / Civil Center - other suggestions based on where I may be?
21:30
21:45 Arrive back at SFO
22:00
22:15
22:30 Board flight
22:45
23:00 Depart SFO
I work out that I'll have around 3 hours free around San Fran. This will be my first time going into the city. Any suggestions of 'must-see' attractions would be appreciated (China Town, Fisherman's Wharf, Cable Carts etc). I'd like to see the Golden Gate Bridge. Will it be too dark after 6? Or is it too much out of the way?
Looking forward to any suggestions / opinions.
Thanks.
In terms of what to see, it really depends on what you like. If you like Times Square in NYC then you might like Fisherman's Wharf. Otherwise, skip it and go have a nice dinner somewhere. Dinner at the Slanted Door (or Taylor's Refresher) in the Ferry Building (Embarcadero Station), then a cable car ride up California Street to Grant, walk through Chinatown a bit and then walk down Grant, through Union Square and on to Powell St. Bart station for the trip back to SFO. Or you could just go for a nice dinner at one of the many great places in the Mission.
#133
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Has Taylor's Refresher had a name change? I went by it a few weeks ago and recall it had been rebranded to something different.
#134
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