Last edit by: dhuey
UA @ SFO uses Terminals D, E, F, G, all UA gates are connected airside
UA terminal map & SFO terminal map
United clubs locations:
E gates -- near E3
F gates -- in the F rotunda
G gates -- near G9 (former Global First Lounge)
Mezzanine -- across from E1 (between E & F concourse)
United Polaris Lounge (United/Star Alliance long-haul business class passengers only) - just past Intl G security on the right.
Arrivals -- CLOSED - was near UA Domestic baggage claim (near the Internation Terminal end escalator) on the Arrival level
AMEX Centurion Lounge -- across from Gate F1
Freshen Up! -- is an independent option for Shower facilities, nap rooms, toiletries, ironing facilities and undergarments.
MCT
UA-UA D-D is usually 30 minutes
xx-UA I-D is generally 80-105 minutes (but without Global Entry this is very tight)
UA-XX D-D is ????
Incoming International (except Canadian flights arriving as domestic flights - clearance is done in Canada) - must clear USA immigration and customs even if in-transit to a non-USA destination. Therefore also need to re-clear security if connecting.
Bags can be check at either International Check (G) or Domestic check-in (T3) for either international or domestic flights -- you may get some pushback at International check-in counters checking bags for solely domestic flights (apparently it is a bit more complex to get the bags to the domestic side)
Bag storage Open Everyday 6am 11 pm
Before security, on the Departures/Ticketing Level of the International Terminal, near the entrance to Gates G91-G102.
Related threads
Connecting in SFO
Archived posts: Consolidated Connection time/logistics-Domestic & International at SFO [ARCHIVE]
UA terminal map & SFO terminal map
United clubs locations:
E gates -- near E3
F gates -- in the F rotunda
G gates -- near G9 (former Global First Lounge)
Mezzanine -- across from E1 (between E & F concourse)
United Polaris Lounge (United/Star Alliance long-haul business class passengers only) - just past Intl G security on the right.
Arrivals -- CLOSED - was near UA Domestic baggage claim (near the Internation Terminal end escalator) on the Arrival level
AMEX Centurion Lounge -- across from Gate F1
Freshen Up! -- is an independent option for Shower facilities, nap rooms, toiletries, ironing facilities and undergarments.
MCT
UA-UA D-D is usually 30 minutes
xx-UA I-D is generally 80-105 minutes (but without Global Entry this is very tight)
UA-XX D-D is ????
Incoming International (except Canadian flights arriving as domestic flights - clearance is done in Canada) - must clear USA immigration and customs even if in-transit to a non-USA destination. Therefore also need to re-clear security if connecting.
Bags can be check at either International Check (G) or Domestic check-in (T3) for either international or domestic flights -- you may get some pushback at International check-in counters checking bags for solely domestic flights (apparently it is a bit more complex to get the bags to the domestic side)
Bag storage Open Everyday 6am 11 pm
Before security, on the Departures/Ticketing Level of the International Terminal, near the entrance to Gates G91-G102.
Related threads
Connecting in SFO
Archived posts: Consolidated Connection time/logistics-Domestic & International at SFO [ARCHIVE]
Consolidated SFO connection time/logistics-Domestic & International
#16
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#17
Join Date: Mar 2016
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After multiple trial and errors, I can now see an earlier SBA-SFO flight that leaves me with a 3-hour connection. I'll book on that one.
#18
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Originating at SFO, I've just starting booking overnights or equally long connections when I fly long-haul out of LAX. I just plan to spend the time in the lounge working remote. Realize that's not an option for everyone.
#19
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 182
What is "Express Connect"?
At this stage, my question is solely an "academic," general interest one. My transferring from international to domestic flights at SFO has been very rare in the past, and is likely to remain so in the future.
But last month, we flew AKL-SFO on NZ8 (on a UA codeshare and ticket) in J. We had an unhurried 3+ hours' connection at SFO to a UA transcon flight (with no PL or UA Arrivals lounge access, under UA policies ). During the NZ flight, the purser circulated the cabin issuing (unsolicited) paper chits that looked like this:
So here's my question. Had we had a tighter connection to make, where (and under what circumstances) might this document have been of any value to us? Does it have any practical value at all, or is it essentially PR?
But last month, we flew AKL-SFO on NZ8 (on a UA codeshare and ticket) in J. We had an unhurried 3+ hours' connection at SFO to a UA transcon flight (with no PL or UA Arrivals lounge access, under UA policies ). During the NZ flight, the purser circulated the cabin issuing (unsolicited) paper chits that looked like this:
So here's my question. Had we had a tighter connection to make, where (and under what circumstances) might this document have been of any value to us? Does it have any practical value at all, or is it essentially PR?
Last edited by Thorgils; Mar 22, 2019 at 10:58 am
#20
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I'm not sure what use that would be. There's no fast track immigration at SFO. Perhaps if you were flying Y on your domestic segment it would have allowed you access to the Premier security line.
#21
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,530
Maybe related to this oneworld program?:
Express Connect - new Joint Business service for pax with tight connections
Express Connect - new Joint Business service for pax with tight connections
#22
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 34
SFO connecting flight logistics (w/ Global Entry)
I'm not sure if I posted in the right forum, but I'll be traveling on UA and thought I'd post here since SFO is a hub
So, I have a connecting flight through SFO, and I set up my appointment for Global Entry at the same time, which is in the international arrivals level baggage claim. I was wondering logistically how it would work:
1) I'm going to be flying into SFO and landing in Terminal 3 via domestic UA.
2) I'll be connecting on through Intl Terminal at the G Gates.
3) I have a 6 hr layover.
What I want to do is exit security, do my interview, then go back through security.
Q #1 ) Best way to get from Terminal 3 post-security to Intl terminal baggage claim? Is it Term 3 -> connector to Intl terminal -> exit to baggage claim? If so, do I get caught up with the people that need to do customs/immigration? I've never exited an intl terminal from a domestic flight before.
So, I have a connecting flight through SFO, and I set up my appointment for Global Entry at the same time, which is in the international arrivals level baggage claim. I was wondering logistically how it would work:
1) I'm going to be flying into SFO and landing in Terminal 3 via domestic UA.
2) I'll be connecting on through Intl Terminal at the G Gates.
3) I have a 6 hr layover.
What I want to do is exit security, do my interview, then go back through security.
Q #1 ) Best way to get from Terminal 3 post-security to Intl terminal baggage claim? Is it Term 3 -> connector to Intl terminal -> exit to baggage claim? If so, do I get caught up with the people that need to do customs/immigration? I've never exited an intl terminal from a domestic flight before.
-Otherwise, should I go Term 3 -> exit to Term 3 baggage claim -> walk outside(?) to Intl terminal baggage claim?
Thanks for the help everyone
#23
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I'm not sure if I posted in the right forum, but I'll be traveling on UA and thought I'd post here since SFO is a hub
So, I have a connecting flight through SFO, and I set up my appointment for Global Entry at the same time, which is in the international arrivals level baggage claim. I was wondering logistically how it would work:
1) I'm going to be flying into SFO and landing in Terminal 3 via domestic UA.
2) I'll be connecting on through Intl Terminal at the G Gates.
3) I have a 6 hr layover.
What I want to do is exit security, do my interview, then go back through security.
Q #1 ) Best way to get from Terminal 3 post-security to Intl terminal baggage claim? Is it Term 3 -> connector to Intl terminal -> exit to baggage claim? If so, do I get caught up with the people that need to do customs/immigration? I've never exited an intl terminal from a domestic flight before. ....
So, I have a connecting flight through SFO, and I set up my appointment for Global Entry at the same time, which is in the international arrivals level baggage claim. I was wondering logistically how it would work:
1) I'm going to be flying into SFO and landing in Terminal 3 via domestic UA.
2) I'll be connecting on through Intl Terminal at the G Gates.
3) I have a 6 hr layover.
What I want to do is exit security, do my interview, then go back through security.
Q #1 ) Best way to get from Terminal 3 post-security to Intl terminal baggage claim? Is it Term 3 -> connector to Intl terminal -> exit to baggage claim? If so, do I get caught up with the people that need to do customs/immigration? I've never exited an intl terminal from a domestic flight before. ....
Once in T3 baggage claim, walk toward (right) the International terminal (stay inside the building) don't go outside -- follow the signs, But this would be the second option and only if you have bags to pick.
#24
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This won't be of use to OP who has an appointment already, but perhaps worth noting that Enrollment on Arrival is also a thing...
CBP:
https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-t...lment-arrival/
FT thread:
Global Entry Enrollment on Arrival
CBP:
https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-t...lment-arrival/
FT thread:
Global Entry Enrollment on Arrival
#26
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It's treated as a domestic flight, as you clear immigration and customs at YVR.
45 minutes is never a good idea at SFO, though there is lots of frequency to EWR, so a miss may not have dire consequences.
45 minutes is never a good idea at SFO, though there is lots of frequency to EWR, so a miss may not have dire consequences.
#27
Join Date: May 2006
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Absent weather delays or runway construction, sure. Given the fact that weather delays/runway construction seem to be a daily occurrence, anything mid-day typically can go either way. If your inbound flight is delayed for arrival, usually the connecting flights are going to be impacted as well (because they are coming in from somewhere else too). I usually try and leave a buffer of 1:30 at a minimum.
#29
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That doesn't really make the connection any safer, I've seen plenty of misses on the late night SFO departures to SYD and SIN, for example. So long as you're okay overnight at SFO, you probably won't have a problem getting out the next day.
#30
Join Date: Jun 2014
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Posts: 4,066
That flight which arrives EWR ~ 6 AM is not even the last overnight flight out of SFO (I think). If so, you'd still make it to EWR early the next morning.