Ari

Simply put, you don't. If you are able to get into the G concourse, you should just go to the SQ lounge since they are unlikely to let you into the IFL.

Kremmen

What's the IFL like? For those of us who arrive in the morning and can access the Arrivals lounge, is it worth the slog to the IFL?

Boraxo

Ditto. I got the heisman for the showers at the FRA RCC with an LH boarding pass (transiting from one paid C to another paid C international), though the attendants were polite and said I could use the rest of the RCC (as the rules require). Thankfully the LH business lounge has some nice showers, though not as many as the RCC.

Quite true. Am still wondering how the lounges differ, but no doubt that is covered elsewhere.

The discussion is still relevant as the LH lounges are an alternative option for many travelers, depending on destination. It is useful to have all of the information on one thread.

flyerbjorn

http://www.loungeguide.net/wiki/u/Sa...t_Class_Lounge

Kremmen

Let me be more specific. There's been lots of talk on here about showers, yet the IFL wiki entry says " Showers and Spa: Yes. As part of Arrivals Lounge." That would seem to indicate that the IFL has no showers of its own, which would make it not so much an alternative to Arrivals, but rather somewhere to go afterwards.

ryan182

The wiki is not correct, the showers are part of the IFL and the IFL is a departure lounge not a Arrivals lounge.

Tennen

The IFL most certainly has showers, but there are only 2 of them (AFAIK), they are very dark, and they are a hassle to use if you've been lounging around for a while (you have to go back up to the reception desk). IMHO, the NRT RCC showers are better maintained and more easily accessible, plus have the added bonus of a toilet. I've never used SFO's IFL on an int'l-dom connection, but apparently SAN 1K's strategy works in getting through security for the International Terminal. If all you want is a shower, and have Arrivals access (per your earlier post), then I'd personally skip the IFL and do the Arrivals + Domestic RCC instead.

If you don't have Arrivals access (arriving in the afternoon), it may be worth trying for the IFL. On a related note, while the LAX IFL doesn't have the SFO location & matron issues or showers, I've never had a problem accessing it on int'l F > dom F/C/Y.

Kremmen

Thanks. Sounds like Arrivals is the way to go first up. My next flight I'll have over 4 hours in SFO, so I might do Arrivals + IFL.

ryan182

I didn't think the showers in the IFL were "dark" (what does that mean??) if you know you're going to want a shower and you've read this thread simply mention it to the folks at the desk upon entering, my last visit I handed my BP and said I wanted a shower and they walked me down to it.

If I had a domestic connection and was able to get into the Intl term and was able to convince the matrons to follow the proper rules I'd just go there and skip Arrivals. Though there's a lot of "and" in the above statement.

Tennen

By "dark," I meant that they were, well, dark (poor lighting). Even though the shower suites were a decent size, they felt small and cramped because of the lighting. If I had limited time for my connection (and I usually do), I'd save myself a trip through security and just hit Arrivals and then the T3 RCC. That's just me, though, since I usually get caught up in long TSA lines. Although, with Kremmen's 4 hour connection, that would change things for me, and I might take the time and head to the IFL instead.

mauiUAflyer

I've been in the two SFO IFL showers recently (not to shower, but just for a look-see). They appear nice. The lounge was nice as well.

By the way, where is the arrivals lounge at SFO? I've not yet had the opportunity to use it...

kljkav2

Yes, after arrival/customs, go out to your right there is a sign "Arrivals by United." Description in the UAL site.
It is not as nice as the SFO IFL, however. Food: cereals, cut fruits, mini-bagels (sort of the same w/RCC), no alcohol.

Always Flyin

I am at IAD right now. I am departing IAD in Y on UA to JFK (one class of service aircraft), connecting on the same paid ticket to first class on Swiss Air from JFK to Zurich.

Lounge Warden in the international first lounge absolutely refused me entry because I was "not departing IAD in international F on United or Lufthansa." I argued with her for ten minutes (her supervisor is "off" today--I asked) with no change in her position.

They wouldn't let me in the Red Carpet Club either based on my LX F boarding pass because it was not the international gateway. I had to show one of my non-UA Star Gold cards to get in.

If this were the case, why would there be reciprocal access to F Lounges? If you could only enter at the international gateway, you would just use the lounge for the carrier you were flying.

So with this mentality, if you don't have status in the Star Alliance but are flying another Star carrier other than UA (and LH), you can be a paid premium passenger, but you will receive no lounge access from United on a connecting flight. You havet to wait until you are at the international gateway.

I told the Matron in the F Lounge that this is exactly why I am flying LX to ZRH and not UA.

SFflyer123

The arrivals lounge is in the RCC, not the international first lounge. You need a first class ticket to get into the international first lounge, even if you're 1k or GS. That is why there usually are about only 5-8 people in the entire lounge at any given time. There are two showers which are by the bathroom. I did not walk in them, but they are quite private. I have a picture of the bathroom sinks, and you can see the pictures of hte food & the lounge itself that I took on my recent trip:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32828385@N02/

It's part of the RCC.

c1mth0g

Does this mean that "*A lounges are departing lounges only for most airlines" is not true when it comes to First Class lounges? For example I always thought that SQ lounge access was based on departing flight ...