Huge line for dom->int UA bus transfer at SFO
May 15, 2008, 7:40 pm
#1
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,864
Huge line for dom->int UA bus transfer at SFO
This was at about 10am this morning, the line stretched almost to the end of the moving walkway. I have seen a long line here at least once before. I would think it would be a lot faster to just exit security and go through security again at the international terminal than to wait in this line.
Quite a mess -- and certainly no priority for elites of any type or even for first class international passengers.
Quite a mess -- and certainly no priority for elites of any type or even for first class international passengers.
May 15, 2008, 7:45 pm
#2
In Memoriam, Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 6,879
I saw the same last week. I would have walked. Crazy.
May 15, 2008, 7:47 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Portland, Oregon
Programs: AA EXP UA 2KMM AMB
Posts: 2,400
Being scrunched up on the bus after waiting a long time? No thanks.
May 15, 2008, 7:48 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BUR/LAX
Programs: UA 1K/2MM, HHonors Diamond, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 2,505
The last few times I connected through San Francisco, I walked over to the International terminal instead of waiting for the bus. It is much faster and there are seldom any lines at that time in the morning over at the Int. terminal. If you take the bus, there is another wait for the elevator after you get off the bus.
May 15, 2008, 8:01 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: if it's Thursday, this must be Belgium
Programs: UA 1K MM
Posts: 6,484
I don't know if it has anything to do with the bus having time restrictions from moving among the aircraft, but that shuttle service has no sense of urgency or customer service at all. They go when they want to go.
Last time I took it to connect to the SYD flight. We (a nearly full bus) sat on board for about 5 minutes while the driver just read his newspaper.
Last time I took it to connect to the SYD flight. We (a nearly full bus) sat on board for about 5 minutes while the driver just read his newspaper.
May 15, 2008, 8:16 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 4,775
I know there is a new walkway being built that keeps you airside, anyone know when it's supposed to be finished?
May 15, 2008, 8:23 pm
#7
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,422
May 15, 2008, 8:32 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA 1K MM
Posts: 266
Last month I took the shuttle dom>intl and sat by myself on the bus for 5 minutes (I was the only one on board). Asked the driver, "Uh, can we go now?" (Keep in mind there was another empty bus sitting behind us.) Driver says "No". Huh? 
Fortunately a manager-type happened to be walking by outside the bus and told the driver to get going, and the driver argued with him! After muttering under his breath, about a minute later he closed the door. Apparently actually driving the bus was the one part he overlooked in his job description.
These guys make the IAD RCC matrons look like customer service pros!
May 15, 2008, 8:35 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2006
Programs: UAL 1K , HHonors Diamond
Posts: 140
I saw the same on Saturday May 10th on my way down the corridor where they place the exhibits - the line must have been at least 50 people! I agree, it's just easier to walk and go through security again.
May 15, 2008, 8:49 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA 1K, AA Gold
Posts: 3,640
FWIW I think the transfer bus needs to start running earlier. I think it starts at 9am, and once when I was going to take it around 9am the line had built up to be so long from people who arrived before opening time that I said "screw it" and went landside. Perhaps if the bus started running say at 8:30am it would keep lines be a bit shorter later on by eliminating the backlog.
May 15, 2008, 8:58 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: SNA
Programs: UA Million Mile Nobody, Marriott Platinum Elite, SPG Gold
Posts: 25,228
Last Friday the line was outrageous again. My LHR flight was due to depart in less than an hour, and there was no way I was going to trust that bus. I went to the International terminal, was directed to the "Crew" security line as an elite, and was in before the first bus of passengers got near. Unless you can walk right on the bus, or there is no line, I'd go with walking.
Also there appears to be activity on the walkway construction! Trailers, construction stuff, things piling up in the area. The TSA guy said there has been a lot of activity in the past week or so. Hope!
Also there appears to be activity on the walkway construction! Trailers, construction stuff, things piling up in the area. The TSA guy said there has been a lot of activity in the past week or so. Hope!
May 15, 2008, 8:59 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: SNA
Programs: UA Million Mile Nobody, Marriott Platinum Elite, SPG Gold
Posts: 25,228
May 15, 2008, 9:07 pm
#15
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SFO / SJC
Programs: UA GLD 1MM, AA PLT 2MM, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, HH Silver
Posts: 601
Thu 5/8 around 930am the line was 42 people long when I walked by on my way to the RCC. Yeah, it looked so nuts I actually counted them! 