Originally Posted by
evergrn
Is it because the latter requires having to pick up the checked bag at the carousel twice?
That would be the case because you pick it up at SFO and then also at your final destination in the US.
I actually would've preferred doing my one return layover in SFO over TPE, just as far as that was concerned. That way, I could've used the layover to get my US entry/customs over with, instead of having to deal with it after landing at the end of the trip.
This is all personal preference but I'd rather deal with entry/customs and head on home via a short car ride instead of sitting around the airport for another hour or two, enduring a domestic US flight, getting my baggage off the baggage claim at my local airport and then head home via a short car ride. There's also the worry of whether or not you make your SFO-XXX connection if something happens with your HKG-TPE-SFO flights.