How Early to Arrive at SFO for 7AM Flight?
Jan 14, 2023, 9:42 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Houston
Posts: 445
How Early to Arrive at SFO for 7AM Flight?
I have a 7am domestic departure tomorrow morning (Sunday). Recommended time tp arrive os 2 hours beforehand. Is this accurate from those of you familiar with SFO, and especially an early Sunday morning flight.
Jan 15, 2023, 12:01 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Houston
Posts: 445
Yes checked luggage. SFO-AUS on Alaska and UA from AUS-IAH. Will try to get luggage checked from SFO to IAH. Yes I have Global Entry and Clear.
Jan 15, 2023, 4:08 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,027
With precheck and clear TSA shouldnt take more than 5-10 mins.
Jan 15, 2023, 4:25 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,027
Depending on flight date lounge access may be included for paid tickets. In flight you get a meal, drinks including alcohol and snacks for that length of flight.
Jan 15, 2023, 7:18 am
#8
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
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They have interline agreements (both ticketing and baggage), but that doesn't mean you can check bags through on separate tix (assuming that's what OP has). UA certainly would not do it. AS might, even though UA is not a partner. AS is pretty customer-friendly about these things.
Jan 15, 2023, 9:12 am
#9
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 480
I have never understood the issue with arriving early to the airport. If this is something you don't want to miss, your flight, then why not show up 2hrs or more before the flight. I mean are you really going to show up 45 minutes before the flight, to save an hour and 15 minutes? You say it's an early flight so my guess is all your doing is saving an hour of sleep. But if it were me I'd be loosing sleep just wondering if I'll make my flight the next day since I'm only getting to the airport 45 minutes before departure. Just get there early and be done with it.
Jan 15, 2023, 10:23 am
#10
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I have never understood the issue with arriving early to the airport. If this is something you don't want to miss, your flight, then why not show up 2hrs or more before the flight. I mean are you really going to show up 45 minutes before the flight, to save an hour and 15 minutes? You say it's an early flight so my guess is all your doing is saving an hour of sleep. But if it were me I'd be loosing sleep just wondering if I'll make my flight the next day since I'm only getting to the airport 45 minutes before departure. Just get there early and be done with it.
Jan 15, 2023, 10:24 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2018
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Posts: 651
I'd budget about
20 minutes for baggage check. I usually wait 2-10 minutes in the elite check in line at SFO.
10 minutes, with Clear and PRECHECK (and no-issues). (20 minutes with CLEAR only) Pre-Check is on the right of the terminal 2 screening area. Without Pre-Check, head to the left of the screening area.
5 minutes to walk to the gate.
30 minutes of time in the lounge/restroom/coffee or for unexpected delays.
Plus, I'd depart for the airport earlier than usual
20 minutes for traffic delay because the weather forecast expects rain.
20 minutes for baggage check. I usually wait 2-10 minutes in the elite check in line at SFO.
10 minutes, with Clear and PRECHECK (and no-issues). (20 minutes with CLEAR only) Pre-Check is on the right of the terminal 2 screening area. Without Pre-Check, head to the left of the screening area.
5 minutes to walk to the gate.
30 minutes of time in the lounge/restroom/coffee or for unexpected delays.
Plus, I'd depart for the airport earlier than usual
20 minutes for traffic delay because the weather forecast expects rain.
Jan 15, 2023, 11:08 am
#12
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I have never understood the issue with arriving early to the airport. If this is something you don't want to miss, your flight, then why not show up 2hrs or more before the flight. I mean are you really going to show up 45 minutes before the flight, to save an hour and 15 minutes? You say it's an early flight so my guess is all your doing is saving an hour of sleep. But if it were me I'd be loosing sleep just wondering if I'll make my flight the next day since I'm only getting to the airport 45 minutes before departure. Just get there early and be done with it.
I have flown 200K+ miles annually in each of the last few years, and have never missed a flight.
Jan 15, 2023, 11:41 am
#13
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 480
This is all good, but everyone's situation is different. For road warriors flying week in and week out, losing necessary sleep is unnecessary when simple prep can minimize time spent at airports - e.g. no checked baggage, paid services such as CLEAR/TSA Pre.
I have flown 200K+ miles annually in each of the last few years, and have never missed a flight.
I have flown 200K+ miles annually in each of the last few years, and have never missed a flight.
I guess I figured if the OP was a road warrior flying 200k+ miles that they wouldn't even bother asking a question about timing at SFO. Figured this is your "normal" traveler wanting to be the last person on the plane or the 1st person on the 5 o'clock news hollering about long TSA lines and how they missed their flight.
Jan 15, 2023, 12:10 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: BWI,SFO,SJC,IAD,LAX,DCA
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Just to answer OP (even it is kind of late now): TSA Prechk @ SFO took nearly 45 minutes @ T2 for whatever reason ! and I never see the PC line -that long !!! 
and this is at 7am of 1/14/23.
I cross to Terminal A later ( 9am?) and it only queue with 15 pp line so I think that about normal ( as of recent memory).
Clear line is , of course, very short !
And AS 1st-class luggage drop, is also short: kudos to AS
and this is at 7am of 1/14/23.I cross to Terminal A later ( 9am?) and it only queue with 15 pp line so I think that about normal ( as of recent memory).
Clear line is , of course, very short !
And AS 1st-class luggage drop, is also short: kudos to AS