Feb 10, 2022, 8:05 am

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Last edit by: Zorak

Click HERE to read discussion from 2013 - 2021.

FAQ
Q: Where is the lounge?
A: Terminal 3, F concourse, right by Gate F2 (formerly gate 75) and the F-1 security checkpoint (that has PreCheck, sometimes).

Q: Can I visit there if I'm departing from another terminal?
A: Absolutely. Security at SFO will let passengers departing from any concourse at SFO go through security in any concourse, even ones that aren't connected behind security. At the moment, concourses C, D, E, F, and G are all connected airside to the Centurion lounge. From boarding areas A or B you would have to clear security twice. For the most up-to-date info, see Connecting in SFO thread in the FlyerTalk San Francisco forum.

Q: Can I visit if I'm arriving at SFO?
A: Centurion Lounges no longer offer access on arrival.

Centurion Lounge SFO [Opened 6 November 2014; Expanded 31 December 2022]

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Aug 12, 2022, 1:57 pm

#136

Boraxo

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Join Date: Dec 2002

Location: Danville, CA, USA;

Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Kacee

It's actually a three step process most of the time . . . (1) wait in line for CL, (2) eat at CL, (3) relax at Rotunda. I have a hard time getting past (1)

Mine is similar: (1) Check to see if CL has a line (IME about 90% of the time) (2a) If solo, and I have 30+ minutes, go straight to Giants Clubhouse restaurant (2b) If <30 min and/or with Family, go straight to UC. (3) If flight is Terminal E go straight to UC. I'm too old to do waitlists and walk back and forth in the airport.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hanlong

I like the food at Centurion Lounge but while it is definitely better than the UA Club lounge, the Polaris lounge definitely has better food.

Here's my ranking:

United Polaris
Giants Clubhouse (PP)
Lark Creek (PP)
Alaska
Delta
United
Centurion
Air France
Yankee Pier (PP)
British Airways

Have not tried Mustards (PP)

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Aug 12, 2022, 2:24 pm

#137

lsquare

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Join Date: Mar 2010

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Posts: 19,896

Quote:

Originally Posted by boraxo

mine is similar: (1) check to see if cl has a line (ime about 90% of the time) (2a) if solo, and i have 30+ minutes, go straight to giants clubhouse restaurant (2b) if <30 min and/or with family, go straight to uc. (3) if flight is terminal e go straight to uc. I'm too old to do waitlists and walk back and forth in the airport.

Here's my ranking:

united polaris
giants clubhouse (pp)
lark creek (pp)
alaska
delta
united
centurion
air france
yankee pier (pp)
british airways

have not tried mustards (pp)

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Aug 13, 2022, 4:00 am

#138

SPN Lifer

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Posts: 15,033

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhuey (Post # 125)

If you can afford the Amex Plat, you can probably afford exactly the meal you want at a good restaurant in the terminal.

I actually can't afford it.

And my no-annual-fee Hilton AmEx is not accepted widely enough in my part of the country.

But this thread is great for lounge comparisons and restaurant intel at SFO.

Maybe some day a friend might guest me in?

lsquare likes this.

Aug 13, 2022, 5:53 am

#139

lsquare

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Quote:

Originally Posted by SPN Lifer

I actually can't afford it.

And my no-annual-fee Hilton AmEx is not accepted widely enough in my part of the country.

But this thread is great for lounge comparisons and restaurant intel at SFO.

Maybe some day a friend might guest me in?

Why spend money if you can get in for free? I'll be back in SFO in a couple of weeks. I'll be praying the CL won't have a lineup, but if it is, oh well, life goes on, I'll just go to the other places. Thx to status and credit cards, I won't have to spend much to get a decent meal at SFO.

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Aug 14, 2022, 11:45 pm

#140

Victor88

Join Date: Mar 2010

Location: Netherlands

Programs: KL Platinum

Posts: 241

Centurion Lounge Access SFO

Greetings all

I’m flying on KLM from SFO and hoping to use the Centurion Lounge with my Plat card. My question is if the lounge is accessible when departing from the international terminal.

Thanks in advance.

Aug 15, 2022, 4:49 am

#141

mia

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Location: Miami, Mpls & London

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Posts: 48,953

Quote:

Originally Posted by Victor88

....is if the lounge is accessible when departing from the international terminal.

Read the Wikipost at the top of the thread. For more detail, scroll back to post 21 and read forward.

lsquare likes this.

Aug 15, 2022, 9:16 am

#142

Buster CT1K

Join Date: Jul 2001

Location: NYC

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Posts: 6,157

Quote:

Originally Posted by Victor88

Yes but you will have to exit security and reclear security.

Aug 15, 2022, 9:34 am

#143

Kacee

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Posts: 56,446

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buster CT1K

Yes but you will have to exit security and reclear security.

Right. KLM will depart from A Terminal which is not connected airside to T3. Not sure it's worth it unless you have TSA Pre and a lot of time.

lsquare likes this.

Aug 15, 2022, 9:56 am

#144

lsquare

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Kacee

Right. KLM will depart from A Terminal which is not connected airside to T3. Not sure it's worth it unless you have TSA Pre and a lot of time.

With Clear and TSA-Pre, I would do it. It has saved me a lot of time at SFO.

Aug 26, 2022, 12:08 am

#145

econ

Join Date: Oct 2013

Location: SFO

Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, Total Wine & More Reserve

Posts: 4,497

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsquared37

When I followed up yesterday, dissatisfied with Tuesday's interaction, the phone agent gave me the open times she was seeing which varied from a 7pm closing T-F to 530 and even 330 closing on Sunday.

Meanwhile the website still lists a static 6am-9pm club opening irrespective of day of week.

Came across this other page that lists shorter opening hours. Still find it hard to believe this place closes at 7 pm (and 5:30 pm on M-T?).

https://global.americanexpress.com/l...tinum-card/SFO

When I passed by last, they had a sign out front that said "Open Daily, 6 am - 7 pm, Limited Hours"

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Aug 26, 2022, 5:36 am

#146

Mama

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Join Date: Feb 2004

Posts: 4,188

Quote:

Originally Posted by econ

Amex will improve only if there are enough complaints and subsequently close their Amex Plat accounts.

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Aug 29, 2022, 12:24 pm

#147

CMK10

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Stopped in yesterday (Sunday) from 9:25 to 9:45 AM. The agent at the front desk warned everyone seating was limited due to crowding and asked us to be patient.

Frankly it looked the same amount of crowded to me as it has on every visit going back to 2016

Breakfast was above average for these days. Oatmeal, scrambled eggs, a fritata, chicken apple sausage, yams and biscuits.

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Aug 29, 2022, 1:32 pm

#148

Mama

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Quote:

Originally Posted by CMK10

Stopped in yesterday (Sunday) from 9:25 to 9:45 AM. The agent at the front desk warned everyone seating was limited due to crowding and asked us to be patient.

Frankly it looked the same amount of crowded to me as it has on every visit going back to 2016
...
Breakfast was above average for these days. Oatmeal, scrambled eggs, a fritata, chicken apple sausage, yams and biscuits.

How often do you go to SFO Cen lounge? Their food is the same everyday for the last 5 years. It's disgusting. The crowd gobble down the food and drink like they are in a refugee camp. And the workers push the food supply carts through the front entrance, stacking up food supply by the doorway, by the restrooms, by the bar table. Try afternoon, you will be disgusted.

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Last edited by Mama; Aug 29, 2022 at 1:40 pm

Aug 29, 2022, 3:23 pm

#149

CMK10

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Mama

I'm not in the SFO CL much (visited twice last year, this is my first visit this year) but I'm a regular at the CLT CL and often at DFW, PHL, LGA and SEA. Compared to those lounges I considered this food spread to be above average.

As to the rest of your post I think you're being a touch hyperbolic. I've never been "disgusted" by an airline lounge or the people in it.

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Aug 29, 2022, 6:02 pm

#150

Mama

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Posts: 4,188

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mama

How often do you go to SFO Cen lounge? Their food is the same everyday for the last 5 years. It's disgusting. The crowd gobble down the food and drink like they are in a refugee camp. And the workers push the food supply carts through the front entrance, stacking up food supply by the doorway, by the restrooms, by the bar table. Try afternoon, you will be disgusted.

food supply = raw food supply.
The workers push boxes of chicken breasts(yes, the infamous chicken breast same style everyday for the past 5 years or more), vegetables, cases of wine, coke...etc through front entrance and share the elevator with you, the guests. They stack up cases of wine and cokes on the floor in hallways and by the bar, because the guests drink faster than the staff can ever restock them to the shelves, so why not just skip the shelves. They sometimes even run out of orange juice or ice. You are witnessing a chaotic, starving crowd there.
And, if you are lucky like me, sitting and eating, and someone stands next to your table watching you till you finish, waiting to grab your table as soon as you stand up. It was rather unpleasant, there is nothing premium about it.

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Last edited by Mama; Aug 29, 2022 at 7:52 pm