UA/OZ SFO connection
Sep 17, 23, 2:50 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: U.S. East Coast (DC area)
Posts: 36
UA/OZ SFO connection
If I arrive into SFO on a United domestic flight and then transfer to OZ heading to ICN, how seamless is the transfer between the two at SFO? Will UA be able to check me in at my origin airport all the way to my final destination? Will I have to go through TSA security again at SFO or can I go straight to the gate of my connecting OZ flight?
Also, I have heard that OZ may be acquired by Korean Air. Hence, does OZ still participate in Star Alliance mileage programs, code share with other star alliance airlines, etc.?
Thanks.
Also, I have heard that OZ may be acquired by Korean Air. Hence, does OZ still participate in Star Alliance mileage programs, code share with other star alliance airlines, etc.?
Thanks.
Sep 17, 23, 3:55 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Small town near RNO
Programs: Delta 1MM/PM, BAEC GGL, Asiana Diamond Plus(Lifetime), AC *Tangerine
Posts: 869
OZ is still in *A and so UA will check your bags through. If it's separate tickets allow a little extra time when you check in since a lot of the UA check in people don't know how to do it and/or sometimes they need to get an override from the Help Desk. UA will likely give you a paper BP as well even with you OZ one. You will be able to stay airside so no TSA.
If it's a round trip OZ has no problems checking bags through to UA from anywhere. You still need to do the claim and check game with US CBP at SFO on the way back.
If it's a round trip OZ has no problems checking bags through to UA from anywhere. You still need to do the claim and check game with US CBP at SFO on the way back.
Sep 17, 23, 4:46 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: U.S. East Coast (DC area)
Posts: 36
It will not be two tickets. It will be only one ticket, but even the UA flight might have an OZ flight number (OZ code share flight). Will the UA folks at Dulles airport in DC have difficulty issuing a boarding pass and/or get confused if the flight number on my eTicket is an OZ number?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Sep 17, 23, 4:59 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Small town near RNO
Programs: Delta 1MM/PM, BAEC GGL, Asiana Diamond Plus(Lifetime), AC *Tangerine
Posts: 869
There won't be any issues on a single ticket. UA shouldn't have any major problem with BPs, you should have a UA PNR from OZ somewhere. If not then you can either use your ticket number to find the UA PNR on united.com or wait and use your ticket number to check in with UA online or at the airport.
Sep 17, 23, 7:25 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: U.S. East Coast (DC area)
Posts: 36
Great! That's good to know. The reason I asked about TSA is because UA uses terminal 3, but as far as I know, OZ uses terminal 1 at SFO. Hence, I presume based on your earlier post that one can go from terminal 3 to terminal 1 while still staying airside. Is that correct?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Sep 17, 23, 8:37 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Small town near RNO
Programs: Delta 1MM/PM, BAEC GGL, Asiana Diamond Plus(Lifetime), AC *Tangerine
Posts: 869
That's sort of correct, whichever source you got those gate assignments from is the old system. United is in International Terminal, Terminal 3 and Terminal 2,
Now Asiana is in Concourse G which is part of the International (I) Terminal. United is in Concourses D, E, F and G which are all connected airside.
You don't need to go landside.
Now Asiana is in Concourse G which is part of the International (I) Terminal. United is in Concourses D, E, F and G which are all connected airside.
You don't need to go landside.
Sep 17, 23, 8:50 pm
#7
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 40,676
If I arrive into SFO on a United domestic flight and then transfer to OZ heading to ICN, how seamless is the transfer between the two at SFO? Will UA be able to check me in at my origin airport all the way to my final destination? Will I have to go through TSA security again at SFO or can I go straight to the gate of my connecting OZ flight?
Also, I have heard that OZ may be acquired by Korean Air. Hence, does OZ still participate in Star Alliance mileage programs, code share with other star alliance airlines, etc.?
Thanks.
Also, I have heard that OZ may be acquired by Korean Air. Hence, does OZ still participate in Star Alliance mileage programs, code share with other star alliance airlines, etc.?
Thanks.
Sep 18, 23, 5:03 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .56 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 14,277
Not me. A connection at SFO is one of the easiest imaginable, and it is nice to get off the plane for a while. Also, I value Star Alliance mileage accrual over Sky Team. 
Sep 18, 23, 5:21 am
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 40,676
-IAD-ICN is only 3 hours longer than SFO-ICN
-IAD-SFO-ICN is 4 hours longer than IAD-ICN
-The lounges in SFO close an hour before OZ 211 departs
-If you take the nonstop, you don't need to endure 5.5 hours on a 737 Max
Sep 18, 23, 7:36 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: U.S. East Coast (DC area)
Posts: 36
Moondog:
I have taken that KE nonstop from IAD to ICN many times. In fact, I took it even as recently as last month. I have miles with both DL and UA and so both KE and OZ will allow me to accrue miles. I am just collecting information for my next trip to Asia which is in December. I definitely prefer the KE nonstop unless the price makes that option too expensive.
I have taken that KE nonstop from IAD to ICN many times. In fact, I took it even as recently as last month. I have miles with both DL and UA and so both KE and OZ will allow me to accrue miles. I am just collecting information for my next trip to Asia which is in December. I definitely prefer the KE nonstop unless the price makes that option too expensive.
Sep 18, 23, 8:59 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Small town near RNO
Programs: Delta 1MM/PM, BAEC GGL, Asiana Diamond Plus(Lifetime), AC *Tangerine
Posts: 869
You might want to look at connecting through LAX if you want to stay with OZ/UA. There are two OZ flights (OZ201 and OZ203) at 1200 and 2300). OZ201 gets to ICN at 1735 and OZ203 get in at 0420. The walk at LAX is a little longer with a trip into the tunnel along with the construction at Terminal 4 along the way being a minor issue. Clubs are similar (UA T7 and *A in TBIT) at LAX with the SFO clubs. Another possibility is going through SEA which leaves IAD at a decent hour and gets to ICN at 1745. Only issue at SEA is there's no real way to walk to the South Satellite but the train isn't too bad.
