Flying CX872, J Class. Official arrival is 20:55PM. Need to get to LAS.

Ideally, would like to catch Southwest Airlines Flight 2006, Departs 21:45, arrives 23:05PM.

Is this possible if I don't check any bags through? Am US passport holder if that helps. Already booked a seat on lower deck as well. Definately NOT possible if I do have chked luggage right?

If not.. I think I'm stuck for a CO/UA/US codeshare 22:57 which doesn't get in until 12:29AM

Anyone with better suggestions?

Gosh, this is going to be tight tight tight. The 50 min Intl to Dom connection time is one factor. The other one is the actual arrival time for the HKG - SFO CX 872. Depends on conditions the day of flight, this can arrive up to an hour early/late. In my opinion, this is the biggest factor and not the upper/lower deck/immigration/etc.

That WN flight is also the last SFO-LAS for the day so if you miss it, its going to be the next morning for you. I would suggest going for the 22:57 one so that at least you know you'll get to LAS before sunrise!

That's really it, unfortunately.

You definitely can make that flight w/o checked bags if your CX flight is on time (SFO immigration is lightyears ahead of LAX). Southwest is in 1B at SFO, right next to the east side of the International Terminal where CX parks. You can take the air train thing or just run, the Intl Terminal connects with 1B on the norheast side.

What I usually do for Southwest connections (admittedly I usually do CX to Southwest connections at LAX, not SFO) is buy the Southwest ticket at the counter due to the unpredicability of my arrival time and immigration clearance. I've done a fair amount of CX to LAX with a connection there to LAS on Southwest, but I only do that during the daytime when there are a lot of LAS connections left. If I was arriving at night like you, hands down I'd choose SFO because of how unpredictable immigration is at LAX (I'm a US citizen as well).

If everything is on-time I think you'd be ok...you'd have to move quickly, and I'm not sure how long the line at immigration would be. But if there are no lines you could be off one plane and on the other plane within 20 minutes.

oh awesome. I had no idea I can buy tickets at the counter so last minute.
Tried once for CX and they said that they had to close 2 hours beforehand for security reasons.

So I guess the best course is to buy a fully refundable ticket for the Continental flight? And then scurry down to Southwest counter to see if I can get on? If I can - refund my Continental flight? And all happy days?

Does anyone have any suggestions?
Would I go to Southwest main ticket counter or would I just try to go to the gate?

I have only ever done it at the WN ticket counter, buying Business Select seats. I've never had a problem with tix being sold out, but you may want to check the WN website to see if they're still selling tickets before departing HKIA just to be sure. I do a CX to WN transfer (with the WN ticket bought at the counter) at least 3-4x annually at LAX and think it's hands down the best way to go given the frequencies and the availability those Biz Select tix seem to have.

At SFO, I have taken CX872 probably a handful of times in the last year or two and the evening arrival seems to be a much more predictable immigration environment for US citizens than the evening arrival on CX880 at LAX, where it can be pandemonium. I don't recall any bad experiences (>15 minutes) off CX872 at immigration in SFO.

I think getting the fully refundable Continental fare is the way to go.

you can always use global entry to speed up the process.

* GE is only for those already signed up with the CBP. Most people do not bother.
* GE is almost useless in speeding up entry at the time of CX872, especially for J/F passengers. Lines are very short for US passport holders.

To OP: It is really too close for the WN flight. You can end up missing the flight and spending a night in SFO.

OP : For all the talk about GE, immigration/customs clearance, etc ... the biggest unknown remains the flight arrival time. Taking a quick look at CX 872 for the past week, they have been running between 11h29min to 10h27min.

That last WN flight to LAS would be too close for comfort if the decision were mine to make.

When during the year are you flying? Late southwest flights out of SFO are frequently delayed by fog (and of course never leave significantly early) so that might tip the scales in your favor. However then it might get delayed so much that you get into LAS late anyway.

Bottom line is I think you're going to be leaving it up to chance. If I really wanted to get to LAS that night I would personally buy tickets for both. If you make it to Vegas by 23:00, it's gonna be your weekend and play big at the tables.

You pretty much have no choice. The WN may not seem a valid connection (with customs).

You will have to choose the UA metal flight. If you are lucky, you can even get VDBed.