kaskade916

Flying First Class on KE26 and trying to judge time I'll need at SFO... coming straight from our wedding and would like to make sure we have enough time to shower in the lounge before we board.

Does Korean have a dedicated first class checkin counter at SFO, or does it combine it with business? Also Is there a Priority lane for KE passengers going through security there?

bobbybrown

According to KE website, evening flight uses AF lounge which doesn't have a shower. Check KE website -> traveling with us -> worldwide airports.

kaskade916

Well crap... I always saw that KE using the British Airways lounge at SFO. This will change things.

henrus

They use the BA lounge for KE24 in the day and then the Air France lounge for KE26 in the evening.

Kacee

Is KE still using the AF lounge? Flying F this week on the late night flight.

Never been in the AF lounge - any thoughts on whether it's instead worth heading over to the DL SkyClub in T1 (which I'm already familiar with)? I have Clear and should also have Pre.

kaskade916

As far as I know they are... It's been listed as "temporary" on their worldwide airports page on their website since I booked my upcoming flight last summer. It's a shame because there isn't showers in the AF lounge, and from what I read it's a pretty crappy lounge.

Kacee

I'm in the AF lounge now. They have a special F room blocked off . . . I'm the only one in here. Unfortunately there's a very loud child playing right outside the door. Food options are okay, not great, not terrible. Next time I might head over the SkyClub, which is certainly a much nicer space.

Security was a total cluster, even with Pre and Clear.

kaskade916

How long would you say it took you to get through security, and at what time? Were you able to use a priority lane for first class? We'll have almost a solid 2 hours before the flight at the airport, but I'd still like to know what I'll be in for.

rwong48

OP made this thread in October and the flight is still upcoming, I guess

I've taken the new SFO KE night flight KE026 several times and I try to check in as soon as the counters open, so that I can hit up T3 Centurion before their showers closed around 10pm (troublesome back when KE26 was 00:50 and check-in opened at 21:50, but now the flight is 00:10). When that failed, I've used Amex Platinum to get into Delta Sky Club in T1, although it seems like I shouldn't be able to because I'm on KE26 and not the Delta codeshare of KE26, so try your luck and YMMV.

Allow 10-15 minutes from T1 to international A, then go through security again. TSA Pre on your KE boarding pass will help here. Security has been pretty straightforward for me with and without Pre.

Kacee

They were doing special screening where everyone had to pass the bomb-sniffing dog. Took about 15 minutes vs. the 2 minutes it otherwise would have. The Clear rep was awesome and probably saved me 15 minutes.

Priority lane irrelevant if you have Pre and/or Clear.

But if you have Elite+ status or are flying J or F DL access should not be an issue.

rwong48

Just regular Skyteam Elite (KE Morning Calm) flying economy as usual