They have the existing pre-security connector closed off now for construction but it looks like we're 2 years away from the final product being delivered: https://www.flysfo.com/terminal-2-te...nector-closure

The proposed redesign of the International Terminal sure seems odd to me, given that there will already be an airside path between International-A and -G (albeit an indirect, curved path via B-F). Not many people will need to go between A and G, and they're going to lose lots of landside check-in space to make this happen.

Locals, I just updated the wiki. Please feel free to check my work and improve as you see fit.

The last plan I saw was less about linking A-G to allow passengers to travel between them, but more about allowing for a consolidated security area for both A and G, with passengers then heading in one direction for the A gates and the other for the G gates. However there have been multiple redesign plans, so I'm not sure if that's the one you're talking about or not.

Good chance that I was reacting to a plan no longer in play. Thanks for providing all of us this update.

Is this this correct thread to post a question about connections at SFO?


I am considering a flight from LAX to BKK on United.

LAX to SFO 9:15PM to 10:50PM 1 hour connection stay on United flight SFO to HKG and then change to Hong Kong airlines for HKG to BKK

My concern is when I land in SFO on United, will I have enough time to get from the gate to the International Gate to catch the United flight from SFO to HKG?

And if I check my luggage at LAX, will that checked luggage make it onto the International United flight from SFO to HKG in time, given that the connection is exactly 1 hr?

Thank you

1 hour is plenty of time for both you and your luggage to make it to your connection. The exact time to get between gates will depend on which gates are used and how quickly you walk, but at most it's maybe a 15 minute walk. There is no need to pass through security, nor collect your bags or anything else - just straight gate-to-gate.

This of course presumes that your inbound is on time. LAX-SFO is a route that can often be affected by flow control due to weather, winds, cloud or fog. If your flight is delayed by 30 mins or more, this becomes somewhere between a very tight connection and an impossible one. UA will sometimes hold flights for connecting passengers, but it's not something you can rely on.

Personally, I'd never book such a short connection to an international flight. It's not just the odds of missing the connection, but also the impact if you do (likely a 24 hour delay). If you've already booked, you could try getting to the airport earlier on the day and asking them to put you on an earlier flight, or even use same-day change to confirm of something earlier within 24 hours of the flight ($75 for no-status, free for higher statuses)

Thank you for your reply. Yes, I agree the connection is tight and ideally I would just prefer to fly from LAX to BKK without having to connect in SFO. However, price, flight times, flight times coming back seem to have this itinerary (at the moment) being a bit more to my liking other than the short connection window. I could certainly take an earlier flight from LAX to SFO but that would increase the ticket about $75 x 2 people. At that point, I would just pay for a higher priced flight from LAX straight to BKK. Usually I can get a dirt cheap price from LAX to BKK but the China airlines have not come down in price yet. The flight is in late May.

I walk fast, so not to worried about that. But yeah, if the flight is delayed 30 minutes then I'm screwed. It is a pretty risky flight to catch because as you said if you miss the international flight, then you are stuck another day. I think the next flight leaves around 1:00 PM the next day unless United wanted to connect me through a different city and then I guess they could put me on an earlier flight.

Thanks again for your reply. I had read where the walk from United domestic is not that far from United International flight terminal. My concern would be the luggage getting from domestic flight to international terminal flight.

Add me to the list who would not book this tight of a connection at SFO when the incoming flight is from LAX. It might seem counter-intuitive, but I might be willing to this same thing if the incoming flight were coming in from ORD, IAH, or the East Coast. The problem, as noted above, is that short flights into SFO are the very first to get delayed when delays are necessary. WillTins3, if you don't decide to pay the extra $75 per person, I recommend monitoring the weather and flight operations at SFO very closely on your day of departure. If you see trouble, head to LAX early and try to get a gate agent or customer service rep to put you on an earlier flight to avoid missing the HKG flight.

Well noted Dhuey. Thank you for the reply. Yeah it appears that this is a bit risky. Everything would have to go off perfectly or even a 15 minute delay and things should be fine. United offers this same itinerary for a connection that will eventually turn into Cathay Pacific so I would have to think that they are used to a few coming on the flight from LAX and catching that HKG flight to either Cathay Pacific or Hong Kong Airlines.

I've never had issues with delays or missed flights before so if I did watch the day of departure closely and I showed up to LAX earlier than planned, do gate agents typically try and accomodate at no charge or would they try and hit me up for change fees to put me on the flight that departs an hour earlier?

My experience with airlines generally is that they are willing to put you on earlier flights, free of charge, if your flight is delayed (or likely to be delayed) and there's space on the earlier flight. Your case is particularly strong when you are at risk for missing your connections, which United would then have to re-book. United might even have to pay for your hotel/food if they are responsible for the delay (not if weather is the reason, though).

You could make your case to the gate agents at the earlier flight, the customer service center at LAX or the call-in reservations line. I would try to work this out before checking your bag, and that might blow the deal for changing flights.

if I do end up having the guts to book this flight, that is good info to have. I will take your advice. If that were to happen, since I think United is affiliated with ANA and some other international airlines, maybe I could even get them to book me on one of those flights. Thanks again

At the moment I have found a solution. I'm gonna be able to have my wife take a half day off so I can fly out a couple of hours earlier at ONT Ontario airport on United. This flight will connect into that SFO to HKG flight on United. It is a flight that will get me into SFO from the Los Angeles area about 2 hours earlier so I will have 3 hours before the flight backs away from the gate.. I mean, I guess there could be delays as well from Ontario but the chances would be smaller I guess. Ticket price goes up a bit but parking comes down a few bucks. I will hold out a bit to see if flights drop a little bit although there are a couple of 2 -3-2 configurations in economy on the long haul still remaining and even though the 2 seats are in the rear for such a long flight it would be nice to just have those 2 seats for me and the wife.

Is it possible to connect from a domestic United flight (Terminal 3) to British Airways (Int'l Terminal A) without exiting security?

No. you’ll have to exit the secure area go through security again