So the only lounge airside from C to D is the SkyClub, right? No access to the new Admirals Club from C or D?

Correct on both counts, AFAIK.

(And you probably already know, you wouldn't be able to use the SkyClub if flying AS, unless you are a lifetime SC member)

I'm trying to book a flight where I leave from SFO and my positioning flight to SFO. My flight from SFO connects to an international flight and there's a positioning flight I need to book separately. The flight I'm looking at arrives at SFO at around 9:45 am and my next flight is at 11:35 am. This is my first time going to SFO so I was wondering if an hour and 50 minutes would be enough to recheck my bag and go through security again.

Thanks!

Maybe it's just me, but the way you wrote this is kinda confusing and it's hard to tell how many flights exactly you have. Are you saying your full itinerary (ignoring the separate tickets for the moment) is AAA-SFO-BBB-CCC where BBB is still domestic but BBB-CCC is an international flight? What airline(s) are involved? Especially if AAA-SFO-BBB is all domestic there's a chance you might not need to exit and re-clear security at all if they will check bags across two tickets.

In the abstract however, 1h50m should be fine *if* your first flight is on time, since it's as if you were an SFO-based traveler originating in SFO and getting to the airport 1h50m before your flight (minus however long it takes the AAA-SFO airline to deliver your baggage, if relevant). However time of year could be a factor too (weather) as well as what exactly CCC is and whether you hold status with one or both airlines (to gauge what your backup options might be, and if they're in the same alliance maybe you'll be protected across separate tickets)

Yeah I agree that I should've been more clear. The first flight is DAL-SFO with Alaska and my next flight is SFO-JFK-HEL with AA (AY codeshare) and AY in December and I don't have any status due to the pandemic.

It's my first time going through SFO and based on what's online, it looks like Alaska is in Terminal 2 and AA is in Terminal 1 and that was also another thing to think about. If this was too tight of a window, there is a back-up option of flying in the day before and staying overnight at a hotel nearby but I'm less inclined to do that.

I'm not sure what exactly the new partnership means between AS/AA and with AS joining OW, but on a quick FT search it looks like AA will not through-check bags on separate tickets, period (even if both tickets are AA), but from AS to AA may be possible?

If so, it's possible you could check your bags all the way through at DAL and then you won't have to collect and re-check them yourself; if this turns out to be true then you would only need to exit the D gates in T2, walk over to T1, and go through TSA again for the B gates. (Note that currently there isn't even a direct landside connection between D/C -> B; you would either have to go up a level and take AirTrain, or down into the basement garage, or walk around the long way D->E->F->G->A->B -- I don't know when this is supposed to open up again though, so check back closer to December on this detail)

So to sum up, if it were me
- I'd ask on the AS forum to verify current info about through-checking to AA
- I'd also find out if maybe with the partnership there's now a way to book this all one one ticket/codeshare etc. unless there's a pricing reason you want to avoid this
- I'd also want to try to find out whether AS/AA will protect across two tickets in the event of misconnect, because even w/o the luggage issue, SFO does get rain in the winter which can slow down the inbound arrival rate

Got in touch with AA and AS agents on twitter and they both said that they don't check through bags if tickets are on separate itineraries. If I rebook directly from Finnair's website, there's a $600 difference compared to flying out from Dallas so I'd much avoid that. It doesn't help that basically the same ticket to SFO from Dallas that day with other carriers are much more expensive compared to AS.

Just wondering though, is it still doable to recheck bags and clear security again within an hour and 50 minutes at SFO or should I consider flying in on the night before?

What about trying to book through AA since they partner with both? (Just thinking out loud)

I think it's doable but personally I don't think I'd feel comfortable with it or recommend it. Any of weather delay, or bags slow to come out, or a long line to check-in or at security (do you have PreCheck and/or CLEAR?) could throw a wrench into these plans.

I assume that because AY has reduced frequencies/cut its schedule, they dropped prices down from destinations they serve yearly or seasonally to attract more customers and fill up their planes so buying a ticket from SFO-JFK-HEL on AY and then buying a positioning flight to SFO is much cheaper than buying DFW-JFK on AA and then JFK-HEL on AY.

I have PreCheck but yeah makes sense. Thanks for the help!

Probably ok - less chance of early morning weather in Dallas or SFO so low chance of delay. But always a gamble connecting esp if you have to check a bag. also the potential loss is higher with the international connection at JFK.

The risk is pretty low, but the consequences (loss of international ticket) are potentially extreme.

AS is quick with the bags. It's then maybe 10 minutes to T1 (hope you don't have lots of bags, because there's currently no easy path - you either have to go through the garage or take the airtrain). Note that AA check-in lines have been pretty horrific lately due to lack of staffing. If you're flying J, that would help.

Just a little confused all, but can I get from arriving on AS to departing on QR with out having to go landside?

I believe AS is Terminal 2 and QR is obviously the International Terminal A gates.

Is it a long walk or a interterminal bus/shuttle? Not very familiar with SFO.

Thanks :)

No, there is currently no airside connection from Terminal 2 all the way to the International Terminal.

The quickest way is AirTrain. From Terminal 2, exit security, and follow signs to go up and across to the AirTrain station. Take the red line to International A.

With current construction having temporarily closed the Terminal 1 AirTrain station in between, now Terminal 2 and International A are effectively adjacent stops.

Thank you, really appreciate the help. Is the future plan w/ the construction you mention is for International A to be accessible from Terminal 1, 2, etc ?

Eventually, the entire airport will be accessible airside.