Ah, there are times when I still think of it in those terms! But, I've gotten used to the Ts 1, 2, 3, and I; and, now they want to change it again. Not really problem for me, while I may not the sharpest tool in the shed, I however generally will adapt after the first mistake. Or, the beauty of FT is one can just ask, and you get some remarkably accurate information.

By the way, not sure I get how this will help out of state travelers. How is simply A, B, C, D, E, F, and G standalone less confusing when one has to know which Terminal to enter security from anyway?

The "out of state" traveler from NYC is more likely to be less confused than the "in state" traveler from Bakersfield ... or Dinuba ... or Chico ....

Well you won't need to enter security from any particular terminal . . . you'll be able to enter anywhere, since everything will be connected airside!

I assume the International/T1/T2/T3 designations will remain for purposes of passenger drop off, pick-up, and check-in. Once you're airside, designations will all be by concourse. I don't know that there's any less confusing way to do it the way the airport is constructed; as you've noted, some level of confusion is basically a given considering the geographic complexity of a major airport.

I have an upcoming flight SAN-SFO on UA arriving 12:13pm then SFO-CDG on AF departing 15:25. Separate tickets with check-in bags. UA on Y and AF on J. I have GE/preChek/Clear. I guess I will arrive at T3 and depart at Terminal A and I will need to recheck the bags with AF. Is 3+ hours a pretty safe cushion to make this connection? Looking at the last 3 weeks arrival time, SAN-SFO has been pretty much on time except one day with 1h delay.

I will leave it to others more familiar with this configuration to respond in detail
 

I am super risk-averse so for me this would be cutting it close switching terminals and having checked bags.

An article on sfgate quoted Alaska Airlines presenting that they plan to move into Harvey Milk T1 in 2024 to be close to American. They will build a new lounge. Could explain why they ended up taking over the old American lounge when we had been told repeatedly they were building a new lounge in T2. Interesting news and surely dependent on having the remaining ticket lobby completed.

Three hours should be enough time assuming everything goes right with your UA flight, it should take no longer than an hour from deplaning to reaching AF check-in. Between business class check in, clear, and pre getting airside in the international terminal should take less than 30 minutes. If it were me though I would pad the layover time to 6+ hours, but I'm pretty risk averse on trips with separate tickets.

Thanks guys for the reply. Yeah, I think it might look ok on paper only IF no hiccups on the incoming flight or luggage handling. I have decided to fly in the night before and just enjoy a lazy morning in the city.

(Not exactly connection related, but I think this is the right thread - please move if not)
Does anyone know if the concourse C security checkpoint is currently open and/or whether the exit from airside to landside in C is open? Last time I was at SFO in the fall, it was all closed and we had to go through security and exit via the D concourse. Trying to figure out the current fastest route from curb to gate and vice versa!

I believe all roads still lead through D.

Thanks, I'll plan accordingly!
(As an aside, in the before times I used to really like hanging out in the C-D connector during a layover or if I was early for a flight because it used to be quiet and have nice views of the ramp, but now it's a little less relaxing given the amount of foot traffic in the current configuration!)

Vancouver to Auckland
 

Hi,

I have booked a flight from Vancouver to Auckland, connecting in San Francisco with 1 hour 40 min layover. The flight from Vancouver to San Francisco to operated by Air Canada, landing at 19.00 and the flight onward to Auckland is with Air New Zealand, taking off at 20.40. It has all been booked through Air New Zealand and we will have checked baggage.

Never done a connecting flight before so getting a bit worried this isn't enough time but then think surely they can't book connections that are too short? Will we have to collect bags/go through customs/check in again/back through security/visa waiver etc or just transfer from one plane to the other? What about proving COVID vaccinations/tests? Not sure if it makes any difference but we're not resident of any of the 3 countries (UK citizens).

Thank you

Plenty of time. Your bags will be checked all the way through. You will clear security and US immigration in Canada, and will not need to re-do either in San Francisco. Both your arrival and departure gates will be in the G terminal, giving you a walk between gates of at most a few hundred metres, probably less.

Air Canada may or may not be able to give you a boarding pass for the AirNZ flight, but if they don't you'll be able to get one from the gate area of the AirNZ flight.

Presuming your inbound flight is on time, you're going to have close to an hour of time to kill in SFO before boarding starts.

AirNZ will need to see your Covid details at the gate (almost certainly before boarding). They'll also confirm your NZeTA at the same time.

Great. Thank you so much. So we don't need visa waivers for USA?

I don't know the current requirements for Canadians visiting the U.S., but whatever they are you will deal with at the Vancouver airport. You will essentially be crossing the U.S. border there. When you arrive at SFO, it will be as if you came in from another U.S. city.