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-   -   Connecting in SFO (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/san-francisco/1729457-connecting-sfo.html)

rob_flies_ua Oct 14, 2017 7:12 pm


Originally Posted by onionion (Post 28932935)
Hey all. Very happy I found this thread. I’ve never connected through SFO for a domestic-to-international flight and want to make sure I know what I’m in for.

Next week, I’m flying DEN-SFO on Southwest (Terminal 1B (“T1B”)). I have a 3-hour layover and then fly SFO-ICN on Korean (Int. Terminal A (“ITA”)).

From om what I’ve read in this thread, I’ll need to go landslide from T1B, grab checked bags, take Airtrain to ITA, and go back through security. Is my summary correct? I have PreCheck, so hopefully the layover time is sufficient.

On the return leg, ICN-SFO, I’m on Korean and then transferring to United for SFO-DEN (with checked bags). My understanding is that I’ll have to, again, go landslide and back through security, but please let me know if there’s a way to go airside to Terminal 3 from ITA. I’m not aware of a way to check through bags from Korean to United.

For your outbound, yes, you'll need to go landside to pickup your checked bag, AirTrain to international terminal A to checkin, and through security - if I remember correctly, PreCheck won't really help here because I don't think Korean Airlines participates in PreCheck.

For your return, you'll clear immigration, pick up your checked bags (even if KE through checks them, you'll need to pick them up at your first port of entry into the USA), clear customs, and then follow the signs to connections - both concourses of the International terminal let out right next to each other after customs, just turn left after following the signs to connections and it's a not-bad landside walk to the Terminal 3 UA checkin desks.

onionion Oct 15, 2017 12:12 am

Great. Thanks.

rob_flies_ua Oct 26, 2017 9:30 am


Originally Posted by rob_flies_ua (Post 28933239)
For your outbound, yes, you'll need to go landside to pickup your checked bag, AirTrain to international terminal A to checkin, and through security - if I remember correctly, PreCheck won't really help here because I don't think Korean Airlines participates in PreCheck.

For your return, you'll clear immigration, pick up your checked bags (even if KE through checks them, you'll need to pick them up at your first port of entry into the USA), clear customs, and then follow the signs to connections - both concourses of the International terminal let out right next to each other after customs, just turn left after following the signs to connections and it's a not-bad landside walk to the Terminal 3 UA checkin desks.


Originally Posted by onionion (Post 28933797)
Great. Thanks.

This might be too late for your trip, but it looks like as of yesterday, KE has joined PreCheck:
https://www.tsa.gov/news/releases/20...ional-airlines
https://www.tsa.gov/precheck/participating-airlines

EdiFrank May 14, 2018 2:10 am

Hi,

I am traveling LHR-SFO-PDX. The first flight is with BA (business) and the second flight to PDX is with Alaska (economy). I have a 2.30 min connection in SFO. I am a UK national.

Is this enough time to clear immigration and connect? The BA flight is on the A380 arriving at 17.20. Ideally I would like to have checked luggage.

Many thanks

EDIFrank

dhuey May 15, 2018 9:33 pm

That’s plenty of time, EDIfrank. I’m not sure if your BA business class boarding pass on arrival would get you into the American Admirals lounge if your Alaska flight departs from Terminal 2, or the BA or Cathay Pacific lounges if you depart from International-A (Alaska uses both terminals). Whatever the rules, no harm in giving it a shot.
You’ll need to get your bag at the carrousel, take it through Customs, and recheck it right outside of Customs. That adds a little time, but 2.5 hours is plenty of time to achieve this.

EdiFrank May 16, 2018 1:17 am


Originally Posted by dhuey (Post 29758771)
That’s plenty of time, EDIfrank. I’m not sure if your BA business class boarding pass on arrival would get you into the American Admirals lounge if your Alaska flight departs from Terminal 2, or the BA or Cathay Pacific lounges if you depart from International-A (Alaska uses both terminals). Whatever the rules, no harm in giving it a shot.
You’ll need to get your bag at the carrousel, take it through Customs, and recheck it right outside of Customs. That adds a little time, but 2.5 hours is plenty of time to achieve this.

Thanks dhuey! I know that the line-up for customs & immigration can sometimes get quite long when a A380 lands. Likewise the wait for luggage. I was thinking of traveling with hand baggage only to speed things up (small roller case and a backpack) and have more time in the lounge :-)

dhuey May 16, 2018 9:08 am


Originally Posted by EdiFrank (Post 29759216)
Thanks dhuey! I know that the line-up for customs & immigration can sometimes get quite long when a A380 lands. Likewise the wait for luggage. I was thinking of traveling with hand baggage only to speed things up (small roller case and a backpack) and have more time in the lounge :-)

Thing is, if you end up waiting a long time in Immigration, chances are your bag will be waiting for you when you go through. So the checked bag might not end up slowing you down much at all -- just a few minutes for the time it takes to recheck it right outside of Customs.

LFC58 Jun 20, 2018 9:49 am

Hi folks

I am flying BOS-SFO-ICN on United all legs this Saturday 6/23. Looks like I have 1hr 12 mins between flights. I was planning on one checked bag - assuming they could get that sorted - and assuming I don't have to clear TSA etc on arrival at SFO? I think I arrive in Terminal 1 and depart from the G Gates (is that terminal 3?) So my q's are : Will I have to clear TSA between flights ? If so, will I have enough time ? Any tips for this - i.e. don't pack a bag that has to be checked ?

dhuey Jun 20, 2018 12:22 pm


Originally Posted by LFC58 (Post 29886774)
Hi folks

I am flying BOS-SFO-ICN on United all legs this Saturday 6/23. Looks like I have 1hr 12 mins between flights. I was planning on one checked bag - assuming they could get that sorted - and assuming I don't have to clear TSA etc on arrival at SFO? I think I arrive in Terminal 1 and depart from the G Gates (is that terminal 3?) So my q's are : Will I have to clear TSA between flights ? If so, will I have enough time ? Any tips for this - i.e. don't pack a bag that has to be checked ?

Welcome to FlyerTalk, LFC58! This is a very friendly and informative place. I hope you enjoy your time here.

Your flight from BOS will come in somewhere in Terminal 3. You will not need to re-enter security at SFO as long as you take care not to exit the airside (post-security) part of the terminal. There is an airside hallway connecting Terminal 3 to International Terminal-G, which is where you will find your ICN flight on United. Just follow the signs to International Terminal-G, gates G91-G102.

Your connection time is a little tight, but you should be okay. You might want to wear shoes suitable for running or fast walking should your flight from BOS be delayed. Best of luck and safe travels. Please report back on how it went.

LFC58 Jun 20, 2018 12:58 pm

Thank you.dhuey. I really need a checked bag for this trip - so I will make sure I have some stuff tucked away in my carry on in case my case fails to connect.... I try usually never to book international flights with less than a 2 hr connection...having been caught in a Frankfurt passenger pile up...

dhuey Jun 20, 2018 3:17 pm


Originally Posted by LFC58 (Post 29887543)
Thank you.dhuey. I really need a checked bag for this trip - so I will make sure I have some stuff tucked away in my carry on in case my case fails to connect.... I try usually never to book international flights with less than a 2 hr connection...having been caught in a Frankfurt passenger pile up...

Good thinking. Even if your bag misses the connection, they should be able to get it to you the next day. The key is getting yourself on that ICN flight.

rustlerski Jun 27, 2018 11:16 pm

Hi - I'm going through SFO next week on a very tight connection. Arriving on AA from LAX and connecting to BA to LHR. Near as I can tell this this will be T2 connecting to International A. I spoke with AA tonight and they claim they'll have something setup so that I don't have to re-clear security. A "train or a shuttle" is what I was told.

In all my transit through SFO over the years, I know there is a T-3 connector and they used to run a shuttle prior to that opening. I don't recall anything like that for T2. Was the agent from AA mistaken or are they likely to have something setup to avoid exiting airside? Thanks.

Eastbay1K Jun 28, 2018 9:02 am


Originally Posted by rustlerski (Post 29914815)
Hi - I'm going through SFO next week on a very tight connection. Arriving on AA from LAX and connecting to BA to LHR. Near as I can tell this this will be T2 connecting to International A. I spoke with AA tonight and they claim they'll have something setup so that I don't have to re-clear security. A "train or a shuttle" is what I was told.

In all my transit through SFO over the years, I know there is a T-3 connector and they used to run a shuttle prior to that opening. I don't recall anything like that for T2. Was the agent from AA mistaken or are they likely to have something setup to avoid exiting airside? Thanks.

I've never heard of such an airside connection. How tight is the connection? Same ticket? The train is landside, as you know. Furthermore, the "quick" way to walk (also landside) is under construction, and you can't go that way anymore (T2 - make a left, walk about 10 minutes). Note that if for some reason the AA agent is wrong (and you certainly can't get there on an airside train), note that BA recently joined TSA Precheck, so if you have it, go into the BA website and get your KTN in there.

rustlerski Jun 28, 2018 10:28 am

Thanks. That's what I figured.
Same ticket, yes. Just over an hour on the connection.
We're all global entry and have all that info on the reservation with AA. I'll see if I can add any information through my BA record # for the itinerary.

Is there TSA pre-check at Int-A or just G?

Eastbay1K Jun 28, 2018 11:38 am


Originally Posted by rustlerski (Post 29916546)
Thanks. That's what I figured.
Same ticket, yes. Just over an hour on the connection.
We're all global entry and have all that info on the reservation with AA. I'll see if I can add any information through my BA record # for the itinerary.

Is there TSA pre-check at Int-A or just G?

A has Precheck. There's now a field on the BA site for entry of the KTN. Also, I'd suggest you OLCI and print a BA BP from the BA website. I was recently at JFK, and the person in front of me had an AA (home printed) issued BP for BA (and I could see that it showed the BA flight #, not just codeshare info) and the BP wouldn't register on the TSA's reader.


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