Connecting in SFO
 

Placeholder while I fill out a wikipost :)

Thank you, rob_flies_ua! I think this will be very useful for our fellow FTers.

ETA: I hope you agree with my wiki additions.

BTW, for the Air France lounge, don't Priority Pass holders have access without regard to their departure concourse?

Lounge hopping
 

Keep in mind that if you're flying internationally in a premium cabin, you probably have access to more than one lounge. For example, if you're flying in Business on United or Singapore, you have access to both the United Club and the Singapore lounge in International-G. I like the food/drink options better in the Singapore lounge, but I think the United Club lounge in I-G is a more spacious and relaxing place. No need to choose: enjoy both!

I haven't done this in International-A, but I would imagine there is also access to multiple lounges with Sky Team and One World lounges.

The Priority Pass page for the AF lounge at SFO states:
...whether the AF folks actually enforce that is another question.

I'm surprised. I'm not sure if that AF lounge is the same as when I was in it several years, ago. If so, it's not worth visiting if you're flying out of a different concourse. IIRC, it's small. Maybe AF was worried about being the only lounge that accepts PP at SFO.

The AF lounge moved to old A DL lounge (downstairs, when entering the hall with the lounges).

I cannot imagine ever wanting to take the inter-terminal train unless I just wanted to take the train. I cannot imagine that it would save time, or save "off your feet" time from just walking.

Since the airport is essentially a loop, I don't think it takes more than a 10 minute brisk landside walk to go halfway around the loop.

Especially when there were landside lounges I could access from time to time (i.e., CO, DL) (but not necessarily one in my departure pier), I frequently darted around the loop.

Oneworld - I like the CX Lounge -really nice staff. Better food options prior to CX flights. More slim pickins during off hours. Nevertheless, a really pleasant space with a respectable wine selection. The BA lounge is a decent space (I've never flown BA from there) but the F&B selection is subpar, although there are an abundance of packaged snacks. (Ironically, when CX used to share the lounge, they had some special Chinese items out for that flight.) There's also a small F room. I've been in there - it isn't anything special. The wine and spirits selection is a bit better (i.e., JW Black instead of Red). I don't know if they put "luxury items" out for BA F pax before their own flights. If you fly BA or are flying an OW airline that is using the gates on either side of the lounge, odds are great that you'll board directly from the lounge.

Skyteam - I haven't been in the new AF lounge since it was the old DL lounge. CI - Really a subpar lounge (with very limited hours). The F&B selection is in need of help. Serious help. So are the plastic cups and paper plates for your subpar F&B.

I mostly agree with you, my main exception being if I'm going from BART <-> Terminal 1 with a rollaboard.

Certainly, for anyone w/o health issues etc. I'd walk between adjacent terminals over taking the train.

I generally use the AirTrain to get between BART and any of the domestic terminals. Otherwise I walk.

Hi,

If I am posting to the wrong area and should create a new thread, apologies.

I am flying from Dublin Ireland, to Salt Lake City with Aer Lingus. I have a connection into SFO, of 2 hours 12 mins before taking a United flight to SLC. (it has an Aer Lingus flight number, just is operated by United).

My question is, is 2 hours 12 mins fine for a connection time, or is it too short? Note, Dublin has pre-clearance for entering the US, so my understanding is this should be treated as a Domestic flight, but that said SFO website seems to say Aer Lingus lands in the International Terminal G.

I've never flown long haul to the US before, so am not familiar with connections, and if I have to go through Security etc. for my connecting flight, or if I can just walk to it easily since I've been pre-cleared in Dublin.

Thanks!

Welcome to FT, NeoRaven! Your layover of 2:12 at SFO is plenty of time for your connection, especially considering that you will not be going through Immigration and Customs. You will arrive at International-G, but you will exit the plane in the main departures area, just as though you were coming in on a domestic flight (a few USA airlines operate their domestic flights in the International Terminal).

Making things even easier for you is that there is an airside bridge between International-G and Terminal 3. As you face the security exit (don't go out!), look to your left and you'll see the sign for Terminal 3. You will not need to go through security. (I'm assuming that if you have any checked bags, you can check them through to SLC in Dublin; if not, you'll need to get your bags at the carousel, re-check them and go through security at T3.)

Safe travels.

Thanks! That sounds good then, I've not booked the flights yet just wanted to make sure 2 hours was ok in case of some delay or long queues with customs, but yeh I should be pre-cleared so good to know I can walk on through. My checked luggage should carry through too since its all booked through Aer Lingus, I will confirm that tho. Thanks!

Is a 2 hour connection enough time to go from the international terminal at sfo to terminal 2 AA if I have global entry (arriving on QF flight), no checked bags, and tsa pre? Is quickest way to go between terminals just to walk?

yes and yes
it shouldn't be necessary, but just to reduce stress, get your AA boarding pass beforehand (if on same ticket, get QF to print it, if on different ticket, either checkin online or on mobile app)
it doesn't really make a difference, but when heading to T2, exit customs via the connections side and if you have your BP already, you have a choice of clearing security either at T1-concourse C (delta/american - not concourse B which is southwest) and walking post security, or walk landside and clear security at T2. if you don't have your BP, you'll have to walk over to T2 to checkin and then clear security there.