Public Transit to SFO: 6:40am weekday flight
Mar 2, 2016, 4:03 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 4
Public Transit to SFO: 6:40am weekday flight
I'm taking an early domestic flight next week, and to avoid expensive Taxi / Uber fees I'm debating two different public transportation options from San Francisco to SFO:
1. 24 Muni bus to SamTrans 397 OWL bus (Cortland & Bayshore stop). Arrives at SFO, arriving at 5:03am.
Pros: Gets me to airport in plenty of time, cheaper.
Cons: longer ride, have never taken before and am not sure how reliable it is or what the sketch factor is.
2. First BART train of the day, arrives at SFO at 5:28am.
Pros: Faster ride, BART is very reliable and safe.
Cons: 70 minutes is cutting it a little close.
I'm not planning to check luggage. Which option would you use / recommend in my shoes?
1. 24 Muni bus to SamTrans 397 OWL bus (Cortland & Bayshore stop). Arrives at SFO, arriving at 5:03am.
Pros: Gets me to airport in plenty of time, cheaper.
Cons: longer ride, have never taken before and am not sure how reliable it is or what the sketch factor is.
2. First BART train of the day, arrives at SFO at 5:28am.
Pros: Faster ride, BART is very reliable and safe.
Cons: 70 minutes is cutting it a little close.
I'm not planning to check luggage. Which option would you use / recommend in my shoes?
Mar 3, 2016, 9:42 am
#2
Moderator: Hilton Honors, Practical Travel Safety Issues & San Francisco
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I'd bite the bullet and do Uberpool if you can
if Pool will go to SFO it's likely only be about $15 or so - I just can't remember if they do pool to the airport. I know they do it on return.
I don't trust the 24 bus BTW -= a long crosstown route that is often delayed.
I don't trust the 24 bus BTW -= a long crosstown route that is often delayed.
Mar 3, 2016, 2:44 pm
#4
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Mach3, welcome to FlyerTalk. I agree with the BART method - much more reliable.
You haven't disclosed your airline or whether you have PreCheck. I often take BART to make, say a 7 a.m. UA domestic flight. Arriving SFO at 5:28, I can be through Pre-Check at the International terminal, walk to whatever UA gate the flight departs from, hitting the restroom on the way and all that usually takes only 15 minutes from BART arrival.
You haven't disclosed your airline or whether you have PreCheck. I often take BART to make, say a 7 a.m. UA domestic flight. Arriving SFO at 5:28, I can be through Pre-Check at the International terminal, walk to whatever UA gate the flight departs from, hitting the restroom on the way and all that usually takes only 15 minutes from BART arrival.
Last edited by Ocn Vw 1K; Mar 4, 2016 at 10:39 am Reason: correct typo.
Mar 4, 2016, 9:53 am
#5
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Welcome, Mach3! You can see good advice from others, above. Note well the stormy weather we're expecting next week. SFO is likely to face significant delays.
Mar 4, 2016, 10:36 am
#6
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Note that BART has been suffering some delays during heavier storms, but at first train out, if there are any, they should be minimal.
Mar 4, 2016, 8:12 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: SFO
Posts: 217
Mach3, welcome to FlyerTalk. I agree with the BART method - much more reliable.
You haven't disclosed your airline or whether you have PreCheck. I often take BART to make, say a 7 a.m. UA domestic flight. Arriving SFO at 5:28, I can be through Pre-Check at the International terminal, walk to whatever UA gate the flight departs from, hitting the restroom on the way and all that usually takes only 15 minutes from BART arrival.
You haven't disclosed your airline or whether you have PreCheck. I often take BART to make, say a 7 a.m. UA domestic flight. Arriving SFO at 5:28, I can be through Pre-Check at the International terminal, walk to whatever UA gate the flight departs from, hitting the restroom on the way and all that usually takes only 15 minutes from BART arrival.
Mar 7, 2016, 11:26 am
#8
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Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 4
Thanks for the replies and welcome to the forum. My flight is on United, and I have precheck. It sounds like from what you're all saying that BART is the way to go, and I suspect it's less likely to have delays in heavy rain than the busses. I'll report back on how it goes after my flight.
Mar 8, 2016, 1:08 pm
#9
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Thanks for the replies and welcome to the forum. My flight is on United, and I have precheck. It sounds like from what you're all saying that BART is the way to go, and I suspect it's less likely to have delays in heavy rain than the busses. I'll report back on how it goes after my flight.
Mar 14, 2016, 10:57 am
#10
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Update: the BART ride went smoothly and I made my flight, although it was a little close for comfort since the flight ended up boarding early and leaving 10 minutes early. (They hustled us out quickly before the bad weather got worse.) In the future I'll stick to arriving at the airport 90 minutes before my flight, even if I have to pay a little more for an UberX.