Aug 27, 2016, 3:51 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
SFO/OAK/SJC Bay Area Happy Hour Thread
Plane Spotting
At SFO:
Plane Spotting
At SFO:
- The new SFO outdoor observation deck “is located at the far end of the G side (United/Star Alliance) of the airport's international terminal. It will be open daily from 7:00 am until 11:30 pm “as of Wednesday, 6 Feb 2019. “Only passengers using Terminal 3 (United) and the International G-side will have access to it...The 2,997 square foot, roofless deck, offers expansive 180+ degree views of the ramp and runways on the north side of the airport and beyond.” Link to full article and slideshow from sfgate.
(TEMPORARILY CLOSED DUE TO COVID)the SFO Sky Terrace is landside (pre-security) in Terminal 2: "... open to the general public seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. There is no cost to enter and you don’t need a ticket or boarding pass. Visitors will undergo a security check. Food and beverages are allowed but smoking is not permitted."
- Assuming typical "West Plan" operations, Coyote Point Recreation Area (https://goo.gl/maps/DAUZv7A9bFS2) is an excellent location. There are a few overlooks on the trails by the water, depending what angle you want. Vehicular access is via Coyote Point Dr and costs $6 per vehicle.
- For free alternatives consider parking at Ryder Park (https://goo.gl/maps/h48Dk8PhNGk) or Seal Point Park just down the street. There is a flat paved path between here and Coyote Point, although there are overhead power lines along the shore. (Coyote Point and Seal Point parks have unobstructed views however)
Consolidated "What to do during layover/stopover at SFO" thread
Jan 3, 2012, 11:06 am
#166
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I disagree - I think there is enough time to do the Ferry Building. It is a 32 minute ride on BART to/from SFO to the Embarcadero station. You might only have 1.5-2 hours at the Ferry Building, but that is plenty to grab a bite to eat and look around the area. I recommend researching on Yelp.com (address is 1 Ferry Building) and finding a restaurant that allows to go foods and grab a bite outside and enjoy the vistas, unless of course it's raining...
Also - Fisherman's Wharf and the area around, IMHO, is not at all charming. It is just a bunch of junk shops and mostly really bad food. And it'll be challenging to get there in your timeframe.
Also - Fisherman's Wharf and the area around, IMHO, is not at all charming. It is just a bunch of junk shops and mostly really bad food. And it'll be challenging to get there in your timeframe.
Last edited by CApreppie; Jan 3, 2012 at 2:24 pm Reason: Add'l thoughts
Jan 3, 2012, 11:31 am
#167
Moderator: Hilton Honors, Practical Travel Safety Issues & San Francisco
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I was guessing....
arrive 11:15, thru customs etc by 12, still need to recheck luggage, re checkin by 4:30. I agree Ferry Building is do-able if all goes well but not FW.
Jan 6, 2012, 12:18 am
#170
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 195
7 Hour Connection in SFO
In early April, we are flying into SFO and then connecting to a flight to Sydney, Australia late in the evening. Our connection time is about 7 hours, we arrive at 3:30pm. As we fly in from Canada we presumably have to go through Immigration, especially if we plan to leave the airport.
It is several years since we have been to SF and are looking for suggestions. Thinking we can take the Bart downtown but need confirmation this makes sense and info on where we should get off and what to do.
We will be in Business Class but this is too long in the lounge!!!
PS The reason for the bad timing is that this was available as reward travel and is the most direct routing.
It is several years since we have been to SF and are looking for suggestions. Thinking we can take the Bart downtown but need confirmation this makes sense and info on where we should get off and what to do.
We will be in Business Class but this is too long in the lounge!!!
PS The reason for the bad timing is that this was available as reward travel and is the most direct routing.
Jan 6, 2012, 2:38 am
#171
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Hi john2003,
Also if you are arriving from Canada you will need to clear customs and immigration in Canada prior to boarding your SFO flight ( so allow time for that).
Once in SFO the flight is treated as a domestic flight and you do not have to clear customs and immigration and you can just follow signs for the exit and baggage reclaim to leave the airport ( you will need to clear security again once back at SFO)
Regards
TBS
Also if you are arriving from Canada you will need to clear customs and immigration in Canada prior to boarding your SFO flight ( so allow time for that).
Once in SFO the flight is treated as a domestic flight and you do not have to clear customs and immigration and you can just follow signs for the exit and baggage reclaim to leave the airport ( you will need to clear security again once back at SFO)
Regards
TBS
Apr 13, 2012, 2:49 am
#172
Join Date: Mar 2010
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Long connection in SFO, what to do?
I'm thinking of getting a long domestic connection at SFO so i can go out and visit the city. How many hours would I need to just get the BART to visit Alcatraz?
Apr 13, 2012, 10:06 am
#174
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Apr 21, 2012, 1:39 pm
#175
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 45
7.5 Hour Layover in SFO. Enough Time to See the Sights?
Here's the scoop:
Near the end of June, I arrive into SFO at 15:16 on a flight from Canada and my next scheduled flight (UA863 to Sydney) leaves at 22:45. Will I have enough time to head into San Francisco in that 7.5 hour window. I don't know if it's relavent, but I have an F class ticket on my flight to Sydney. Does SFO have a priority security line?
Also, will customs be a problem? I'm flying on a Canadian passport and will have gone through US customs prior to departing to SFO. I'm worried I'll be forced to be confined in the airport as an "in transit" person or something. :S
TL;DR 7.5 hours in SFO. Do I have enough time to go into San Francisco?
Near the end of June, I arrive into SFO at 15:16 on a flight from Canada and my next scheduled flight (UA863 to Sydney) leaves at 22:45. Will I have enough time to head into San Francisco in that 7.5 hour window. I don't know if it's relavent, but I have an F class ticket on my flight to Sydney. Does SFO have a priority security line?
Also, will customs be a problem? I'm flying on a Canadian passport and will have gone through US customs prior to departing to SFO. I'm worried I'll be forced to be confined in the airport as an "in transit" person or something. :S
TL;DR 7.5 hours in SFO. Do I have enough time to go into San Francisco?
Apr 21, 2012, 1:50 pm
#176
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Regarding customs arriving from Canada, all the major Canadian airports have U.S. immigration and customs pre-clearance, meaning that you go through U.S. immigration and customs before you get on your plane in Canada.
U.S. immigration and customs pre-clearance is at Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg.
Once you have arrived, you can take a cab or BART to San Francisco. Either will take you about 30 minutes. If there is traffic, a cab could take up to an hour.
So if you arrive at 3:15 PM (assuming you are on time), you should be able to get in your cab or in the BART train by 3:45 PM or 4 PM, at the latest.
That means you would be in downtown San Francisco by about 4:30 PM.
In order to be back in time for your 10:45 PM to SYD, you need to plan to be back at the terminal by 9:15 PM, so you should plan to leave S.F. by 8:30 PM.
That would still give you 4 hours in the city, which I think is plenty. You can easily get around by walking or taking the pretty good public transportation (muni trolleys, buses or the cable car).
U.S. immigration and customs pre-clearance is at Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg.
Once you have arrived, you can take a cab or BART to San Francisco. Either will take you about 30 minutes. If there is traffic, a cab could take up to an hour.
So if you arrive at 3:15 PM (assuming you are on time), you should be able to get in your cab or in the BART train by 3:45 PM or 4 PM, at the latest.
That means you would be in downtown San Francisco by about 4:30 PM.
In order to be back in time for your 10:45 PM to SYD, you need to plan to be back at the terminal by 9:15 PM, so you should plan to leave S.F. by 8:30 PM.
That would still give you 4 hours in the city, which I think is plenty. You can easily get around by walking or taking the pretty good public transportation (muni trolleys, buses or the cable car).
Apr 21, 2012, 1:52 pm
#177
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: New Hampshire
Programs: AA EXP Hilton Diamond
Posts: 543
Here's the scoop:
Near the end of June, I arrive into SFO at 15:16 on a flight from Canada and my next scheduled flight (UA863 to Sydney) leaves at 22:45. Will I have enough time to head into San Francisco in that 7.5 hour window. I don't know if it's relavent, but I have an F class ticket on my flight to Sydney. Does SFO have a priority security line?
Also, will customs be a problem? I'm flying on a Canadian passport and will have gone through US customs prior to departing to SFO. I'm worried I'll be forced to be confined in the airport as an "in transit" person or something. :S
TL;DR 7.5 hours in SFO. Do I have enough time to go into San Francisco?
Near the end of June, I arrive into SFO at 15:16 on a flight from Canada and my next scheduled flight (UA863 to Sydney) leaves at 22:45. Will I have enough time to head into San Francisco in that 7.5 hour window. I don't know if it's relavent, but I have an F class ticket on my flight to Sydney. Does SFO have a priority security line?
Also, will customs be a problem? I'm flying on a Canadian passport and will have gone through US customs prior to departing to SFO. I'm worried I'll be forced to be confined in the airport as an "in transit" person or something. :S
TL;DR 7.5 hours in SFO. Do I have enough time to go into San Francisco?
Apr 21, 2012, 1:55 pm
#178
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7.5 hours plenty of time to see things. No customs problems, once you are in the US, you are in the US; don't have to do any "in transit" thing. Yes, there is a priority security line, sometimes the regular line is faster. Only issue is you arrive at rush hour, San Fran is know for slow traffic at rush hour. Coming back you will be past rush hour, no problem. I assume you want to go to downtown. You could rent a car, take the airtan to rental center; very easy to do. Or take a cab downtown, easy but expensive. Do have dinner at Fishermans Wharf; good food and lots of locally brewed beer.
It's $8.10 each way and while it gets crowded at rush hour, it's not going to be affected by rush hour traffic.
Plus, in the afternoon rush hour (at 4 PM) the OP would be going against the flow of commuter traffic, so getting a seat should be no problem.
Apr 21, 2012, 2:12 pm
#179
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 45
Thanks everyone!
Thanks for the quick replies!! I'm probably going to take the BART downtown and just walk around, find some place to have a good dinner, and maybe grab a coffee before heading back to the airport. I'll probably start heading back around 20:00 or 20:30 so I can enjoy the F lounge before boarding.
Apr 21, 2012, 2:12 pm
#180
Join Date: Nov 2005
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Definitely take BART when you arrive during rush hour. On the return to the airport you can still take BART but the train frequency will be less than during rush hour so make sure to plan ahead on when to get back to the airport. On your arrival (which will most likely be in the domestic terminal) and exiting security there will be about a 5-10 minute walk to BART. If you come back via BART you will be steps away from the international security you will need to clear for the SYD flight.
Also you may find this thread useful re:getting to BART
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/san-f...ove-these.html
Also you may find this thread useful re:getting to BART
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/san-f...ove-these.html