Consolidated "What to do during layover/stopover at SFO" thread
 

Hi
on monday I'm flying LHR-SYD via SFO. I have 5hrs in transit at SFO, and have a friend who lives 15 minutes from the airport.

He's offered to take me out for a beer/some food, but what are my chances (and will it be worth it) to get out of the airport and back in. I can't imagine customs would be too pleased with it....

any ideas/experience please?

Any help appreciated

cheers

PS - I'm a UK passport holder......

You're going to have to clear customs no matter what since you're transitting the US... There's really no other option. Once you pass immigration, you're in the US anyhow since the exit from the immigrations hall @ SFO dumps you streetside. Go out and have some beer and fun :)

I've never transitioned from one foreign country to another through SFO and I think you might have to go through customs anyway -- the planes don't land at the int'l boarding areas, unless there's another way from arrivals to departures; I've never had to look. Customs is pretty quick at SFO and the int'l terminal is awesome. ^ 5 hours? You're fine. I've arrived for int'l flights one hour before departure w/o problem. The int'l terminal has an int'l food court by the check in areas you could meet your friend at.

What he said on all counts! ^

There are lots of bars and restauarants around SFO, so go out and have some fun! Every once in a while I even see uniformed flight attendants in nearby grocery stores (stocking up for long int'l flights?), so a quick jaunt out to nearby areas is very feasible.

I've never transited SFO as it's my own airport. Will you go through customs without claiming and rechecking baggage? If so, you could probably get back to the airport an hour before departure and you'll be fine, since you'll already have a boarding pass. If re-checking bags, I'd personally allow a little longer, but that's just me.

is that definate then? You have to go thru customs no matter what?

I've only once been in transit without stopping in the US, but that was back in 2000 and I have a stamp in my passport.......???

Yes. You definitely need to go through customs.

Yes, the US now requires all international transit pax to disembark and clear customs--no exceptions. Stupid policy, but it is what it is.

Remember there are MANY countries where it's very hard to get a visa and you must obtain one just to TRANSIT that country.

I just got a Russian visa... not too bad, but a pain. I've heard that Chinese visas are harder (and that they require one to transit China).

thanks for your help guys....

was wondering what to do with that 5hrs anyway - looks like I might get a taste of San Fran after all

You should be able to check your baggage through to LHR when you check in at SYD, and then you pick up your luggage after immigration but before customs, and then drop it off at the counter just past customs, so all of that will be taken care of before you leave the airport.

I've never had any trouble with SFO international security -- I think getting back to SFO an hour before your flight will be plenty of time...

Definitely get out of the airport when you're here!
In fact, even if your friend ditches you, you should hop on BART and head into SF anyway (it's a quick hop-skip-and-jump (assuming you've dropped off your luggage; otherwise the skipping is a bit more difficult) from the International terminal)...

Dan

US airports are simply not designed for international to international connections. In many cases, there are domestic and international flights leaving from the same terminal.

In general, so does FRA when coming inbound from the US and connecting to other countries in Europe.

The only airports that you don't seem to need to do this are aisian airports.

Hi there

You would be wise to follow all the above sagely advice! I do this very same thing about three times per year. Yes you do need to clear custom and yes it it is well worth while getting out of the airport. Even if you were not being met the Bart will drop you in town and if you really need it, the travel agency will look after your bags for a fee

Customs will of course not bat an eyelid. Also, given you have an onward international flight you will have a lower chance of the dreaded SSSS

Jeff

SSSS???? :confused:

"Special" attention from the screeners. Not quite as intrusive as a BCS (body cavity search).

I think that immigrations is far more of an issue than customs.

Moved the San Francisco forum for the sake of future searching.

cblaisd
Moderator, United

Consolidated "What to do during layover/stopover at SFO" thread [merged threads]
 

I have a 10 hour layover at SFO this week during a mileage run land 2:35 with redeye at 12:30 Am on NW.

Any suggestions reagrding how to kill 10 hours near or in SFO?

Thanks

There are actually quite a few threads about how to kill time in and around SFO. Here is one of my favorite threads about things to do in SF. You might have to use some cleverness, but search out the SF board, and maybe even the UA board, and you should find other recommendations...10 hours should allow you enough time to do almost anything you want

Edited: ALso, check out this FT feature, which should make your searching a bit easier...threads 381, 500, and 507 might be particularly relevant

I may be a little unusual in this regard, but (particularly if it is a weekend) I'd probably priceline a hotel south of the airport and catch a good long nap and have dinner at Kincaids

Seven Hour Layover in SFO -- Where To Go? + Transfer Questions
 

Hello!

I have a one-time-use RCC pass in my hands.

I'll be flying TPE-NGO-SFO-ORD.

I have a seven hour layover in SFO.
**EDIT: I miscalculated. I get in around 8am and leave 5pm, so it's actually a nine hour layover.**

Questions:

1. When I arrive, I'll arrive in the international terminal, correct?

2. I'm assuming I'll need to pick up my luggage immediately (for Customs). Do I need to take my luggage over to the domestic terminal, or is there somewhere I can drop them off in the international terminal?

3. I've read that there are multiple RCCs at SFO. Which one should I go to?

If someone experienced with SFO could help me work out a time line of when I should be where, that would be immensely helpful (i.e. proceed to Customs immediately upon disembarking the plane, take care of luggage at XYZ point, find ABC RCC, hang out there for five hours, go to domestic terminal one hour prior to flight departure time).

Thank you!

P.S. Is the one-time-use RCC pass truly one-time-use, or can I use it at both the NGO RCC and SFO RCC, provided I'll be passing through them consecutively? It'd be nice to have somewhere to stay during my 1-2 hour layover in NGO.

1. Yes.
2. I believe you need to take them over to the domestic terminal to get re-checked. It's not far, though.
3. None of the above. If you're in SF for seven hours, take BART into the city, get some good food, and look around!

Yes, it is truly a one-time use card.

I would leave the airport. I have never had a layover in SFO since that is where I depart from, but I did have to wait 6 hours for a flight after dropping someone off for an earlier flight. In this case my brother and I spent our time at Artichoke Joes which is a poker room about a couple miles away ^. If you like cards give it a try! They are also open 24/7 so if you are there at weird hours it may help.

I agree with mahasamatman. A layover of that length will allow you to take Bart to downtown SF to get some good food and then head back to the airport with plenty of time for your connection. My suggestion would be to take Bart to the Embarcadero Station and then walk to the Ferry Building for some shopping and grazing. This is an even better idea if your travel is on a Sunday - there's a huge farmer's market with lots of interesting food to try.

If you stay at SFO, your only option will be the domestic RCC, which leaves much to be desired when compared to pretty much every international club and most other airlines' domestic clubs. It's big, but it's crowded, has limited food, no free drinks, no showers, dirty restrooms and numerous loud guys talking on their cell phones about their Q4 sales numbers. I'd skip it in favor of using the NGO RCC and then heading into SF for your layover at SFO.

If you decide to do that, and it's a weekday, drop me a line - I work across the street from the Ferry Building.

if you don't want to go into town, you have the option of standing by for an earlier ORD flight :)

When I last arrived at SFO from Sydney, there was a baggage recheck in the international terminal just after customs, on the left iirc, before walking over to the north terminal. I suppose it might not always be staffed, but there were three friendly guys with a CTX and a conveyor, ready to snag a tagged bag and send them on their way.

Definetely recommend going into the city...I had a three hour layover at SFO once, managed to get into the city, grab a bite to eat, and make it back with time to spare to catch my flight. BART is a 30 minute ride into San Francisco, with schedules available online, so it's pretty easy to plan out, down to which train to catch.

7 hour layover? Heck, you can get *2* meals in that time. SFO-S.F. proper is a breeze on BART. If you want Mexican/Central American, get off at 24th St./Mission. Indian - 16th St or Powell. Any other cuisines, get off downtown at either Monty or Emby.

If you decide to follow the excellent suggestions above to go to SF, be sure to check the weather forecast (or look out the window on approach). We've just entered the winter storm season, so depending on when you get here, walking around outside might not be a pleasant experience. Then again, if you compare it ORD, you're probably still going to enjoy it :)

7 hour connection time, 2 hours for CBP and re-checking of your luggage gives you 5. take the BART downtown somewhere, you've got 2.5-3 hours, assuming you're not a man that likes to take chances with security lineups :)

RAOUL!!!

Hah! yes, I love walking around watching all the fools wearing scarves. SF is hardly one of the coldest areas of the country. :) One can walk between clubs and wait in line in a nice t-shirt, whereas ORD you have to bundle up just to walk next door.

I vote popping into the city if you don't catch an earlier flight. Even on a gloomy day SF is a lot of fun. Go ride a cable car! Pop over to Alcatraz (ok, that would probably cut things close)! Meet some of the nice local FTers!

Dunno why people are slamming on the SFO RCC, it has some of the nicest matrons (an undeserving name by association only), and it's not as if it's a Ritz at only $300/year. Certainly one of the nicest in the system.

I certainly don't claim to be an expert on SF, but if you like rotisserie chicken, Mistral Rotisserie in the Ferry Building is wonderful. If the weather is good, you can eat outside and watch the ferries come and go.

If you did want to use the RCC, for whatever reason, there is only one choice. The one in the domestic terminal.

Also, there is no RCC in NGO, and only a contracted lounge, where your pass would not be good anyway.

Head into the city on BART and visit Union Sq. and Ferry Building. You also have enuff time to probably go thru Chinatown too.

Union Square isn't all that interesting.

I love Mistral! There's almost nothing better than potatoes roasted under the rotating chickens.

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You can go to the Castro and watch them too! :D

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Well, there is Victoria's Secret. ^