Has anyone done a transfer from SFO international to domestic?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LOS Angeles
Programs: UA 1K, AA PLT, BA Gold
Posts: 350
Has anyone done a transfer from SFO international to domestic?
What is the mininum connection time from transfering from an international to a domestic? How have your experiences been if any of you have completed this transfer?
#3
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SFO
Programs: COdbaUA Platinum 2MM
Posts: 5,532
As GodErnst mentioned, 2 hours is safe.
If you arrive SFO before 9 am, zip through Immigration and Customs without any check-in luggage, the 1st security line from International terminal to domestic terminal is empty, you can probably do it in half hour from international gate to your domestic gate.
If you arrive SFO before 9 am, zip through Immigration and Customs without any check-in luggage, the 1st security line from International terminal to domestic terminal is empty, you can probably do it in half hour from international gate to your domestic gate.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: SNA
Programs: UA Million Mile Nobody, Marriott Platinum Elite, SPG Gold
Posts: 25,228
I've been through immigration and past customs (with only carry-on) in 5 minutes. I've also been stopped by customs and had it take 30 minutes. It also depends on the flight and arrival time. Once out of the secure area, it is less than 15 minutes to walk to the UA domestic terminal, clear security (usually; again, day and time), and get to your gate. I've gone less than 20 minutes from aircraft door open to my domestic gate.
#6
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SFO
Programs: COdbaUA Platinum 2MM
Posts: 5,532
After you leave customs hall, you turn to your left as you exit, you will see signage over head "Re-check luggage" and now roped off area to re-check your check-in luggage.
#7
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SEA/YVR/BLI
Programs: UA "Lifetime" Gold, AS MVPG100K, OW Emerald, HH Lifetime Diamond, IC Plat, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 9,490
We'll flying SYD-SFO-YVR tomorrow and pleased to have a couple of hours for the transfer.
Cheers,
Fredd
#9
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: SoCal to the rest of the world...
Programs: AA EXP with lots of BA. UA 2MM Lifetime Plat - No longer chase hotel loyalty
Posts: 6,699
I do this 10 times a year (Intl to Domestic in SFO)....
As other mentioned you will clear immigration, grab bags and go through customs. Being a US Citizen or Resident it could take anywhere from 2 mins upwards to 20 mins to clear immigration. Assume 15-20 mins from landing bags will start to show up (meaning if immigration line is long at least your bags will be up afterwards). Customs should take anywhere from a min to 10 mins (if you get stopped longer). So it can be as short as 5 mins if you have no checked bags - to as long as 50 mins or so with bags.
Then you need to count the walk to domestic, under 5 mins - you recheck any bags as you exit the customs inspection area - no waiting they just check your BP and belt load them for you.
The next pain though is security. If you can use the UA elite lines then use them! If you are a clear member there is a lane right near the UA elite line (generally gets though quicker than the elite line). Assume regular security line (non elite/non clear) can take 5- mins upwards to 40 mins if the day of the week and time is bad.
What I normally do is book a comfortable connection through SFO (say 2hrs +) then go gate standby to leave earlier if I get through all formalities quickly. Normally works out OK.
I did NRT-SFO-SNA last week, had a legal 3 hr + connection, but got in early and made what technically was an illegal connection that left 45 hr after my first flight landed - plus on that day immigration lines were long (11:40AM) and I had a checked bag. But did make it - don't assume you will which is why you always want to be booked on a comfortable connection and then gate standby for earlier.
As other mentioned you will clear immigration, grab bags and go through customs. Being a US Citizen or Resident it could take anywhere from 2 mins upwards to 20 mins to clear immigration. Assume 15-20 mins from landing bags will start to show up (meaning if immigration line is long at least your bags will be up afterwards). Customs should take anywhere from a min to 10 mins (if you get stopped longer). So it can be as short as 5 mins if you have no checked bags - to as long as 50 mins or so with bags.
Then you need to count the walk to domestic, under 5 mins - you recheck any bags as you exit the customs inspection area - no waiting they just check your BP and belt load them for you.
The next pain though is security. If you can use the UA elite lines then use them! If you are a clear member there is a lane right near the UA elite line (generally gets though quicker than the elite line). Assume regular security line (non elite/non clear) can take 5- mins upwards to 40 mins if the day of the week and time is bad.
What I normally do is book a comfortable connection through SFO (say 2hrs +) then go gate standby to leave earlier if I get through all formalities quickly. Normally works out OK.
I did NRT-SFO-SNA last week, had a legal 3 hr + connection, but got in early and made what technically was an illegal connection that left 45 hr after my first flight landed - plus on that day immigration lines were long (11:40AM) and I had a checked bag. But did make it - don't assume you will which is why you always want to be booked on a comfortable connection and then gate standby for earlier.
#10
In memoriam
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: IAD, BOS, PVD
Programs: UA, US, AS, Marriott, Radisson, Hilton
Posts: 7,203
Originally Posted by NickP 1K
What I normally do is book a comfortable connection through SFO (say 2hrs +) then go gate standby to leave earlier if I get through all formalities quickly.
#11
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SAN
Programs: UA MM Gold
Posts: 1,193
Pray for an early arrival. My last flt from PVG arrived SFO at 0815 and immigration was totally empty. Wow we flew through the whole process and hopped an earlier domestic leg. Warning, if you suspect you can jump an earlier flt, do NOT recheck your bags, but drag them to the lobby and hit an elite line to try to catch an earlier flt. Has worked for me 2x this year. YMMV. IF you are carry-on only, no sweat....
#12
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: OAK
Programs: AS MVPG 100k
Posts: 3,756
Without checked bags it typically takes ~60 minutes, but even 2 hours can be tight if things go against you.
IMO, a tight connection is worth the risk so long as there is another onward flight the same day. IOW - if you have a choice between tight and long, take the tight one, as you should be reaccomodated on the later flight if you misconnect.
Might be more complex if you check bags; I never do.
IMO, a tight connection is worth the risk so long as there is another onward flight the same day. IOW - if you have a choice between tight and long, take the tight one, as you should be reaccomodated on the later flight if you misconnect.
Might be more complex if you check bags; I never do.
#13
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: SoCal to the rest of the world...
Programs: AA EXP with lots of BA. UA 2MM Lifetime Plat - No longer chase hotel loyalty
Posts: 6,699
Pray for an early arrival. My last flt from PVG arrived SFO at 0815 and immigration was totally empty. Wow we flew through the whole process and hopped an earlier domestic leg. Warning, if you suspect you can jump an earlier flt, do NOT recheck your bags, but drag them to the lobby and hit an elite line to try to catch an earlier flt. Has worked for me 2x this year. YMMV. IF you are carry-on only, no sweat....
#14
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: SoCal to the rest of the world...
Programs: AA EXP with lots of BA. UA 2MM Lifetime Plat - No longer chase hotel loyalty
Posts: 6,699
Without checked bags it typically takes ~60 minutes, but even 2 hours can be tight if things go against you.
IMO, a tight connection is worth the risk so long as there is another onward flight the same day. IOW - if you have a choice between tight and long, take the tight one, as you should be reaccomodated on the later flight if you misconnect.
Might be more complex if you check bags; I never do.
IMO, a tight connection is worth the risk so long as there is another onward flight the same day. IOW - if you have a choice between tight and long, take the tight one, as you should be reaccomodated on the later flight if you misconnect.
Might be more complex if you check bags; I never do.
#15
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SFO
Programs: COdbaUA Platinum 2MM
Posts: 5,532
The risk is if the later flight is oversold, you could get hosed. You're better off booking the safer connection and going standby for the earlier. If you do book a tight connection and miss it then the next flight is oversold - you can get stuck in SFO for a while - trust this from experience even as a 1K.