I'm on a C-class RTW in a few days (*A/EB gold), and just wondered about lounges in SFO.

I'm flying NH7 to NRT and NH use the RCC. Seeing that SQ has a flight leaving around the same time, would I get away with entering the SQ lounge? Seeing its a *A flight on the same day, should that be enough to let me in the SQ lounge?

Or is the RCC of a decent standard and not overly crowded early int he day? My last RCC/UA-experiences just has me mapping out all altenratives

In SFO, the UA lounge is much better, IMHO. It's relatively new, has huge windows overlooking the tarmac, has snacks and if you are in C, you also get 2 complimentary drinks.
SQ is downstairs, out-of-the-way, somewhat dark and dingy.

Having said that, you can use either lounge if you are holding a C ticket, so give them both a try

My point exactly. This is why i loathe UA. Not that I drink a lot, most visits to lounges I've barely touched alchohol, but the principle that someone sits a doles out things on a need-to-get-basis irks me beyond comment.

I'll try the SQ lounge first; my last vist to the UA lounge in SFO got a glance up and down from a matron, when asked if they had a shower, I got a curt "We do it by invitation to our own customers only". That was in paid C, too, and no way I planning on accepting any inviations from her...

Y :-: Gold should get them as well.

When I was still UA*G, I opted to go to SQ lounge at SFO. Ok RCC is huge, and SKL is small. But, I can have my shower at SQ lounge, and the snacks are edible. And the staff are friendlier.

The RCC at SFO is one of the best I have ever visited. Very bright airy, large. There are losts of seats and a quiet business area.

Highly recommended

I'm feeling the onset of "sigtseeing"

*G gets one into the SQ lounge at SFO when not flying on SQ? I've not tried that. I've only used the SQ lounge at SFO when flying on SQ.

I'm not sure what people see in the SFO Int'l RCC. The matrons who work there are quite possibly the meanest in the whole system, drink coupons are hard to get, and it's nightmarishly crowded. Yes, it has a good view, but that's about it.

The SQ lounge on the other hand has good food (and available ice cream!), free make-it-yourself drinks, the Swissport lady who works there is quite nice in my experience, a shower, and internet access (albeit often slow internet access). It also is virtually empty most of the time I'm there... I've never been denied access with my UA int'l ticket.

That's how I remember the SQ lounge form my last visit. it's small, and seeing how NH7 is out the door before the SQ oounge got any kind of crowds last time I was there, then I'll stick to that.

Accidentally; your description is also how I remember my other UA lounge visits in ORD and LAX.

I have a UA allergy, but most reviews of flights are fair to good on their intra-asia segments, so I've tempted myself with NRT-HKG on UA, as I mentioned in my other lounge-thread

The problem with SQ is that if you get to SFO in advance of NH007, it's not open yet. Opens something like 10:30 AM so if you want to hit it, you need to arrive "late" or pick up and move from the RCC.

Scho

Last time I came by there it opened as soon as security openened and let people through, around 8ish or so?

Been to both lounges, UA RCC is huge, including a seperate bar area. Staff at the desk were very friendly last time I was there, but probably because hardly anyone was there. The drink and snacks are very mediocre.

The SQ KF lounge in comparison is considerably smaller. I was flying out on UA on an evening flight from SFO-SYD, and the SQ KF lounge didn't open till about 1 1/2 hrs before the flight. It was empty, and has 2 sections, first and others. It accepted my *G card for entrance, no probs at all.

As stated, empty internet PC is there, and a shower (which was excellent!! - I needed it, the UA RCC folks said they didn't have a shower). They also have nice food and snacks at the KF lounge - hot chicken wings, dim sims, sandwiches, cheeses, biscuits, etc. Plus plenty of booze. There are windows to look out of. It can hold about 30 folks in the area I was in. I definitely recommend the SQ lounge but other than that, the SFO international airside area is VERY boring and would not recommend going through till about 90 mins b4 your flight ...

kawoh