Jul 30, 2016, 11:29 am
Last edit by: dhuey
UA @ SFO uses Terminals D, E, F, G, all UA gates are connected airside
UA terminal map & SFO terminal map
United clubs locations:
E gates -- near E3
F gates -- in the F rotunda
G gates -- near G9 (former Global First Lounge)
Mezzanine -- across from E1 (between E & F concourse)
United Polaris Lounge (United/Star Alliance long-haul business class passengers only) - just past Intl G security on the right.
Arrivals -- CLOSED - was near UA Domestic baggage claim (near the Internation Terminal end escalator) on the Arrival level
AMEX Centurion Lounge -- across from Gate F1
Freshen Up! -- is an independent option for Shower facilities, nap rooms, toiletries, ironing facilities and undergarments.
MCT
UA-UA D-D is usually 30 minutes
xx-UA I-D is generally 80-105 minutes (but without Global Entry this is very tight)
UA-XX D-D is ????
Incoming International (except Canadian flights arriving as domestic flights - clearance is done in Canada) - must clear USA immigration and customs even if in-transit to a non-USA destination. Therefore also need to re-clear security if connecting.
Bags can be check at either International Check (G) or Domestic check-in (T3) for either international or domestic flights -- you may get some pushback at International check-in counters checking bags for solely domestic flights (apparently it is a bit more complex to get the bags to the domestic side)
Bag storage Open Everyday 6am – 11 pm
Before security, on the Departures/Ticketing Level of the International Terminal, near the entrance to Gates G91-G102.
Related threads
Connecting in SFO
Archived posts: Consolidated Connection time/logistics-Domestic & International at SFO [ARCHIVE]
UA terminal map & SFO terminal map
United clubs locations:
E gates -- near E3
F gates -- in the F rotunda
G gates -- near G9 (former Global First Lounge)
Mezzanine -- across from E1 (between E & F concourse)
United Polaris Lounge (United/Star Alliance long-haul business class passengers only) - just past Intl G security on the right.
Arrivals -- CLOSED - was near UA Domestic baggage claim (near the Internation Terminal end escalator) on the Arrival level
AMEX Centurion Lounge -- across from Gate F1
Freshen Up! -- is an independent option for Shower facilities, nap rooms, toiletries, ironing facilities and undergarments.
MCT
UA-UA D-D is usually 30 minutes
xx-UA I-D is generally 80-105 minutes (but without Global Entry this is very tight)
UA-XX D-D is ????
Incoming International (except Canadian flights arriving as domestic flights - clearance is done in Canada) - must clear USA immigration and customs even if in-transit to a non-USA destination. Therefore also need to re-clear security if connecting.
Bags can be check at either International Check (G) or Domestic check-in (T3) for either international or domestic flights -- you may get some pushback at International check-in counters checking bags for solely domestic flights (apparently it is a bit more complex to get the bags to the domestic side)
Bag storage Open Everyday 6am – 11 pm
Before security, on the Departures/Ticketing Level of the International Terminal, near the entrance to Gates G91-G102.
Related threads
Connecting in SFO
Archived posts: Consolidated Connection time/logistics-Domestic & International at SFO [ARCHIVE]
Consolidated SFO connection time/logistics-Domestic & International
Dec 11, 2023, 11:20 pm
#556
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Thanks for that detail. I was not aware. I was curious as I'm flying AKL-SFO with my parents next month. I'm getting off at SFO as I live here, but they then have a flight to DEN 1h40m later. I would have tried to help them re-check their bags in G, but now I guess I know better. I am mulling whether I should rebook them onto a later flight.
Dec 12, 2023, 12:10 am
#557
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It's been stated previously that there is no conveyor belt system between the Intl G check-in desks and Terminal 3, so any bags checked there need to be manually transported over so they prefer not to do it. I'm not sure if that's true or not, but it would support the stories that some people have been able to check bags there, whilst others have been rejected.
Dec 12, 2023, 6:59 am
#558
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That supports the situation my wife had today - she arrived at G with SQ and had separate ticket with UA departing from T3. After picking up her luggage she went left instead of exiting to drop her bags for UA's flight but was told to take bags to T3 instead. So had to exit and push the cart from G to T3.
Dec 12, 2023, 9:31 am
#559
Join Date: Jun 2014
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Posts: 4,130
That's actually a different situation. After exiting the arrivals/customs area, the bag drop area she came to would be the "re-check" area, which is on the floor below the main international check-in area that I mentioned. They will absolutely accept bags there for domestic flights, but they can only accept bags that are already tagged - which presumably hers were not. Without them being already tagged she will need to head to one of the check-in counters in T3. (As mentioned above, they *might* have accepted them at the international check-in area if she had gone up one level to it, but there's no point when connecting to a domestic flight as it's easier to just take them over to T3.
Dec 12, 2023, 11:48 am
#560
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That's different than what several have posted here before though I don't know if any were referring to SFO. There have been multiple cases of bags being rechecked at the UA bag drop when the bags were not originally checked through to the final destination. Maybe UA is trying to shut that down?
If the desk at the transfer area is manned then it's possible they will allow you to check-in there, but at least from what I've seen, it's very rarely manned (and never more than 1 desk that's manned).
Dec 12, 2023, 3:34 pm
#561
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 4,130
I'm SFO based (and generally don't check bags) so I can't speak from personal experience, however I do walk past the recheck area occasionally. There are a whole row of "check-in" desks towards the back of the area, but the vast majority of the time they are unmanned. Instead there's just a few people with hand-held scanners at the drop-off point. If your bags are tagged, they get scanned and onto the belt. If they aren't tagged, you get sent off to T3.
If the desk at the transfer area is manned then it's possible they will allow you to check-in there, but at least from what I've seen, it's very rarely manned (and never more than 1 desk that's manned).
If the desk at the transfer area is manned then it's possible they will allow you to check-in there, but at least from what I've seen, it's very rarely manned (and never more than 1 desk that's manned).
Dec 13, 2023, 2:40 am
#562
Join Date: Mar 2022
Posts: 4
Transiting at SFO int to dom on 1 ticket
I'm transiting int to dom on 1 ticket on UA at SFO. Have a bit over 2 hours. Is it easy at SFO ? Also am using a frequent flyer ticket & can't do seating yet. When does UA open up paid seats before departure ? I think qantas does it 80 hours before. Thanks
Dec 13, 2023, 7:02 am
#563
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: SQ, QF, UA, CO, DL
Posts: 2,891
For seats, are you saying that when you go to United.com you cannot select seats on your award ticket?
Dec 13, 2023, 8:06 am
#564
Join Date: Oct 2018
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If you don't have Global Entry, use the Mobile Passport option on your phone. I did that last time I transited SFO as I had 3 non-global entry people traveling in my party and we were through in under 10 minutes.
The bigger issue on that trip was the conveyor broke at UA's baggage recheck so we had to carry it up to the regular check in counters.
The bigger issue on that trip was the conveyor broke at UA's baggage recheck so we had to carry it up to the regular check in counters.
Dec 13, 2023, 1:19 pm
#565
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I could certainly see IAD Midfield being different, as it's at best difficult to get to the "normal" check-in area from there. Duty Free liquids alone likely makes the use case you mentioned something that happens frequently, whereas at SFO they could just send the person off to the check-in counters to handle.
Dec 13, 2023, 2:19 pm
#566
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If you don't have Global Entry, use the Mobile Passport option on your phone. I did that last time I transited SFO as I had 3 non-global entry people traveling in my party and we were through in under 10 minutes.
The bigger issue on that trip was the conveyor broke at UA's baggage recheck so we had to carry it up to the regular check in counters.
The bigger issue on that trip was the conveyor broke at UA's baggage recheck so we had to carry it up to the regular check in counters.
Dec 14, 2023, 12:12 pm
#567
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That's actually a different situation. After exiting the arrivals/customs area, the bag drop area she came to would be the "re-check" area, which is on the floor below the main international check-in area that I mentioned. They will absolutely accept bags there for domestic flights, but they can only accept bags that are already tagged - which presumably hers were not. Without them being already tagged she will need to head to one of the check-in counters in T3.
Now, in the light of other posts in this thread, she should be instead going outside, take elevator to upper floor, check bags at UA counter at Terminal G, go to the security there as well and walk to F gates. But we did not know all this until reading this tread.
Dec 15, 2023, 9:28 am
#569
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: SQ, QF, UA, CO, DL
Posts: 2,891
It's been stated previously that there is no conveyor belt system between the Intl G check-in desks and Terminal 3, so any bags checked there need to be manually transported over so they prefer not to do it. I'm not sure if that's true or not, but it would support the stories that some people have been able to check bags there, whilst others have been rejected.
That's a completely different situation. After customs, they should turn left and then left again and you'll come to the connecting flight bag drop area. This is in the international terminal, but it's separate from the international check-in counters (on a different floor). Presuming their bags are already tagged (which they will be automatically it's one ticket, or you can ask for them to be if it's two), then they can just drop them there and head to security.
That's was the case. Because it was two separate flights, not on one ticket, her bags were tagged only to SFO and she has not checked in to her UA flight. So she has to take her cart to T3 and do bag drop and check in there.
Now, in the light of other posts in this thread, she should be instead going outside, take elevator to upper floor, check bags at UA counter at Terminal G, go to the security there as well and walk to F gates. But we did not know all this until reading this tread.
Now, in the light of other posts in this thread, she should be instead going outside, take elevator to upper floor, check bags at UA counter at Terminal G, go to the security there as well and walk to F gates. But we did not know all this until reading this tread.
Dec 15, 2023, 10:21 am
#570
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