Got Back From SFO: What's With Everyones Beef With SFO?
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,673
SNA -> SFO is my favorite route to get bumped at. It's almost guaranteed around the holidays Last year I flew it three times just to get voluntarily bumped 3 times. This is what I do in my holidays LOL.
Maybe you just caught it at a good time. Like [MENTION=659374]Kacee[/MENTION] said, the UC's are overcrowded since the Polaris club construction. Oh and with winter coming around, Karl will be making an almost daily appearance along with some rain. Then the magic happens.
Maybe you just caught it at a good time. Like [MENTION=659374]Kacee[/MENTION] said, the UC's are overcrowded since the Polaris club construction. Oh and with winter coming around, Karl will be making an almost daily appearance along with some rain. Then the magic happens.
I've had more trouble with Karl during the summer months when trying to fly into SFO from SEA, PDX, LAX, or LAS in the mid-afternoon, when the winds are whipping up strong off the ocean. Most the time those flights seem to get delayed 2-4 hours. If in a place like LAS it's great; lots of options to pass the time. But SEA and PDX and LAX ... not so great.
SFO is a great airport. Could be better if the runways 28L & R were a bit more separated to allow them to operate in parallel during bad weather. Or if BART ran 24/7 into The City.
SFO is a great airport. Could be better if the runways 28L & R were a bit more separated to allow them to operate in parallel during bad weather. Or if BART ran 24/7 into The City.
https://twitter.com/karlthefog
#18
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
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cant speak from expereience for all of these, but IME, NYC-area airports, particularly LGA/EWR can be absolutely awful. Get one puff of wind in the area of EWR and theres a 2 hour ground hold.
#19
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Join Date: Jun 2010
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#20
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Amabassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,590
The past few months have seen the cancellation of HKG-SIN and the addition of LAX-SIN, both are horrible changes IMO
I write this from SIN right now, after taking BR from ORD-TPE-SIN to get here and coming home on CA (Lord help me, but I gotta try it once) SIN-PEK-EWR because I refuse to travel thru TBIT/LAX or SFO to get to Asia on UA.
CA or BR, I can go from ORD or IAH
I write this from SIN right now, after taking BR from ORD-TPE-SIN to get here and coming home on CA (Lord help me, but I gotta try it once) SIN-PEK-EWR because I refuse to travel thru TBIT/LAX or SFO to get to Asia on UA.
CA or BR, I can go from ORD or IAH
#21
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Join Date: Mar 2010
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The past few months have seen the cancellation of HKG-SIN and the addition of LAX-SIN, both are horrible changes IMO
I write this from SIN right now, after taking BR from ORD-TPE-SIN to get here and coming home on CA (Lord help me, but I gotta try it once) SIN-PEK-EWR because I refuse to travel thru TBIT/LAX or SFO to get to Asia on UA.
CA or BR, I can go from ORD or IAH
I write this from SIN right now, after taking BR from ORD-TPE-SIN to get here and coming home on CA (Lord help me, but I gotta try it once) SIN-PEK-EWR because I refuse to travel thru TBIT/LAX or SFO to get to Asia on UA.
CA or BR, I can go from ORD or IAH
Good luck on CA. LOL
#22
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: SEA/NYC/IAD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 2,007
So I just got back from SFO which was my first time ever flying into San Francisco. Driven and taken the train but this weekend was my first time flying into SFO. On this forum, we will get people saying SFO this and SFO that not in a good way. I went to the end of ALL of United's Concourse and back including the International Section. Also, I went inside all three of the domestic United Clubs there. Except for the United Club across from gate Gate 71A which while clean and nicely stocked, was deep inside the building without any natural lights, kind of was depressing. The other two were fine. The terminal concourse were all bright and clean with a variety of food options. The staff in the lounges were all pleasant as well.
My flight back home was oversold so as a VOLUNTARY bump, I was offered $400.00 voucher plus I told them I wanted first class on the alternative flight to which they agreed to. The supervisor even offered up $20.00 dollars food voucher. With 4 hours to kill till my next flight, I explored every corner of UA's concourse. No nasty lounge dragons were around. The gate staff were excellent. The only issue was with a passenger in FC who security had to be called on once we landed but other than that it was smooth sailing.
My flight back home was oversold so as a VOLUNTARY bump, I was offered $400.00 voucher plus I told them I wanted first class on the alternative flight to which they agreed to. The supervisor even offered up $20.00 dollars food voucher. With 4 hours to kill till my next flight, I explored every corner of UA's concourse. No nasty lounge dragons were around. The gate staff were excellent. The only issue was with a passenger in FC who security had to be called on once we landed but other than that it was smooth sailing.
2) Food is meh unless you're flying out of T2. I'm not a huge fan of the food court options, and it's expensive. Klein's Deli is okay I suppose.
3) I'm not sure what lounge dragons you speak of. I don't have status, but every time I peek inside, the UCs are packed to the gills.
4) Less related given you seem to be connecting rather than staying in SF, but worth bringing up: ground transport sucks. Either you pay through the roof for Uber, or you spend an hour navigating a subway system that smells like a sewer, covers a narrow slice of the city (or you're taking Caltrain south and have to figure out how to go from Caltrain station to where you're actually going).
I feel like you're comparing more domestic vs international service. What airport in the US has the level of service you describe above? I've never seen it unless you're GS. Most of the time it's "A representative will meet you at the gate" and half the time there is no representative at the gate and you either call or go to a customer service desk.
Was the ground staff in HKG United Airlines staff?
Was the ground staff in HKG United Airlines staff?
#23
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: San Francisco, CA (SFO)
Programs: UA 1K, UA .53 MM, Marriott Gold, Nexus, GE, TSA Pre, Hertz PC
Posts: 581
I've had 25 arrivals and 24 departures at SFO this year. I've had one delay during an arrival, where visibility was low and eventually we had to land at SJC. TSA PreCheck lines are rarely more than 7-9 minutes long and there are decent lounge and food options. My only gripe about SFO is the automobile traffic in the departures area (which happens to be where I catch my Ubers.)
SFO is a pleasant airport, and the fact that you only have to clear security once to transfer between domestic and international terminals is quite nice too.
SFO is a pleasant airport, and the fact that you only have to clear security once to transfer between domestic and international terminals is quite nice too.
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: IHG Spire, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Titanium, Mileage Plus Gold
Posts: 1,736
1) Weather (fog or even just general turbulence makes for bumpy morning landings)
2) Food is meh unless you're flying out of T2. I'm not a huge fan of the food court options, and it's expensive. Klein's Deli is okay I suppose.
3) I'm not sure what lounge dragons you speak of. I don't have status, but every time I peek inside, the UCs are packed to the gills.
4) Less related given you seem to be connecting rather than staying in SF, but worth bringing up: ground transport sucks. Either you pay through the roof for Uber, or you spend an hour navigating a subway system that smells like a sewer, covers a narrow slice of the city (or you're taking Caltrain south and have to figure out how to go from Caltrain station to where you're actually going).
Whoa, I've flown this route 8x (ish?) in the past three months and have yet to run into an oversell situation. Which flights are you taking? I will say though, I find it incredibly amusing when over half the plane boards in Group 1, at least for UA209/809 anyway.
I flew HKG-SFO this morning. There were a surprisingly large number of UA ground staff (8+) at the gate and they processed everyone fairly quickly given the new "enhanced security measures" (or maybe just with typical Hong Kong efficiency). Considering the ORD/EWR flights depart/arrive just a few hours earlier, I'm guessing UA maintains a fairly large ground staff.
2) Food is meh unless you're flying out of T2. I'm not a huge fan of the food court options, and it's expensive. Klein's Deli is okay I suppose.
3) I'm not sure what lounge dragons you speak of. I don't have status, but every time I peek inside, the UCs are packed to the gills.
4) Less related given you seem to be connecting rather than staying in SF, but worth bringing up: ground transport sucks. Either you pay through the roof for Uber, or you spend an hour navigating a subway system that smells like a sewer, covers a narrow slice of the city (or you're taking Caltrain south and have to figure out how to go from Caltrain station to where you're actually going).
Whoa, I've flown this route 8x (ish?) in the past three months and have yet to run into an oversell situation. Which flights are you taking? I will say though, I find it incredibly amusing when over half the plane boards in Group 1, at least for UA209/809 anyway.
I flew HKG-SFO this morning. There were a surprisingly large number of UA ground staff (8+) at the gate and they processed everyone fairly quickly given the new "enhanced security measures" (or maybe just with typical Hong Kong efficiency). Considering the ORD/EWR flights depart/arrive just a few hours earlier, I'm guessing UA maintains a fairly large ground staff.
#25
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Amabassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,590
I was "Directed" by my wife to find a BR flight to get us home instead of CA (which she knows I have never tried and to expect a .... show)
The ONLY BR flight we could find (We are on business saver awards) was SIN-TPE (11hr layover) and TPE-JFK (12hr layover and swap to EWR) then fly home - so we passed
I am still trying because the BR flight over was very very nice
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,786
I was "Directed" by my wife to find a BR flight to get us home instead of CA (which she knows I have never tried and to expect a .... show)
The ONLY BR flight we could find (We are on business saver awards) was SIN-TPE (11hr layover) and TPE-JFK (12hr layover and swap to EWR) then fly home - so we passed
I am still trying because the BR flight over was very very nice
The ONLY BR flight we could find (We are on business saver awards) was SIN-TPE (11hr layover) and TPE-JFK (12hr layover and swap to EWR) then fly home - so we passed
I am still trying because the BR flight over was very very nice
From SIN on an award, though, I'd be looking for SIN-FRA-XXX in LH F, especially if you're eventually headed to the east coast.
#27
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Amabassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,590
The past few months have seen the cancellation of HKG-SIN and the addition of LAX-SIN, both are horrible changes IMO
I write this from SIN right now, after taking BR from ORD-TPE-SIN to get here and coming home on CA (Lord help me, but I gotta try it once) SIN-PEK-EWR because I refuse to travel thru TBIT/LAX or SFO to get to Asia on UA.
CA or BR, I can go from ORD or IAH
I write this from SIN right now, after taking BR from ORD-TPE-SIN to get here and coming home on CA (Lord help me, but I gotta try it once) SIN-PEK-EWR because I refuse to travel thru TBIT/LAX or SFO to get to Asia on UA.
CA or BR, I can go from ORD or IAH
I was "Directed" by my wife to find a BR flight to get us home instead of CA (which she knows I have never tried and to expect a .... show)
The ONLY BR flight we could find (We are on business saver awards) was SIN-TPE (11hr layover) and TPE-JFK (12hr layover and swap to EWR) then fly home - so we passed
I am still trying because the BR flight over was very very nice
The ONLY BR flight we could find (We are on business saver awards) was SIN-TPE (11hr layover) and TPE-JFK (12hr layover and swap to EWR) then fly home - so we passed
I am still trying because the BR flight over was very very nice
If you're seriously going to fly CA and transit PEK just to avoid SFO and LAX... I don't know what to tell you. Sounds like cutting off your nose to spite your face to me.
From SIN on an award, though, I'd be looking for SIN-FRA-XXX in LH F, especially if you're eventually headed to the east coast.
From SIN on an award, though, I'd be looking for SIN-FRA-XXX in LH F, especially if you're eventually headed to the east coast.
This is a vacation trip with the wife, we are on Business SAVER fares (NO DAMN WAY United will open saver fares on SIN-LAX/SFO) So I had to take what I could get at the time which was BR to SIN and OZ back. OZ flight changed so it no longer worked, so got pushed into CA (Which, again i didn't mind as this was a fun trip no business) and I could "Learn" That being said LX did open to come back thru ZRH. Which was novel in that my wife could say she circumnavigated the globe. Based on our experience last week, I would take BR over LX.
NOW, when I have to book business, I can EASILY book BR from ORD and IAH plus JFK in a pinch instead of UA thru SFO/LAX. This is hardly cutting off anything - it is 100% avoiding LAX and SFO and I don't think I have giving up a single thing other than ...... seats on a 789 for much better seats, much better routing and much better service (granted, only flown BR once, but holy ...., it trumped even my best UA flight. Also there is no chance of 8 wide business in ...... seats etc.
#28
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: San Francisco/Tel Aviv/YYZ
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I got screwed out of a great overnight in lie flat J on AC because UA's PDX-SFO was delayed 2+ hours due to ceilings. They've got big weather "iffyness" and a club crowding issue, otherwise I think its pleasant enough.
#29
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: LAS
Programs: 3 MMer
Posts: 458
I feel like you're comparing more domestic vs international service. What airport in the US has the level of service you describe above? I've never seen it unless you're GS. Most of the time it's "A representative will meet you at the gate" and half the time there is no representative at the gate and you either call or go to a customer service desk.
Was the ground staff in HKG United Airlines staff?
Was the ground staff in HKG United Airlines staff?
In reference to whether the comparison of domestic vs international had any bearing on my delayed flights last week --- my LAS to SFO had nearly a 3 hour ground stop due to rain in SFO. We actually made it after an hour and a half wait and then a taxi to the runway, and had to return to the gate to deplane. The SFO-HKG flight was delayed because an Air Canada plane was at our departure gate and couldn't push back for some reason. Two hours later, our plane came from a hangar. The reason listed for being delayed - "WEATHER"!
Some people are luckier than others and just cruise thru every airport with minimum connection times, and some times I luck out also, but I am getting too old to chance it at SFO, buying a ticket several months in advance, and one or two days before departure I see rain, low clouds, and/or fog in the forecast. They shut down one of the two runways and increase separation, and my odds are only good if I am on the very first flight to arrive that day, otherwise it's usually curtains.
Nope! I don't need to go thru there ever again, and I won't. I spoke with a few captains last week and they ALL agreed that SFO has more chances for mis-connects that the other airports in the system, particularly when experiencing inclement weather. The airport itself is great, in my book, and I have no dislikes about it.
This topic seems to be quite emotional for some, and I have managed to avoid any and all drama for my future flying days by never getting on a plane to SFO ever again, except this weekend when I must return from Asia on a pre-purchased ticket.
#30
That, and the Amex lounge gets extremely crowded during rush hours. But it's a nice airport, clean, modern and not too confusing. My main beef with it is the lack of airside transfer to non-*A airlines, but it's leaps and bounds ahead of many other UA hubs.