SFO - bag drop or Premier check-in faster?
Dec 14, 2022, 3:42 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Woodside, CA, USA
Programs: United Platinum
Posts: 517
SFO - bag drop or Premier check-in faster?
Looking for opinions on which will be faster for a domestic itinerary departing SFO.
I'm already checked in online, if I only need to get my bags tagged and taken am I better off going to the bag drop area or the premier check-in area? I'm Platinum but not 1K or GS.
Of course at SFO they are at opposite ends of the United terminal making it hard to know if I'm in what looks like a long line is it worth starting over by walking to the other area.
This is for a Thursday morning flight, if that influences your opinion.
I'm already checked in online, if I only need to get my bags tagged and taken am I better off going to the bag drop area or the premier check-in area? I'm Platinum but not 1K or GS.
Of course at SFO they are at opposite ends of the United terminal making it hard to know if I'm in what looks like a long line is it worth starting over by walking to the other area.
This is for a Thursday morning flight, if that influences your opinion.
Dec 14, 2022, 7:43 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,891
I was at SFO Sat. morning, and went to bag short cut - I had a bit of time. plus the MilePlay offer to use the bag short cut, plus I hadn't seen it before. So went there. Was several people in line in front of us, maybe took us 5 minutes to get through there. Which is longer than Premier line, IME. But other than that, not too difficult a process...just scanned BP, tag printed at the desk and agent tagged and sent it on the way. Can't speak for where the crowds might be Thurs. morning.
Honestly, I'd go back to Premier next time. While the line at shortcut wasn't particularly long (line at Y check in was way, way, way, way worse), Premier is typically faster (though you have to tag yourself at SFO), and also much closer to CLEAR/PreCheck/Premier security.
Honestly, I'd go back to Premier next time. While the line at shortcut wasn't particularly long (line at Y check in was way, way, way, way worse), Premier is typically faster (though you have to tag yourself at SFO), and also much closer to CLEAR/PreCheck/Premier security.
Dec 16, 2022, 7:33 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 611
I was at SFO Sat. morning, and went to bag short cut - I had a bit of time. plus the MilePlay offer to use the bag short cut, plus I hadn't seen it before. So went there. Was several people in line in front of us, maybe took us 5 minutes to get through there. Which is longer than Premier line, IME. But other than that, not too difficult a process...just scanned BP, tag printed at the desk and agent tagged and sent it on the way. Can't speak for where the crowds might be Thurs. morning.
Honestly, I'd go back to Premier next time. While the line at shortcut wasn't particularly long (line at Y check in was way, way, way, way worse), Premier is typically faster (though you have to tag yourself at SFO), and also much closer to CLEAR/PreCheck/Premier security.
Honestly, I'd go back to Premier next time. While the line at shortcut wasn't particularly long (line at Y check in was way, way, way, way worse), Premier is typically faster (though you have to tag yourself at SFO), and also much closer to CLEAR/PreCheck/Premier security.
Dec 16, 2022, 10:13 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,891
Dec 17, 2022, 2:03 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: GM on VX, UA, AA, HA, AS, SY; Budget Fastbreak
Posts: 27,626
Today at 11:10-ish the bag drop for premier Access was busy. Curbside with tip for me. The 10-15 saved minutes matter to me at Sfo. We have precheck and there was still 10-15 people in precheck since it includes GS / flagship F.
I can’t imagine bag drop at this point.
my spouse has an adjacent empty seat. Weird. Wonder if it’ll fill.
Oops they comped a guy.
I can’t imagine bag drop at this point.
my spouse has an adjacent empty seat. Weird. Wonder if it’ll fill.
Oops they comped a guy.
Dec 17, 2022, 2:27 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2022
Programs: United MileagePlus
Posts: 336
And that's how EWR was at 7am this morning. Complete zoo. At least UA was staffed up for it, I think it was fairly 50/50 on which to go to, but as mentioned up-thread, proximity to security will be my deciding factor in the future.