jsloan

Maybe? The only thing you're cutting off of the route is the trip through terminal 6 and back through terminal 4. So you're gambling on a short Pre line to save a couple of minutes of walking.

Kacee

If you're already airside, I find it's faster to walk airside. There's typically quite a bit of sidewalk congestion outside the terminals.

Repooc17

As a New Yorker, jaywalk like a boss!

That said, I agree. If already airside, use the tunnels. If landside, walk landside

ContinentalFan

Also, just a heads up, the the Tom Bradley International Terminal is often referred to as terminal B. All the signs on your long trek from terminal 7 describe it as terminal B.

Bubblewhale

Currently looking at flights from SEA-HKG, and got 2 options from either connecting in SFO or LAX on my return flight. My origin flight has a 1hr connection at SFO, and not too concerned there from switching domestic to international considering it's all on United.

However, the return flight is the one that has me a bit more afraid.

Return 1 (1h 25 connection):
HKG - LAX, arrival at 5:45PM.
LAX - SEA, departure at 7:10PM.

Return 2 (1h50 connection):
HKG - SFO, arrival at 07:25 AM.
SFO - SEA, departure at 9:15 AM.

This would be in during weekday in Feb 2024, so not too big of a holiday rush.

However, the LAX connection is one I'm more concerned with as that's the last flight of the day, and I would need to wait for the next day to get rebooked. SFO connection is a bit longer at 1h50m, and there's way more flights that head to SFO that day. Planning on personal item/carry-on only, but don't have Global Entry. Would be using the Mobile Passport Control app to minimize time. I'm thinking that the SFO connection would be a lot safer than the one in LAX? However with Mobile Passport Control I think it could make this very doable for LAX?

IAH-OIL-TRASH

I'd just do SFO connection for the SEA options and extra connect time. I don't think the mobile passport app saves significant time.

Bubblewhale

Gotcha, appreicate the response. That's what I'm thinking as the LAX option doesn't seem much viable compared to multiple later flights at SFO.

dkc192

The LAX connection is very doable IMO. HKG-LAX arrives at T7 and pax clear immigration and customs there, which is generally fast, even without MPC or GE. Security lines upstairs are also generally light at that time of night. If HKG-LAX is running late, UA can rebook you onto the evening HKG-SFO, likely with a similar arrival time into SEA as the LAX connection.

Kacee

I wouldn't worry about the return, the consequences of a miss are minimal (at least if you book the morning arrival at SFO). It's the outbound from SFO that would concern me, particularly in February, and with SFO closing runway 28L until April.

Don't think I'd book a one hour connection to a once-daily international flight under those circumstances.

sonyeoshin

Would picking a later SFO-SEA flight not be an option? I would rather have a longer connection in case things do go wrong.

dkc192

Good point, though I will point out that SFO-HKG is twice daily. If OP is connecting to the daytime UA869, they can fall back to the nighttime UA877, though it will result in a long unplanned daytime layover in SFO.

Bubblewhale

That's a good point you brought up, I thought at least under normal circumstances that the 1hr D-I connection would be alright but with 28L runway being closed, there's a chance that this might not be the best option. If I do miss the the nighttime SFO-HKG, I can wait until next morning for the morning SFO-HKG but that's not that preferable to me to spend the night at SFO.

This time perhaps I'll have to book via a different carrier and save my United Travelbank for another time, just unfortunately it'll cost me almost double due to me needing an afternoon/evening departure from SEA.

dkc192

NH does have a SFO-HND flight that leaves an hour or two after UA's nighttime SFO-HKG flight, and it connects nicely with HND-HKG the following morning. This could be a feasible backup, as it gets you to HKG about six hours later than the nighttime SFO-HKG and six hours earlier than the next morning's SFO-HKG. If you miss your original SFO-HKG, UA should be able to rebook you onto SFO-HND-HKG if there are seats left for sale in your class of service.

ContinentalFan

Immigration is T7; customs is T6.

Bubblewhale

Apologies for not catching this earlier, thank you for bringing that up. It doesn't seem too bad once you explained it from there.

I was wondering because it that since it's going through T7 and LAX and not TBIT would make this generally lot more smoother?

I imagine the biggest choke point is the bag collection before clearing immigration/customs? I guess it wouldn't affect me due to having carry-on only. Flew TPE-SEA a month ago, I only had carry-on and it arrived late in the night. Just zoomed right on by with barely any wait at customs/immigration since didn't have to wait for bag drop as well.