Fog in Bay Area (Week of 16 Jan) and Impact to UA's Operations
Jan 17, 2011, 6:37 pm
#1
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Fog in Bay Area (Week of 16 Jan) and Impact to UA's Operations
I am on the NRT flight on Tuesday but decided to get into SFO early instead of waking up 4 AM to catch my flight to SFO. The agent said the NRT flight left Monday leaving about 100 misconnected passengers, so it is oversold in C on Tuesday - kiss the upgrades good-bye...unless more people can't make it to SFO on Tuesday.
The fog is supposed to continue all this week so beware. It has been really bad and even on and off. It didn't clear out until this afternoon and looks like it is coming again.
He said they do not even rebook people onto NH - you just have to wait for a UA flight. Given Chinese New Year is coming, there are more people headed that way, he said.
The fog is supposed to continue all this week so beware. It has been really bad and even on and off. It didn't clear out until this afternoon and looks like it is coming again.
He said they do not even rebook people onto NH - you just have to wait for a UA flight. Given Chinese New Year is coming, there are more people headed that way, he said.
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Jan 18, 2011 at 7:54 am Reason: retitled thread
Jan 17, 2011, 7:26 pm
#2
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Good move.. just in case another delay happens, you've got time.
Jan 17, 2011, 7:54 pm
#3
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The fog was pretty bad this morning and it's supposed to continue tomorrow. And that's down the Peninsula where it isn't as bad as at SFO!
Jan 17, 2011, 8:11 pm
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Augh! I booked IAH-SFO-SGN (yes, I know) on all UA metal with a good SFO layover ages ago. UA dumped the IAH-SFO some days, leaving me on a later CO flight (in E-, despite the SWU having already cleared all legs). Going to be one unhappy camper if I blow my constricted connection.
Jan 17, 2011, 9:15 pm
#5
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It looks like the fog hung onto the bay all day.
Jan 17, 2011, 11:08 pm
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Augh! I booked IAH-SFO-SGN (yes, I know) on all UA metal with a good SFO layover ages ago. UA dumped the IAH-SFO some days, leaving me on a later CO flight (in E-, despite the SWU having already cleared all legs). Going to be one unhappy camper if I blow my constricted connection.
Most if not all of UA's delayed flights have been express flights.
Edit: the fog has burned off by noon each day.
Jan 17, 2011, 11:17 pm
#7
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And this is winter ground fog, which we usually don't get much of around the bay. It usually stays inland. Brrrrr.
Jan 18, 2011, 12:15 am
#8
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I flew out of SFO this afternoon, and by that time much of the fog had burned off. Morning however is a different story. I suppose that will be a repeating cycle for the next few days.
Jan 18, 2011, 12:17 am
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Fog has been bad past two days...in SFO for a conference and flying back to BOS on the 8:24am non-stop tomorrow (Tues). Hoping to get out although look likes freezing rain in BOS.
Jan 18, 2011, 12:37 am
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Check that incoming flight!
So the most-important issue will be, is your plane already at the airport? Flights that come in late the prior evening should be fine. I'm on 134 to ORD Thursday morning. Since it leaves at 8:58am, chances are it will be a recent arrival, not an overnight camper. 
The good news is that the incoming isn't a quick-turnaround flight; UA59 from Denver arrives just over an hour earlier.
Flightaware gives incoming flight info; it's towards the upper right of the screen, adjacent to the flight number of whatever flight you looked up. Very handy.
The good news is that the incoming isn't a quick-turnaround flight; UA59 from Denver arrives just over an hour earlier.
Flightaware gives incoming flight info; it's towards the upper right of the screen, adjacent to the flight number of whatever flight you looked up. Very handy.
Jan 18, 2011, 12:46 am
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SJC->LAX cancelled this morning due to fog, rebooked on SFO->LAX. Ironically, SFO had more fog than SJC but we still took off on time, I guess they are used to it. I watched the NRT flight leave on time as well this morning despite the heavy fog. I think you should be fine.
Jan 18, 2011, 2:09 am
#12
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The fog gets pretty thick here in the North State in the winter time. I'm in CIC and the other day driving to the gas station, which is about a 1/2 mile from my place, you could not see anything past the front end of my Truck. Just unbelievable. Pea Soup it is. The PVG-SFO flight diverted to SMF the other day due to the fog.
Jan 18, 2011, 7:19 am
#13
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According to ATC, "Due to LOW CIGS/VIS (CAT I/II ONLY), departure traffic destined to San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, CA (SFO) will not be allowed to depart until at or after 10:00 am EST. "
Jan 18, 2011, 8:55 am
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Runway Visual Range (RVR) is currently below category II ILS minimums. Most regional carriers aren't equipped to do category III ILS approaches. It looks like right now the FAA has a ground stop issued for all Cat i/ii only airlines. Mainline flights appear to be mostly on time according to flightstats.com. In fact, looking at the map of planes headed toward SFO, it appears to be flowing quite nicely for mainline, without all those pesky RJs and props competing for valuable runway space.
Jan 18, 2011, 9:46 am
#15
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And waking up this morning on the peninsula, it's bright and sunny, not a cloud in the sky. Go figure!