1 hour layover at SFO with different airlines
Jun 24th, 2011, 07:29 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1 hour layover at SFO with different airlines
I have a one hour connection at SFO. I'll be landing at terminal 2 on UNITED and departing from terminal 3 on AMERICAN.
Will it be difficult to make? Should I take any precautions.
Also as the connections are on different airlines, will they move my checked in luggage from one flight to another themselves. If that's not the case will picking up the luggage and checking it again be a big problem ?
Will it be difficult to make? Should I take any precautions.
Also as the connections are on different airlines, will they move my checked in luggage from one flight to another themselves. If that's not the case will picking up the luggage and checking it again be a big problem ?
Jun 24th, 2011, 09:26 PM
#2
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 23,073
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
UA is at T3, AA at T2, not the other way around.
Assuming you're arriving from US domestic or Canada (in most cases), you don't have to claim bags. You DO have to have UA check your bags through to AA to your final destination when you check them at your origin. It may take them a few minutes to do so, but it can be done.
Whether you can make it mostly depends on how punctual your flight arrives at SFO. You know about flying the US - long delays are part of the norm. And if you're flying on separate tickets, you are at the mercy of AA to rebook you if you miss the flight. In general, they will put you on the next flight with available seats, but flights are often full or overbooked these days, so who knows when they can book you into.
Assuming you're arriving from US domestic or Canada (in most cases), you don't have to claim bags. You DO have to have UA check your bags through to AA to your final destination when you check them at your origin. It may take them a few minutes to do so, but it can be done.
Whether you can make it mostly depends on how punctual your flight arrives at SFO. You know about flying the US - long delays are part of the norm. And if you're flying on separate tickets, you are at the mercy of AA to rebook you if you miss the flight. In general, they will put you on the next flight with available seats, but flights are often full or overbooked these days, so who knows when they can book you into.
Jun 25th, 2011, 01:50 AM
#3
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,983
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Up until April the airlines shared T3 so you could stay airside, but now that AA is in T2 you have to take the airtrain (or maybe you can walk) and go through security again.
You absolutely must checkin AA online before you get on our UA flight - you don't have time to checkin with AA at the airport.
I agree with RK, if your incoming flight is punctual & you don't need to pass through immigration & you are already checked in then you'll probably be ok, but I think you're chances are less than 70%.
You absolutely must checkin AA online before you get on our UA flight - you don't have time to checkin with AA at the airport.
I agree with RK, if your incoming flight is punctual & you don't need to pass through immigration & you are already checked in then you'll probably be ok, but I think you're chances are less than 70%.
Jun 27th, 2011, 10:56 AM
#5
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 849
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm not sure the configuration of the terminals would allow them all to be linked airside. But, with all the work they did on the renovation of T2, I too would have thought they could have placed an airside passage between T2 and T3.
Jun 27th, 2011, 04:42 PM
#6
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 23,073
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I haven't been to SFO since the T2 re-opened, but my educated guesses are that it's deliberate:
1. TSA want them separate because:
a. Fewer checkpoints for them to manage
b. More work to be done at the existing checkpoints = more agents they can hire
c. Separate terminals are easier to manage when they have a security breach. Block off one terminal and rescan, vs whole airport
2. Airlines want them separated, since they want to discourage passengers connecting to airlines of the other alliances.
3. They run out of money to build the connectors.
4. All of the above.
1. TSA want them separate because:
a. Fewer checkpoints for them to manage
b. More work to be done at the existing checkpoints = more agents they can hire
c. Separate terminals are easier to manage when they have a security breach. Block off one terminal and rescan, vs whole airport
2. Airlines want them separated, since they want to discourage passengers connecting to airlines of the other alliances.
3. They run out of money to build the connectors.
4. All of the above.
