The big mistake is checking your bag with an internationsl transfer at SFO without it all being on one ticket. LAX will likely be the same, actually.

In fact for a short vacation in a hot weather destination, I don't understand the thinking of not going carryon only.

It WAS on the same ticket.

I need extra clothes for doing Zumba twice a day.

Let me rephrase...the big mistake was checking a bag on a flight where you have to go thru US customs and immigration.

Don't they have laundry in Mexico? How much space do Zumba clothes take up?

<the big mistake was checking a bag on a flight where you have to go thru US customs and immigration>


You're right. Because no one ever does that. What a fool I am.

<i>Let me rephrase...the big mistake was checking a bag on a flight where you have to go thru US customs and immigration.</i>

Silliness.

<i>Yeah, this never happens at LAX. Avoid SFO, by all means.</i>

I've actually been pretty happy with my experiences at LAX in the past couple of years. The new international terminal is fantastic.

Welcome back! It must have been nice to be in Mexico for two weeks where everyone didn't argue with you.

It was lovely. Thank you.

<How much space do Zumba clothes take up?>

How nice you are interested. Here is the list of specialty items I would not need to pack if I were not doing 15 classes in 2 week's time:

1) indoor dance high tops for the club
2) outdoor sneakers for the plaza
3) three sets of knee braces
4) three sports bras
5) six pair of socks
6) three sweat/headbands
7) a few face towels/sweat rags
8) lock for gym locker

<Partly Alaska and flight delays and time changes so timing was short. Partly having to change terminals.

Security checkpoint was *seriously* backed up with lines winding around thru the maze.>

This can happen at any airport.

Really??? Why I never knew that! Thanks for lending your expertise and helpful comments.

The point I was *attempting* to make above has nothing to do with how much I choose to pack, checking a bag, or security other airports around the country.

It is that for people flying on Alaska Air to Mexico from Seattle, LAX or Orange County has worked more smoothly for me than SFO comparing many trips.

And the new Soutwest thru Oakland routing seems even easier and is most definitely cheaper.

SFO right now- 15 min from curb to sipping champagne in the lounge (including a full body pad down with a wait for a female agent). Just another data point.

Belinda - I don't think the outgoing part of SFO is what is being discussed as difficult. It's returning from an international flight , and trying to get through immigration. It can be horrendous.

Correct. This thread was never about SFO originating departures or lounge membership perks.

The chaos comment was specific to using it as your USA entry point -
entailing immigration, customs, TSA security recheck on a returning international flight (and on Alaska now toss in a terminal change to boot).

COB would tell you that it's faster to clear customs and immigration if you sign up for Global Entry.

Maybe suze didn't have to wait for her checked luggage to arrive before exiting the international terminal. In my experience at LAX,it's usually the luggage arriving that is the longest hold up, unless you are so unlucky to arrive at the same time as 4 other jumbo jets at TBIT. Most recently it took me 10 minutes to clear Passport control and 20 minutes to wait for my checked bag (I didn't have a choice on that due to restrictions on carryon bags on some of the internal flights in Indonesia). At SFO I believe you always enter into a public area and need to go back through TSA. At LAX, whether you need to go back through TSA depends on which terminals you arrive and connect to. There are now a few terminals where you can stay airside, but not all of them.