Time needed International Connection in SFO?
 

Hi

United (Sky West) has changed my flight time out of SFO to ACV (Arcata,Ca) now I have a choice between an 1 hour and 50 minute and a 5 hour and 30 minute layover. The issue here is I will be arriving from New Zealand. I have never cleared customs in SFO. I fly in and out of SFO 5 to 6 times a year so I know the airport pretty well. My question is directed to persons who have cleared customs and had to make connections in SFO is an hour and 50 minutes enough? Right now you do not have to travel to the remote terminal for Sky West if I did I know I could not make it. Anybody with suggestions?

Thanks
GP

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Try posting your question in the Airlines forum.

Most of my international flights originate at SFO so haven't transferred there. But w/ the current security/screening situation I would not be happy w/ less than 3 hours between flights.

You don't say when you are travelling. This recent mess will settle down soon enough. I've arrived into SFO on international flights numerous times (US Citizen) and have always been through immigration, baggage claim, and customs in around 30min - the longest wait has always been baggage claim.

The immigration line moves pretty smartly, even for non-US citizens, and customs is usually a perfunctory glance at the paper slip.

Unless you are flying within the next week or so I would not have a concern with the 1hr 50 layover. SFO is easy to navigate, even if it is large.

1:50 should be enough time. The main issue is whether you're on the same ticket for the whole trip. If yes, I will be pretty comfortable for the connection, especially if you're US citizen/resident. Even if you miss your flight, they'll put you on the next one automatically.

Thanks janisj, J62, and rkkwan
I am flying in Dec 30th 2006. If thing go right I can make it but as you know in December SFO is always a mess due to weather. So I am going with the longer layover It is at the end of a 3 week trip and an 12 hour fight so why rush. My guess is that the flight to Arcata will be delayed so I might get on it by doing stand by. This information will be useful in the future.
Thanks underhill I forgot there is an airline forum here

have Fun
GP

I flew into SFO today and took a gander at the security lines as I exited the terminal. As was the case at JFK earlier today, the lines were about 5min wait at both airports - no massive delays like were reported on all the news outlets last week.

I would do the five hour if I were you. I did a two hour internationally on Dec. 30 this past year, although it was at Atlanta. But the problems we had were not related to the airport as much as the airline. Our plane took off 40 minutes late for no clear reason; we were able to land promptly but then we had to wait on the tarmac as Delta had no gates left.

Customs was quick checking our passports. But with a large flight, you must collect all your suitcases and then present them to another customs agent. Then you must put them on another belt for your next flight, and then go through a security line yourself.

Like Atlanta, San Francisco does have a nice train that takes you from airline to airline.

We ran our hardest, and begged them to let us on. My cousins' luggage didn't show up in time so they didn't make the flight.