SFO Transfer to American West from VS

I hope this is not a stupid question. Is it easy to transfer from our VS flight in SFO to American West flight to LAX? Do we come out through customs and then re-enter a different terminal? I have read on other threads that it is best to pick up our luggage ourselves. So do we come out and check into our American West flight?

Should be fairly easy - ISTR that there's a "transfers corridor" just after customs which is just after the luggage carousels (BTW, you have no option but to pick up your bags - you have to have them with you to clear US customs). If you mention to the customs guys that you're connecting, I think they'll point you in the right direction. Even if not, the terminals are fairly easy to get between (maps available on http://www.flysfo.com)

Cheers

Michael

[mitchja]

Hi Spidey

It's not a stupid question at all.

You will indeed have to collect your luggage at SFO once you land and re-check in for your HP flight to LAX. All international passengers arriving in the US must collect their baggage and go through immigration at their first point of entry. There's some into about this on the SFO Website. There's also an international arrivals map here

I've only done domestic to international at SFO but it's not very far, I'd say a 10 min walk between the domestic and international terminal. I guess it's the same the other way.

Regards

[Darren Wheeler]

From what I remember from last year the walk is about 10mins and was barely a soul about too apart from a few panhandlers. I also remember a few ramps which were great for riding the trolley down going "WEEEEEEEEEE".

[Neil]

I am glad you have asked this question as we will be doing an internal between SFO and LAS next year. Also how long will we need to leave between arriving in SFO and departing, do low cost US airlines have a similar 40min rules as the UK ones do or will we need longer?

Neil:)

[Darren Wheeler]

On LAX - LAS they were quoting 90 mins with checked baggages, but how flexible they are I don't know. Sorry

[mitchja]

90 mins is pretty much the standard min connection time with most airlines.

Dont forget SFO can sometimes be a pain for immigration. I've had 30+ mins queues at SFO before now what with the VS, KLM and BA flights all arriving pretty much at the same time.

Regards

Originally posted by Attitude23
Also how long will we need to leave between arriving in SFO and departing, do low cost US airlines have a similar 40min rules as the UK ones do or will we need longer?

Bear in mind that you'll be in a foreign airport where you have to clear immigration with unpredictable queues, collect baggage, clear customs & then find out where you're going. I wouldn't allow less than 2hrs when booking the flights (in fact, when I looked at connecting through SFO, I was looking at 2.5hrs to feel comfortable).

Cheers

Michael

[Neil]

Thanks for the ingo guys. The choices are abt 1hr 20mins or 3hr 30mins, guess the longer one is the right option, ok a bit of a wait but better to be safe than sorry.

Neil:)

[preiffer]

I wouldn't touch the 1:20 one Neil. Although it's great if you CAN make it (it's possible), it'll be gutting if you can't.

Remember, if you DO arrive super-early, or get through in record time, you can always stand by for the earlier flight with HP [y]