San Francisco for £286...

Using a mile plus money ticket, I can get £286 in April on VS. Is this a good deal?
I'm looking now at booking this over New York for my holiday, and was wondering what peoples experiences in San Francisco are like, what the airports like and what the flight is like in economy (I know I get V-Port etc) but what meals, lunch and a snack? And does it normally take 11 hours. Also, what side of the plane should I sit on.
Anything posted below this I will be happy to read.

Kev.

Flew there with BA in Y a few years back

Had a great week, loads to see and do, a really great city full of surprises.

Excellent airport with very good transport links!

Do it:)

[preiffer]

Hmmm.... New York vs San Francisco?

If you've not been to either, San Francisco EVERY time, without doubt. [y]

£286 isn't a bad price - If you can stand the 11 hour transit in Economy, then I'd go for it like a shot...

Thanks for the replies so far people.
I'm hopefully booking next week, so lets hope them fares stay like that.
As for the 11 hour flight, Ill just look at it as an extra 2 hours on from my flight to MCO in February.
Any must see attractions I should visit?

Kev.

Going on the BART to and from the airport isn't always the easiest thing. Few fflights of stairs at SFO to get to the BART and then there's those turnstiles to go through that involve pushing things through a side area first - pain if you've loads of cases, bags etc. Very spacious inside the train though.
Get off at say Market St where a load of hotels are and another set of turnstiles and stairs with all the friendly down-and-outs or whatever waiting for you with the "Onion" - a free local paper - and plenty of begging stories to part you from a few dollars before you even get your bearings!

As for the flight, one side of the aircraft gives far better views of the city as shown in someone's trip report (think that was for PE?). I flew back from SFO-LHR in Y and wasn't too bad. Usual chicken, beef etc meals and since it leaves at SFO around 4pm PST, you fly overnight - not easy to sleep although not a full flight at the start of the week.

San Francisco every time, best city in the world.

Kev

Excellent city to visit. With V:Port and the right seat most of the 11 hours will fly by. For tips on what to do see here and here. My personal favourite is Alcatraz.

Paul

I sat on the left hand side of the plane arriving in to SF and had the most amazing views of the city and Golden Gate Bridge as the plane turned before making the final approach.

However, these things cannot be guaranteed as the approach made to the airport could vary depending on air traffic at the time.

TTFN

Paul

Thanks for the information so far guys, this is all very helpful to me.
(pjh, thanks for the links)

Kev.

Originally posted by AndyK
San Francisco every time, best city in the world.

Absolutely agree AndyK. San Francisco is THE best.[^]

kkempton, the Alcatraz tour is a must do, as is a trip to Muir Woods, and a city tour in a large-windowed 14 (or so) seater bus is a great way to see the various districts and get an informed commentary at the same time. Make time to have a meal in Chinatown and try to fit in a visit to Sausalito. Oh and try the clam chowder in bread bowls at Boudines (sp?).

As you may have realised, I lurrve San Francisco. In fact, it is so good, they should have named IT twice.

Originally posted by Treelo

Originally posted by AndyK
San Francisco every time, best city in the world.

Absolutely agree AndyK. San Francisco is THE best.[^]

kkempton, the Alcatraz tour is a must do, as is a trip to Muir Woods, and a city tour in a large-windowed 14 (or so) seater bus is a great way to see the various districts and get an informed commentary at the same time. Make time to have a meal in Chinatown and try to fit in a visit to Sausalito. Oh and try the clam chowder in bread bowls at Boudines (sp?).

As you may have realised, I lurrve San Francisco. In fact, it is so good, they should have named IT twice.

Most of the cafe/restaurants around Fisherman's wharf do the clam chowder, not just the Boudin bakery (usually fairly full of people eating). I went to some little cafe below the Ghiradelli sign on the old chocolate factory (near Hyde Street Pier).

Here's a link to my NTL webspace with pics of the back of the Boudin Bakery, clam chowder bowl and inside the chocolate shop. Haven't resized the pics so some are over 1meg!
Couple of random New York ones too (the firehouse from Ghostbusters).

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/s.sorley/

This all great stuff guys, thanks for the photos btw.

Kev.

Originally posted by kkempton
Any must see attractions I should visit?

There are some threads in the Travel-General forum that discuss some of the attractions of SF - check out:
http://www.v-flyer.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13138
http://www.v-flyer.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11237
http://www.v-flyer.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7316

I'm sure there are more, but those were the first few I found when doing a quick search of that forum Rather than bring any further destination-specific information into the "General Discussion" forum, if you can't find what you want on SF from the existing discussions, it'd probably be a good idea to post a new thread in the "Travel-General" forum///

Cheers

Michael

Hmm it seems like me and my good lady wife are the only people to be thoroughly uninspired by San Francisco. It really did very little for us. Mind you I suppose post Yosemite a city is just a city.

Sonoma/Napa are great though;)

San francisco every time. i just got back from there on sunday and the flight was an incredible 9 hours. I found this astonishingbut we did have a tailwind of 156 knots.
I almost cried when i was leaving it is just such a beautiful city to look at. as for where to sit i dont think that it really matters because all you can see for most of the flight is is darkness. definetly go for that price of you can
VC.

Its decided then, San Francisco it is.
I'll be booking on Thursday.
Cheers for all the help so far.
Kev.

Originally posted by virgin crazy
as for where to sit i dont think that it really matters because all you can see for most of the flight is is darkness.

True for the return trip, but so long as there's no cloud cover I still find it fascinating to stare out of the window and watch the lights of the towns below. The darkness between them really brings home how big the USA; flying over the UK at night it's basically lights all the way.

Paul

All booked. Yay.
Total each £285.60 each.
Managed to pre reserve seats 62 A and C.
Hows the service back here? Is it first or last for meals?

Kev.

i beleive that it is first

Get to checkin as early as possible and get exit row seats