Landside Clubhouse Concerns

Hi all,

Sorry if this has been covered before.

Im just starting into the planning stages of a trip for Mrs Kered & Myself to SFO next year. We been there a few times before over the years, with both VS & BA, but this will be the first UC SFO trip. However I see that the Clubhouse is located Landside at SFO, meaning that you still have to clear security, before boarding the flight.

We always look forward to checking in, clearing security & being able to take our time & relax in the lounge after all the formalities are done, sipping a few beers while waiting to board our flight. But given the often lengthy lines at security these days, I would have concerns about being able to truly relax in the Clubhouse, while still having to face security & feel that this could take somewhat from the Clubhouse experience.

So how does it all pan out, with having the Clubhouse landside rather than airside at SFO & what sort of dramas have occurred due to the location of the lounge ???

Any & all thoughts appreciated.

Cheers

'kered' [8D]

[honey lamb]

It's never been a problem for me. You are called in plenty of time. When you come down from the Clubhouse it is virtually next to the security area and it is only a short distance from security to the gate. The queues have never been bad either 5-10 minutes at the max.

Was on the VS20 a couple of weeks ago. The flight was called in the clubhouse at 16.40 for a 17.25 departure.
Through security and onto the plane in under 15 minutes. Infact it took longer to walk to the gate than it did to pass through security.


-Steve

[HighFlyer]

Ditto! I've flown from SFO many times and its never taken more than 10-15 minutes from leaving the Clubhouse to walking onboard the aircraft. I've found SFO security to be quite efficient. The only thing you'll have to worry about is not being too merry when you pass by security - though as they've had to deal with the V-Flyer Vegas contingent before, I am sure you'll be fine [:D]

Thanks,
Sarah

Cheers for the replies.

True, when I come to think of it, asides from SFO being my favourite U.S. airport, the few times I've been through there in the past, security was quite painless.

It's just that I'm a worrier by nature & fear that I'd spend my time in the lounge peppering that the one day I need to go through, security would be a mess.

That said though, all other UC passengers would be in the same situation as us & I'm sure VS would be aware of the circumstances.

Originally posted by kered
That said though, all other UC passengers would be in the same situation as us & I'm sure VS would be aware of the circumstances.

Yes, and if something like that happened, I'm almost certain someone would arrange for the premium pax from the Clubhouse to be escorted. I've been among a group being escorted from the landside lounge at MIA through security to the aircraft.

Mike

I flew out on VS20 from SFO on Friday, we were called at 16:40 for a 17:25 flight, Security lines were light (as always at that time) and we walked straight on board.

As long as you vacate the lounge no later than when the concierge advises you the flight is ready for you, and you do not stop off to shop, then you will be able to maximise your rest in the Lounge.

more ditto over here, I left the lounge with 20 mins or so to board, had time to get turned away from security, go to the Virgin Atlantic desk, change my boarding pass, go through again, and buy some stuff from Duty Free and still was on the flight in time for push back. My suitcase however....

Just to (pointlessly) add to the general chorus of 'never been a problem'. I've even stopped off at Duty Free en route before now and still been fine - though that was to pick up a single item that I knew I wanted, I certainly wasn't browsing.

They used to hand out fast track slips in the CH, but I assumed that they stopped because they never made a shred of difference to the already speedy process.