Departing from SFO vs LAX - Its FUN!!!

[FlyboyAl]

Have not long ago checked in at the QF desk at SFO.
Wow - what a pleasant experience compared to LAX!!!! The staff are happy and smiling, the bags get taken off the scales and placed on the conveyor, and its all so un-rushed and easy. I could actually get to enjoy it!!
Security was a breeze and I even got myself xray'd with the new wiz bang xray thingy.

Now, if only I could find some decent food (other than sangers) in the Sakura lounge - mind you, its still early times and I do have a couple of hours to kill. Maybe by then they will find some decent nosh.

 

[SnowYeti]

Good memories

Was the escalator to the lounge working? Last time everyone had to use the lift. It was a nightmare as it got packed.

When you go in the lounge, if you turn left, there is a small room, which is supposed to be for VIPs or something, it was open. My friend and I sat there, and moved the sign in the middle, haha nobody came in, so we had a quiet little retreat while eating crackers and drinking lots of drinks waiting

Lounge wasn't that good, but I guess it is better than nothing...

 

[SnowYeti]

Oh and security is fine and it's just so much easier than LAX. I agree with you!

Any NA trip, I will try to land at JFK or SFO. I will avoid LAX at all costs, unless it's QF108 coming home.

 

[david870mdg]

Makes a nice change from the LAX mad rush doesn't it.
I feel the same about checking in at T7 JFK with the BA staff on QF desk.

 

[sampson]

Yes, SFO and the officials are so much nicer and more efficient for some reason.

And Melb-Auckland-SFO on AirNZ is a nicer trip too compared to going thru Sydney to LA.

 

[bambbbam2]

Last time I was sent to the BA Terraces Lounge.

Small but perfectly OK, the (sparse) food was fine too.

 

[greenfrog86]

Hmmm - makes me extra dissappointed that on my first trip to the States in November, I get what sounds to be the joy of clearing customs in LAX, before lining up to catch a codeshare QF flight on AA. I understand that since my onward flight is AA I have to kill time in the AA lounge...

Sounds like I've completely drawn the short straw - all of the above plus my travelling companion arriving the day before me - I get to experience US customs with no moral support
:shock:

I am however flying home direct from NYC on 108 I think - can anyone tell me what to expect on this flight? Do I clear customs in NYC with no/little fuss through LAX?

I'll keep the SFO-direct tip in mind for next time

 

[FlyboyAl]

Have not long arrived into sydney and waiting ro fly on to adl. The sangers did not get any better, and there were even fewer of them as more prople checked in. The little room to the left was taken by a mum and baby/husband and they had it all to themselves.

The AA lounge at LAX is not too bad - not great, but its ok, depends which AA lounge you are in.

Also came home on my new Aussie passport with the chip in it - took 1 second to clear immigration!!!!! It was fun to look back at everyone in the queue.

Only big downer on the trip was no IFE screen despite many resets and the QC had no towels for showers until about 8.30am. You would think that they could figure out that internationals arrive from 6am onwards, so towelds need to be in QC by 7am (or maybe the night before!). Staff said if often happens.

Otherwise it was a boring and uneventful trip home, except for the cute California blond next to me in white T Shirt and white shorts who chewed gum the whole trip over. Her name was Abelene

 

[Maca44]

I always try and fly into/out of SFO when I travel to the USA, however, over the past month when I was looking for an award F class tix SYD-SFO in August 2010 I found there were none at all available for the months of July and August 2010. So, this is the first time in the last 9 or 10 trips to the USA where I am flying into LAX before connecting to an AA flight to ORD.

As mentioned (and this has been discussed in previous threads) SFO is a much nicer airport to arrive/depart from, and the Customs and Immig people seem to be much nicer also. The only problem flying out of SFO is the Sakura Lounge which is small and has limited food and drink with their best scotch being Chivers.

 

[Anna]

The downside to SFO is the fogs that frequently roll in off the bay and cause mass flight cancellations or delays.

 

[drewbles]

Last time I was sent to the BA Terraces Lounge.

Small but perfectly OK, the (sparse) food was fine too.

Ditto. There was also a small sign at the bar that said 'Champagne available upon request'. Upon requesting it, I was told 'there's a room just to your left as you head down, just pop in there'. It had a sign up that said 'First Lounge'. Apparently if you want Bubbles, you go in there (after asking, of course!)

Was also nice boarding directly from the lounge. BA Terraces lounge has two boarding gates directly in the lounge itself. Perhaps its use is dictated by which gate QF74 uses.

I tend to avoid LAX wherever possible for the AU-US run. SFO is altogether nicer (baring Fog, as mentioned).

 

[david870mdg]

I am however flying home direct from NYC on 108 I think - can anyone tell me what to expect on this flight? Do I clear customs in NYC with no/little fuss through LAX?

I'll keep the SFO-direct tip in mind for next time

Good pick - QF 108 is WAY better than the offerings of any domestic US carrier IMHO, plus you depart JFK from T7.
It does stop for a while in LAX to change crew/refuel, you don't have to leave the terminal as your'e connecting directly onto it, not sure how long the layover is though.
Have a good trip

 

[Mr Ed]

After only one experience, travelling between U.S. coasts, I will either walk, crawl, run over broken glass, drive, train or god forbid bus it, than fly AA or any other U.S. airline.
6 and half hours in one of their seat is worse than Gitmo.
I'm only 162 cms high. How does anyone physicaly fit into one of their seats. I'll tell you. With their knees presses hard up againt the poor bum in front.
On the other hand the QF from LAX - JFK is fantastic.

 

[david870mdg]

After only one experience, travelling between U.S. coasts, I will either walk, crawl, run over broken glass, drive, train or god forbid bus it, than fly AA or any other U.S. airline.
6 and half hours in one of their seat is worse than Gitmo.
I'm only 162 cms high. How does anyone physicaly fit into one of their seats. I'll tell you. With their knees presses hard up againt the poor bum in front.
On the other hand the QF from LAX - JFK is fantastic.

Agreed. Don't need to elaborate any further.
I managed to get through this in the past with my own inflight meal service of restavit.
Have another coast to coast flight to look forward to - wish I was on QF108 - then three hours LAX in TBIT QP before 15+ hrs on A380

 

[harvyk]

Mr Ed, couldn't have said it better myself.

The next time I fly across the US I'll be taking QF107 \ 108, I don't care if it means spending a night in LA or NY.

A few months ago I did LAX-MIA return. Going over was in an int configured AA B777 which was ok (no AVOD, just several TV loops), but MIA-LAX on the AA B757 was my definition of my own personal hell.

Apart from spending 5 hours on an oversized B737, cramped seats, no food, single soft drink, glad I had lunch before the flight, and a movie which was beyond boring (thank god my phone had a choice of 8 different movies loaded onto it, my very own AVOD ). The FA's honestly couldn't have cared less about they job, and it showed big time.

As for flying out of SFO vs LAX, yes SFO is easier in that the security lines are shorter, but the OW lounge at TBIT (lets face it, it's the QF Lounge, same colour scheme and all) wins hands down against the JAL lounge at SFO. (Where half a plate of sandwiches for a full lounge is considered "Dinner")

However if you didn't have lounge access, SFO over LAX any day...

 

[Timba-Jet]

Visited the US for the first time in June this year. Arrived into LAX, departed from SFO.

From the moment I arrived in SFO, I had the perfect experience. Such a relaxed atmosphere compared to LAX, minimal queues, maded even better with an OP'd from economy to business. I firsted jetted to the JAL sakuru lounge, after 1 min, the concierge found me and asked me for my QFF card, thinking I was platinum. I explained I was only a QC-PS and showed my BP again. Anyway after some confused discussion between the 2 JAL ladies & a phone call to the BA lounge, I was directed to to the BA lounge - still don;t know why but no complaints

Also with SFO, you can just hop on the BART train and be into the city in less than 30min for approx $5 USD.

 

[JohnK]

I have never been to SFO but in 3 times out of LAX I have not had any problems with immigration (even the time I was interviewed after ticking "Yes" to the previous conviction record) or security. It is also easy to move between terminals.

I really don't understand the perceived problems with LAX constantly reported on AFF and will continue to fly in/out of there as there is much greater choice of flights than SFO. And by the way the recent experience at LHR T5 and T4 was also a breeze....

 

[Maca44]

I have never been to SFO but in 3 times out of LAX I have not had any problems with immigration (even the time I was interviewed after ticking "Yes" to the previous conviction record) or security. It is also easy to move between terminals.

I really don't understand the perceived problems with LAX constantly reported on AFF and will continue to fly in/out of there as there is much greater choice of flights than SFO. And by the way the recent experience at LHR T5 and T4 was also a breeze....

I don't think this thread is so much about the perceived problems with entering LAX, it is more to do with the Customs and Immigration at SFO being much nicer than those at LAX. I too have not had any problems at LAX, but John if you enter/depart from SFO you will definitely notice the difference. It could also be that SFO seems to be a nicer airport in general.