Lounge advice for SFO

[Quickstatus]

I understand that, but after 3 attempts with a reason of “sorry lounge is full” AFTER they look at my QF boarding pass leads me to think that CX is exercising it’s right to control the capacity of its lounges.

The catch all condition is particular 2 taken from the OW site

 

[calgarychris]

Are you arriving on a domestic flight and which airline are you flying into SFO?

If your luggage is checked through, then you might consider going into San Francisco for an early dinner?

If you’re arriving on AA then your J ticket should get you into the AA lounge (T3) but I can’t imagine you’d want to spend ~6 hrs there. Technically, you could get into the CX lounge (and certainly worth trying) but it can be very fickle.

I was arriving in terminal 3 from a UA flight from Canada (flying Y). I checked out the Centurion lounge prior to grabbing my luggage which I had to pick up before checking in for QF J in the International terminal. For the sake of posterity, it IS possible to get to the Centurion lounge when flying out of International Terminal A, it requires checking luggage, clearing security for International terminal G and then walking through to Terminal 3 (a short walk). The return to A will require exiting air side and clearing security in International terminal A.

Given the feedback on AF's "hospital canteen" and the challenges of CX's lounge, I'll stay in the Centurion lounge for the duration of my layover. I was very lucky, QF was upgrading their self check-in terminals and I managed to "break" a few of them while the IT guy was there so they got someone to take my bags six hours before flight time! #winning

Thanks all, enjoying coughtails from Centurion SFO!

 

[attimo69]

For the sake of posterity, it IS possible to get to the Centurion lounge when flying out of International Terminal A, it requires checking luggage, clearing security for International terminal G and then walking through to Terminal 3 (a short walk). The return to A will require exiting air side and clearing security in International terminal A.

Could you offer any guidance as to how busy that Terminal A TSA line is at 8pm? I'll be leaving on QF74 at 22:45 and was planning to go the Centurion lounge after arriving at the airport and dropping off my luggage. When you think would be reasonable and safe to leave the Amex lounge in T3, to get through the Terminal A international security to make it to the A gates on time for QF74?

 

[calgarychris]

Could you offer any guidance as to how busy that Terminal A TSA line is at 8pm? I'll be leaving on QF74 at 22:45 and was planning to go the Centurion lounge after arriving at the airport and dropping off my luggage. When you think would be reasonable and safe to leave the Amex lounge in T3, to get through the Terminal A international security to make it to the A gates on time for QF74?

I’d give yourself a solid 30-45mins to clear TSA, just in case, on top of the requirement to be there for gate check-in...