Quickie Question: SFO transfer

[wile_e]

Hi all, just a quick question.

I've booked a oneworld award which includes a leg from HKG to JFK. Unfortunately (for now), I had to book the flight that went via SFO rather than directly to JFK.

My question is: With 1hr 45min between the (scheduled) arrival from HKG and departure to JFK, is that enough time to clear US immigration, pick up bags (or can these be checked all the way through to NYC) and go back through to the gate? I assume we will be able to get both boarding passes when in HKG rather than having to check in at SFO.

Other (possible) pertinent details are:
- Flights are HKG-SFO (CX) and SFO-JFK (AA), all in J (award).
- All flights booked on the same 'PNR' (as far as I understand what a PNR is).
- This flight was suggested by the QF booking engine.

Your comments would be appreciated!

Cheers,
W

 

[drewbles]

IRRC, it's quite a walk from the bag pickup to domestic drop-off for SFO AA. It took me 10 minutes or so to walk from bag collection to re-check (I kept following the signs and ended up in the main SFO AA terminal, so perhaps I was not going the right way).

SFO Arrivals is speedier than LAX, with a separate area for J/F bags, which do tend to come out pretty fast from what i've experienced.

It sounds do-able, but of course keep in mind SFO is often coined "the delay by the bay". If fog roles in, your arrival may be delayed. If it's all on the same PNR then you should be fine and will be re-booked on the next flight out, or routed there via another way.

 

[Batesy]

I have entered the US of A via SFO twice, first time took at least an hour to through immigration as several other 747's had landed at the same time.
I have not had to transfer but even your bags are checked through you still have to colect them, go through customs and re-check them. I think you may be cutting it fine, however if its one PNR/booking ref they will just move you to a different flight.

 

[JetG550]

2.5 to 3 hours would be my perfered time to transfer, i know if the weather works against you either in flight or fog on arrival then your 1.45mins will be too tight to call.

I had a experience in June 2009, going SYD via SFO to Houston TX, the flight was delayed 3 hours departing sydney, they re booked me with other connecting flights right through, but i had to walk 8 mins to another termainal with baggage in SFO, by the time the check in staff worked out my new re booking at check in, i just made the cut off by some 4 mins.
Got to the gate just right on boarding, not enough time to scratch myself after 13 hours crossing the pacific.

 

[wile_e]

Thanks for the advice guys. It looks as though I may be cutting it fine... Lets hope I have the opportunity to change the flight details later next week.

Regarding a "PNR"... given I'd booked all my award flights through Qantas' booking engine and have a number that resembles 2AA222, I assume that to be the "PNR" for the whole trip? I'm just asking as Qantas calls it a "Booking Reference"...

On checkmytrip.com, when putting through the 'booking reference' and my last name, I get a section outlining the different airline confirmations and their numbers... are these PNR's instead?

sorry for the NOOB question.

 

[harvyk]

If all the flights where booked under the Qantas booking engine at the same time (so provided you booked tickets from HKG to JFK and only paid once) then they should all be under the one PNR.

Where people become unstuck is when they book the CX HKG - SFO leg on the CX website and then the AA SFO - JFK leg on the AA site.

 

[MelUser]

This transfer time is fine for SFO. Like everything, it all depends on aircraft arriving and departing on time. Sometimes a late departure is a blessing when connecting from a late arrival.
I have transferred through SFO in 90 mins and worked fine. You just don't stop until you have cleared security for the onward flight!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Wile_e
I think it's a good idea to mentally walk through what happens on arrival so when you arrive you hit the ground running and know what to do without having to stop and ask directions.

Number 1 on the priority list is get your bag checked through to JFK! As SFO in your first entry point to the USA, you will still need to collect your bag off the carousel and complete customs/immigration formalities in SFO.

We travelled SYD/SFO on QF last October and I noticed on exiting customs (we were staying 3 nights) that if your back was through checked to it's final destination - in your case JFK on AA, that after customs you take a shortcut & just go to the bag drop for the next carrier without having to go out into the main terminal area to the airline bag drop.

I don't think it would matter whether or not you had a boarding pass for your SFO/JFK flight on AA the key thing here is getting your bags checked through. As both carriers are One World I would think CX can issue both when you checkin in HKG.

If you bag is only tagged to SFO, you have to exit the customs area and go the the airline checkin landslide which is what you definitely want to avoid doing at all costs in light of your 1.45hr connection.

I don't suppose you can call CX to be waitlisted on the direct HKG/JFK flight can you? If so, ask what penalties or extra points would apply if the waitlist clears and your ticket needs to be reissued, assuming your confirmed booking for HKG/SFO/JFK will already have been ticketed by then.

Probably a good idea also to find out what the next AA flight is SFO/JFK in case the inevitable happens and you missed the flight you're booked on. That way you can say to the airport staff "can we be transferred to the later AAxx_ flight". Forewarned is forearmed.

Regarding a "PNR"... given I'd booked all my award flights through Qantas' booking engine and have a number that resembles 2AA222, I assume that to be the "PNR" for the whole trip? I'm just asking as Qantas calls it a "Booking Reference"...

On checkmytrip.com, when putting through the 'booking reference' and my last name, I get a section outlining the different airline confirmations and their numbers... are these PNR's instead?

sorry for the NOOB question.

It sounds as though everthing is booked in the one pnr/aka booking reference through QF with an Amadeus pnr number, however all airlines involved still have their own unique pnr for their own res system. You can always ask QF what they are - all they do in your booking is the entry "RL" which will display all the other airlines booking references. I thing you already got these from checkmytrip.

The only stupid question is the one that you don't ask. Remember your questions help others in the same boat.

Sounds like a great trip.

Cheers

Oz

 

[wile_e]

Thanks for all your replies.

Ideally, this is not the flight I would like to be on, however I needed to book one sector with AA to qualify for oneworld award redemption rates.

When the appropriate NYC-LAX (or LAS) seats are released, I'll be looking to alter the booking to a direct flight from HKG-JFK. As far as I understand, I'll be up for a 2500 points per person adjustment fee via Qantas.

However, AA first needs to make the flights I'd like to take available (not currently showing up on Qantas)...

 

[wile_e]

Hi all, latest news and to wrap this thread up...

I've managed to book another flight (JFK-LAS) on AA and so did not require the SFO-JFK leg on AA to qualify for the 'oneworld award' booking rules. Consequently, we've managed to book ourselves on the HKG-JFK direct flight. Unfortunately the JFK-LAS leg has to be done in Y (they only operate Y and F class), but at least its a direct flight (yes, I know... "Heresy" I here you FrequentFlyers out there shouting at me... )

Again, thanks to all who provided such detailed answers to my questions! And here I was looking forward to my "The Amazing Race" style rush through SFO airport... Next time (maybe)

Cheers,
W

 

[ozbeachbabe]

wile_e

Unfortunately the JFK-LAS leg has to be done in Y (they only operate Y and F class), but at least its a direct flight (yes, I know... "Heresy" I here you FrequentFlyers out there shouting at me... )

On paid fares you used to be able to travel in F if no J was offered within the USA. Is this the case (ie travelling in Y) because the ticket is an award?

Oz

 

[serfty]

... On paid fares you used to be able to travel in F if no J was offered within the USA. Is this the case (ie travelling in Y) because the ticket is an award? ...

Yup, Qantas Business class awards book into available coach/economy when there is no business class cabin.