SFO the new gateway to the US

[Blackadder]

San Francisco Airport the new US gateway | News.com.au

SAN Francisco Airport is urging Australians to use it as an American gateway rather than Los Angeles Airport.
Known as SFO, the airport boasts it's easier, quicker, friendlier, cleaner and overall a much more pleasant experience than coming through LAX.
A campaign directed at Aussie travellers will include print advertisements and billboards at Australian airports.

Definitly would consider SFO if the prices are less expensive than LAX, only problem I can see would be those wanting to stay in LA to do Hollywood,Beverly Hills,Universal etc would need to add on a flight or hire car and a nine hour drive.

 

[simongr]

Is SFO a hub for AA? SO if flying to the US on QF then you will have to change airline programs mid trip...

 

[Blackadder]

No AA Hub, but there are flights SFO-LAX-SFO

FWIW the AA Hubs are DFW,JFK,MIA,ORD

 

[simongr]

I think that was my point. SFO is not a gateway for QF flyers - it is a terminal point. Why would you fly into SFO to avoid LAX only to then fly to LAX to fly onwards.

Normal people just fly the easiest/cheapest route - which is why for normal people SFO is not a gateway...

P.s. I know all of those AA hubs well

 

[SeaWolf]

SFO is a big hub for UA though, so there's potential there.

 

[markis10]

Pretty good for Star though, UA and US hub out of SFO, and I have to say the expereince I had left LAX for dead in terms of customs clearance etc.

 

[harvyk]

Pretty good for Star though, UA and US hub out of SFO, and I have to say the expereince I had left LAX for dead in terms of customs clearance etc.

+1 for SFO over LAX when it comes to customs.

That said I don't think that in itself is a compelling reason to use SFO over LAX...

Me thinks that nonews need to double check how many flights there are daily SYD-SFO... I somewhat think that there are not 11 direct (non-stop) services per day...

I'm pretty sure UA \ QF offer one service per day each on most days and NZ offer one AKL-SFO service per day.

 

[drron]

Although SFO is not a hub for AA there are several flights a day to DFW.Also direct flights to ORD and not to mention AS connections available if you are on a Globalex ticket.
However if going to the East coast my preferred way is via NRT and miss California completely.

 

[drewbles]

No AA Hub, but there are flights SFO-LAX-SFO

FWIW the AA Hubs are DFW,JFK,MIA,ORD

Also a large presence at STL, if i'm not mistaken...

And isn't ORD UA's hub? I recall a huge banner up in the AA terminal (during their more room throughout coach promotion) of "Your knees don't care who your home airline is" or similar..

 

[drewbles]

+1 for SFO over LAX when it comes to customs.

That said I don't think that in itself is a compelling reason to use SFO over LAX...

Me thinks that nonews need to double check how many flights there are daily SYD-SFO... I somewhat think that there are not 11 direct (non-stop) services per day...

I'm pretty sure UA \ QF offer one service per day each on most days and NZ offer one AKL-SFO service per day.

Agreed there too. My last few trips to LOTFAP have all been inbound via SFO. It's a much nicer way to arrive than the hell that is LAX at peak hour.

 

[notzac]

As an aside, SFO is a "hub" for VX - could be good for connections coming off a VA flight, if one existed.

Could a 77W do MEL-SFO perhaps?

 

[docjames]

That's fairly pointless unless you want to fly only UA or the single QF flight (ex-SYD) that doesnt connect all that well. if you fly from BNE or MEL, then LAX is the only direct choice. DL and VA dont give you that choice.

I'm not transitting SYD just to avoid LAX! Negates any benefit. Perhaps they should have done a better deal for VA to fly there instead of LAX?

(Note: I am transitting SYD on way back from LHR in May. Ugh.)

 

[sweens]

Why wouldn't QF consider DFW as a 2nd gateway to the U.S.

I would think that the A380 could fly SYD -DFW direct...I am imagining that it would take an extra hour or so than the current SYD - LAX flight.

As DFW is a major Hub for AA it would really open up some options in getting to many more U.S. city's in far less time than a LAX transfer takes.

 

[drewbles]

That's fairly pointless unless you want to fly only UA or the single QF flight (ex-SYD) that doesnt connect all that well. if you fly from BNE or MEL, then LAX is the only direct choice. DL and VA dont give you that choice.

I'm not transitting SYD just to avoid LAX! Negates any benefit. Perhaps they should have done a better deal for VA to fly there instead of LAX?

(Note: I am transitting SYD on way back from LHR in May. Ugh.)

Where's your sense of adventure, and SC earn A transit via SYD also lets you earn more SC's. Sure, only 10/20/40 each way, but it's usually the same price as SYD-SFO direct. And i'd rather a transit in SYD than the annoyance of arrival in LAX. AA have a relatively good schedule out of there to DFW and the like. It's not all that bad.

SFO is a much nicer airport to navigate as well.

 

[Blackadder]

I think that was my point. SFO is not a gateway for QF flyers - it is a terminal point. Why would you fly into SFO to avoid LAX only to then fly to LAX to fly onwards.

Normal people just fly the easiest/cheapest route - which is why for normal people SFO is not a gateway...

P.s. I know all of those AA hubs well

If the price becomes substantially cheaper to promote SFO, then I am sure a number of people will take up the offer, especially if they are visiting the West Coast.
Also despite the 9 hour drive to LA very scenic via the coast, so people may be tempted with that.

 

[dajop]

Also a large presence at STL, if i'm not mistaken...
..

Substantially diminished presence compared to say 7-8 years ago. Very much a hub for American Eagle type services using RJ's on shorter routes. Majorly scaled back as a hub due to proximity to DFW and ORD. Say this having just landed at STL 2 hours ago... but not on AA this time.

As for SFO, it still offers services to som of destinations, but not as many as LAX. BOS, JFK, MIA, DFW, ORD, STL. So for some major points OK, but LAX has more like San Diego, Washington, Austin, Toronto, Las Vegas, Orlando, Nashville, and regional California ...

 

[notzac]

Could a 77W do MEL-SFO perhaps?

Apparently it can! MEL-SFO appears to be 6826 nmi; the 77W seems to have a range of just under 8000 nmi with a payload of ~360 pax:

Great Circle Mapper
http://www.boeing.com/commercial/startup/pdf/777_payload.pdf

Probably not commercially feasible tho. Pity!

 

[Mal]

SFO is a pleasant airport to arrive into and depart from. It has good public transport links into central San Francisco, and a good number of connecting flights.

San Fran itself is a nice town, although I couldn't visit it too often.

 

[Cyclogenesis]

Although SFO is not a hub for AA there are several flights a day to DFW.Also direct flights to ORD and not to mention AS connections available if you are on a Globalex ticket.
However if going to the East coast my preferred way is via NRT and miss California completely.

Yes.. I was thinking for my next MEL-ORD trip going MEL-(SYD?)-NRT-ORD for something different... only issue is no drinks service on AA NRT-ORD...

Anyone done this?

 

[straitman]

Where's your sense of adventure, and SC earn A transit via SYD also lets you earn more SC's. Sure, only 10/20/40 each way, but it's usually the same price as SYD-SFO direct. And i'd rather a transit in SYD than the annoyance of arrival in LAX. AA have a relatively good schedule out of there to DFW and the like. It's not all that bad.

SFO is a much nicer airport to navigate as well.

drewbles,

I have to agree. If you need to transfer at SYD or SFO then if all else is equal then SFO has to be a better choice.

Of course there are a whole host of variables that can and will push the picture one way or another.