Triangle Trip

If ever you needed to freshen up at SFO, there’s a solution for you if you are Star Alliance Gold with an international itinerary.  Around the corner from United’s Red Carpet Club (turn right after security in Concourse G), tucked away is Singapore Airline’s Silver Kris Lounge (Level 3), which you can get in if you are Star Alliance Gold and on an international itinerary.  It’s a smaller, cozier lounge than the Red Carpet Club, but the Silver Kris Lounge has one amenity that the Red Carpet Club at SFO lacks: a shower facility.

The shower facility is nothing fancy but it does the job.  Towels are provided at the front desk and the shower facility has generic liquid soap, shampoo, and conditioner.  So you don’t need to be equipped with anything.  And for those with long hair, a blow dryer is also provided.

In addition to having a shower facility, the Silver Kris Lounge has a better snack selection than the neighboring Red Carpet Club and it provides free alcoholic beverages ranging from bottle beers to Johnnie Walker whiskey (unfortunately it’s only Black Label).

The only downside to this lounge is that it’s only open during odd hours, to coincide with Singapore Airlines flights.  During daylight savings, the lounge is open from 10:40am to 2:20pm and then from 9:55pm to 1:25am.  During Pacific Standard Time, it opens from 9am to 12:30pm and then from 8:35pm to 12:05pm.  However, this schedule changes frequently during the year but the general blocks of time are the same.

For your reference, here’s a map of SFO with United gates and lounge information:

United SFO map

Damn it United, I cannot quit you!!!

Similar to American Airlines (see Captain G’s previous post), United is offering Double Elite Qualifying Miles or Segments yet again.  This time it’s for all flights flown from September 3 to December 15, 2009, regardless of when you register for this promotion during this period.

You can only choose to do either DEQM (double elite qualifying miles) or DEQS (double elite qualifying segments).  If you are flying short routes, you should pick DEQS.  Go with DEQM if you are going coast to coast or over 1,500 miles.

To register for this or for more information go to the promotion page here.

No matter how much I hate United, they keep drawing me back.  I really am a status monger!

So I’m on this United flight sitting in an aisle seat reading a book when a flight attendant comes by with a coffee tray.

“Sir, he wants coffee.” I look up and he’s clearly talking to me. I’m thoroughly puzzled. “Excuse me?” I ask. I don’t even drink coffee.

“The gentleman next to you wants coffee.” I’m still confused. Does he want me serve the guy next to me coffee? I give the flight attendant a puzzled look.

“Can you please take a cup and hold it while I pour coffee for the gentleman next to you?” Wait, what? The guy next to me has no hands or what? I look over at the guy next to me; he has all his hands and his arms are long enough to reach over the length of my narrow seat.

Grudgingly I pick up a cup from the tray and hold it while the flight attendant pours coffee for the guy next to me. Once he is done I give it to the guy next to me.

I’ve always complained about service or rather the non-existence of it on United. Now it has hit an all-time low.

Or maybe I’m just a jerk.