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

I have been flying in and out of SFO for several months but have not had to switch flights from the domestic terminals to the International Terminal. There used to be a bus located at the lower level near Gate 72 that takes you from SFO Terminal 3 to the International terminal. That bus is no longer available.

SFO has completed a connection bridge that takes you from Terminal 3 to the International Terminal. You will need to walk from the gates of Terminal 3 to the SFO International Terminal via this bridge. The walk way connecting SFO’s Terminal 3 and the International Terminal is near Gate 75 (shown in the map below). It would have been great if travelers received information information about the new bridge at SFO.

You can also view my other posts on: How to a quickly check into SFO Terminal 3 and a recently updated post on the time and schedule of when the gates are opened.

Safe travels.

As a frequent flyer of United in and out of San Francisco International Airport (SFO) Terminal 3, here are some hot tips for you:

1.  When flying on a domestic flight out of Terminal 3, you should always go through TSA security checkpoint near Gate 74 and 75. Gate 74 and 75 is located between the domestic and international terminals. It is called out “Boarding Areas” (the bottom red dot) if you refer to the map below.

The Gate 74 and 75 checkpoint is to the left of the Ticketing area, opposite side of the regular boarding area. No one is aware of this security checkpoint as it is geared towards travelers coming from the international terminal or BART. Lines here are always shorter than the Premier lines.

2.  When you are in transit through SFO from domestic to international terminal, the best approach is via the bus interlink. The bus is located near the Yankee Pier restaurant or Gate 72. Referring to the map above, it is the 2nd red dot from the top. You will need to go through a door near the information booth, then down the stairs to the waiting area. The bus comes every 15 minutes or so. Going by bus means you will be able to avoid going out of Terminal 3, taking the Airtrain, and go through security screening at the International terminal.

Try these two tips and let us know your thoughts.