Moderators: jsumali2, richierich, ua900, PanAm_DC10, hOMSaR
hayzel777 wrote:redevelopment of the main hall so the two sides are connected
LondonXtreme wrote:But the terminal itself is outdated and need to be remodelled.
SurlyBonds wrote:LondonXtreme wrote:But the terminal itself is outdated and need to be remodelled.
How so? I appreciate that it's crowded, but it's less than 20 years old and does not IMO feel particularly dated from an *architectural* standpoint.
LondonXtreme wrote:The international flights from SFO is booming significantly now. But the terminal itself is outdated and need to be remodelled. Especially, the gates are extremely restricted during the peak hours. With new T1 is under construction now and will probably handle some international flights in future. However, the G-area is overcrowded and some flights operated by Star Alliance has moved to A-area which contradict UA's proposal of "under one roof".
With a couple of my recent experience this year. It always happens that the wide body plane has to be grounded for 20-30 minutes after landing in order to wait for the gate release(I guess all the gates were fully occupied at that time). I think both G-area and A-area need some additional gates to accommodate the future growth for UA and the upcoming new carriers.
LondonXtreme wrote:I mean the Int'l terminal has limited spaces for retail and lounge, the shops and restaurants are pathetic in terms of quality of quantity.
SurlyBonds wrote:LondonXtreme wrote:I mean the Int'l terminal has limited spaces for retail and lounge, the shops and restaurants are pathetic in terms of quality of quantity.
Emporio Rulli is pathetic? What would meet your standards, a branch of the French Laundry?
(I agree the choice has gotten a little worse over the past year or so. There used to be an excellent sushi restaurant, Ebisu, which mysteriously closed in favor of something much worse, and the Chinese place right next to it is a bit too fast-foody. But that is mostly a question of retailing, not the facilities themselves.)
LondonXtreme wrote:SurlyBonds wrote:LondonXtreme wrote:I mean the Int'l terminal has limited spaces for retail and lounge, the shops and restaurants are pathetic in terms of quality of quantity.
Emporio Rulli is pathetic? What would meet your standards, a branch of the French Laundry?
(I agree the choice has gotten a little worse over the past year or so. There used to be an excellent sushi restaurant, Ebisu, which mysteriously closed in favor of something much worse, and the Chinese place right next to it is a bit too fast-foody. But that is mostly a question of retailing, not the facilities themselves.)
I agree,I still remember the food courts on each side at departure lobby pre securities used to have more variety of choices. The SFO Int'l terminal is split into two sides and doesn't have a centralised area for retails, so people can free move between A and G.
LondonXtreme wrote:However, the G-area is overcrowded and some flights operated by Star Alliance has moved to A-area which contradict UA's proposal of "under one roof".
ericm2031 wrote:Getting to a consolidated checkpoint will definitely help. I'm not sure the exact plans, but above a consolidated checkpoint they could always do the sterile connector with additional retail/restaurants/lounges.LondonXtreme wrote:However, the G-area is overcrowded and some flights operated by Star Alliance has moved to A-area which contradict UA's proposal of "under one roof".
Besides for AV and some CM flights, I think all *A flights are in G, which is actually better than it used to be. You can probably exit G and get back into A faster at SFO than T8 to TBIT in LAX which is connected within security across 3 bridges and 2 tunnels.
theasianguy wrote:It's hard to believe that when the International Terminal was completed in 2000, it was the biggest in the US with 24 gates, and nobody could even imagine it could reach capacity. Now, it's severely overcrowded between 10 AM-2 PM, and many terminals around the world (and even in the US) have surpassed it in user friendliness and amenities.
I remember passing through for the first time in 2006 and noticing how great it was for a US airport. However, the terminal has changed little in those years, with the already limited food options get worse and more expensive every year. While the check in hall is architecturally impressive, I find the airside corridors extremely dull, simply a concrete box with tinted windows. LAX's TBIT puts it to shame with all the interactive displays, floor to ceiling windows, luxury shopping, and plentiful food options.
Since 2014, SFO seems to have gotten at least 3 new airlines and 2 new UA international routes every year. Boarding Area H can't come fast enough to relieve the G side congestion. Meanwhile, relief for the A side is in sight when JetBlue, Sun Country, Hawaiian, and international narrobodies move into Terminal 1.
As far as international terminal improvements, I'd like to see a centralized security area between the 2 food courts to provide access to both boarding areas. A new extension past security can be built into something like the TBIT Great Hall, with a food court, interactive displays, and luxury shopping. Finally, when the passengers enter the concourse, take down all of the duty free, name brand boutiques, and Pacific News type stores (relocated to the Great Hall) to improve passenger flow and large floor to ceiling windows so all gates get great views of the planes, not just 6-7. Yep, I'm still dreaming...
anshabhi wrote:is some land reclamation method possible for SFO expansion?
gwrudolph wrote:theasianguy wrote:It's hard to believe that when the International Terminal was completed in 2000, it was the biggest in the US with 24 gates, and nobody could even imagine it could reach capacity. Now, it's severely overcrowded between 10 AM-2 PM, and many terminals around the world (and even in the US) have surpassed it in user friendliness and amenities.
I remember passing through for the first time in 2006 and noticing how great it was for a US airport. However, the terminal has changed little in those years, with the already limited food options get worse and more expensive every year. While the check in hall is architecturally impressive, I find the airside corridors extremely dull, simply a concrete box with tinted windows. LAX's TBIT puts it to shame with all the interactive displays, floor to ceiling windows, luxury shopping, and plentiful food options.
Since 2014, SFO seems to have gotten at least 3 new airlines and 2 new UA international routes every year. Boarding Area H can't come fast enough to relieve the G side congestion. Meanwhile, relief for the A side is in sight when JetBlue, Sun Country, Hawaiian, and international narrobodies move into Terminal 1.
As far as international terminal improvements, I'd like to see a centralized security area between the 2 food courts to provide access to both boarding areas. A new extension past security can be built into something like the TBIT Great Hall, with a food court, interactive displays, and luxury shopping. Finally, when the passengers enter the concourse, take down all of the duty free, name brand boutiques, and Pacific News type stores (relocated to the Great Hall) to improve passenger flow and large floor to ceiling windows so all gates get great views of the planes, not just 6-7. Yep, I'm still dreaming...
Is it really possible to connect the two sides? Aren't the escalators and foot path of travel to/from the Bart station in the way of building a combined area?
reality wrote:" In 1849, as California’s Gold Rush was beginning, the Bay was 787 square miles in size. Today it is approximately 550 square miles. "
http://www.bcdc.ca.gov/history.html
In the '60s people became alarmed that the bay was 30% smaller than it was 100 years earlier. The general population, not just "environmentalists" agreed--and still do.
That's why it is difficult to get any projects that require bayfill done today.
Expanding the runways into the bay does make sense though so perhaps it will happen--but don't hold your breath.
reality wrote:gwrudolph wrote:theasianguy wrote:It's hard to believe that when the International Terminal was completed in 2000, it was the biggest in the US with 24 gates, and nobody could even imagine it could reach capacity. Now, it's severely overcrowded between 10 AM-2 PM, and many terminals around the world (and even in the US) have surpassed it in user friendliness and amenities.
I remember passing through for the first time in 2006 and noticing how great it was for a US airport. However, the terminal has changed little in those years, with the already limited food options get worse and more expensive every year. While the check in hall is architecturally impressive, I find the airside corridors extremely dull, simply a concrete box with tinted windows. LAX's TBIT puts it to shame with all the interactive displays, floor to ceiling windows, luxury shopping, and plentiful food options.
Since 2014, SFO seems to have gotten at least 3 new airlines and 2 new UA international routes every year. Boarding Area H can't come fast enough to relieve the G side congestion. Meanwhile, relief for the A side is in sight when JetBlue, Sun Country, Hawaiian, and international narrobodies move into Terminal 1.
As far as international terminal improvements, I'd like to see a centralized security area between the 2 food courts to provide access to both boarding areas. A new extension past security can be built into something like the TBIT Great Hall, with a food court, interactive displays, and luxury shopping. Finally, when the passengers enter the concourse, take down all of the duty free, name brand boutiques, and Pacific News type stores (relocated to the Great Hall) to improve passenger flow and large floor to ceiling windows so all gates get great views of the planes, not just 6-7. Yep, I'm still dreaming...
Is it really possible to connect the two sides? Aren't the escalators and foot path of travel to/from the Bart station in the way of building a combined area?
From: http://media.flysfo.com.s3.amazonaws.co ... _Final.pdf
See Page 6 - 5 of the pdf.
B/As (Boarding Areas) A & G would be connected in Phases 1 and 2--apparently by expanding the area at the rear of the Main Hall of the Departures Level and connecting the two sides--possibly on more than one level of the building.
"ITB (International Terminal Building) Departures Level Improvements – Phase 1: These improvements would
provide international gate assignment flexibility, additional security screening
checkpoint capacity, and expanded concessions areas. This project includes the
following improvements on the Departures Level in the Main Hall:
1. Relocation of the two security checkpoints to a single facility in the center of
the Main Hall, leading to an internal secure corridor connecting B/A A and G
2. Reconfiguration of the ticketing/check-in areas to accommodate modern
ticketing/check-in processes and facilitate passenger flow to the central
security checkpoint
3. Expansion of concessions in the areas currently used for security screening
checkpoints"
--------------
"ITB Departures Level Improvements – Phase 2: This project, shown in Exhibit
6.3-3, would expand the ITB on the Departures Level in the area immediately
beyond the new centralized security checkpoint. These improvements would
provide additional commercial areas to create a world-class shopping and dining
experience for departing passengers. The building expansion would extend to
the Arrivals Level to accommodate displaced U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) administrative offices, provide additional area for support space, or create
a security checkpoint designated for connecting passengers.
If you look carefully at Exhibit 6.3.3 and enlarge it on your screen you can see that they have completely changed the arrangement of the Main Hall. There is a wide area in the center that is the security screening checkpoint and leads to a wide corridor with shops and restaurants that connects Boarding Areas A and G. The check in counters have been rearranged so that they are not all lined up in the center of the Main Hall, but rather distributed around the periphery as well.
reality wrote:Yes...you are absolutely right. There is a walkway from the UA Domestic Terminal 3 that goes thru the International Terminal and then on to the BART station. That pathway would be blocked on the Departures Level if Boarding Areas A and G are connected. So there must be other ways for people to get through. They will have to build something higher up on the mezzanine level, or something lower, beneath the Departures Level, that connects BART with the rest of the airport and which also allows people coming from Terminal 3 to enter the International Terminal. The same kind of walkway exists on the other side that connects Terminal 1 with the International Terminal. I'm not sure how they're going to do this, but they must have a plan. There might already be a walkway there--midway between the Departures Level and the Arrivals Level. I don't remember.