Before our recent Superfly flight, we had the opportunity to spend some time in the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at SFO. We were greeted by a woman who looked like a missing character from an "Austin Powers" movie. She was older, just a hair over five feet tall with big red hair, even bigger glasses and a vague English accent. She said things like "Welcome love, great to have you here!" Good start...
The green light was on, but a sad and lonely GE EntryScan machine waited for no passengers at San Francisco International on Monday night. We peeked ahead trying to see if we would be shunted through the machine, but to no avail!
While SFO wasn't on the list of airports getting body scanners, apparently the hulking machine that could destroy our privacy but allow us to keep on our clothes arrived early for its date with the TSA. Its presence suggests that despite security concerns raised by the ACLU, among others, body scans or required pat downs are in the future for air travelers.
Terminal 2 at San Francisco International, which was closed in 2000, will re-open by 2010. It will host domestic flights from Virgin America and both JetBlue and Southwest may also move in, making it a veritable LCC battleground.
Aside from generally modernizing T2, which opened in 1954, SFO will add four gates to the 10 already present. And since this is the Bay Area, construction materials will be green whenever possible, high-effeciency lighting is going in and there will be priority parking outside for hybrid cars.
For now, passengers interested in seeing the abandoned terminal can, though it will eventually be closed as work proceeds. You can also find a similar ghost terminal at Lambert-St. Louis International. Concourse D is almost completely vacant, and it makes for some cool photos.
Related Stories:
· SFO Brings Ghost Terminal Back from the Dead [SMC Times]
· SFO's Old International Terminal to Fly Again [SF Chronicle]
· Airports coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo of T2: misterbisson]
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by pbb
Last week we did a day trip up to San Francisco. We were hoping that on our way back to Los Angeles that we could log on before our Southwest flight.
Sadly, this is what greeted us when we tried to surf the web at our gate at SFO. However, the gate did have a nifty seating area with a long desk-type table so passengers had a place to work. There were even some outlets readily available.
But we still couldn't bring ourselves to cough up the $7.95 one-day fee. Maybe if we had an hour or more to kill. And that's a big maybe...
Related Stories:
· Our Guide to Free Airport WiFi [Jaunted]
· Airport WiFi coverage [Jaunted]
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by juliana
About to get more popular...
Hundreds of food service workers at San Francisco International have authorized a two-day strike if their demands for more pay and better benefits aren't met. That would mean no dry turkey sandwiches and no wilted caesar salads for the hundreds of thousands of travelers who would land at SFO during the potential work stoppage.
All 48 of the restaurants, bars and other food service outlets at the airport would shut down if a strike is called. Negotiations continue today and tomorrow, so workers likely won't walk out before the weekend, if at all.
We don't normally buy food at the airport, but a long delay--always a possibility at SFO--could quickly put a dent in our stash of trail mix. What could possibly make waiting out bad weather at the airport worse than no food? No bars!
Related Stories:
· Food Worker Strike Could Hit Traveler Bellies at SFO [Inside Bay Area]
· Food Workers Planning a Strike [Gridskipper]
· Airport Hell coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: matsuda.yukihiro]
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Virgin America is announcing today that tickets are on sale for service to Seattle from both Los Angeles and San Francisco. Flights between SFO and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) will begin on March 18, 2008, with three daily roundtrip flights. In addition, three daily roundtrips between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and SEA will begin on April 8, 2008.
Virgin America's SFO-SEA fares start at $77 one way in the Main Cabin and $177 one way in First Class. LAX-SEA fares start at $99 one way in the Main Cabin and $199 one way in First Class.
We totally called it. This makes us two for two on nailing VA destinations before they are officially announced -- San Diego and now Seattle. Actually, a huge assist on this one goes to Jaunted member herz, who stuck with the VA to Seattle call out, even after SEA airport spokesman Perry Cooper denied that Virgin to SEA was a done deal. Oh, and to all you unnamed email tipsters and accidental tipsters -- hats off to you as well.
Port of Seattle Commission President John Creighton said:
Virgin America will offer Puget Sound travelers an additional airline choice with some unique, tech-driven features and flight amenities. The addition of Virgin America to Sea-Tac Airport will help further economic development and tourism for the Seattle region and the state.
This will be the first new destination under new Virgin America President and Chief Executive Officer David Cush.
Bonus shot of the VA team toasting in the aisle post jump.
Related Stories:
· Virgin America coverage [Jaunted]
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by markj
Virgin America will fly three flights a day between SFO to San Diego International starting February 12 of next year. That frequency will increase to five flights a day on March 9.
Fares start at $39 each way, and first class starts at $149 one way. Obviously, the aircraft will all be outfitted with VA's standard in-flight entertainment options. (The standard options don't include lingerie models.)
We have to brag a bit that we called this last month. Now that it's official, we can start snooping around to dig up the next new route for VA.
Related Stories:
· Service Coming to San Diego [Jaunted]
· Virgin America coverage [Jaunted]
Southwest Airlines is going to have to fight a little harder for the business of its Vegas-going Bay Area clients. The carrier will have some heavy competition starting Wednesday when Virgin America begins three round trips a day from San Fran to Vegas.
While this is bad news for Southwest, its great news for those considering a Sin City getaway, as both airlines are bending over backwards to win the hearts and pocketbooks of potential fliers. When Virgin announced $44 one-way tickets, not only did Southwest match the fare, it also more than doubled the number of daily flights Virgin offered.
So, since price is no longer a decision-maker, Virgin is the way to go: You'll fly on a brand-new plane with all the VA amenities, while Southwest will send you off on an old school jet sporting with no seat-back TV in sight.
But Southwest does have one advantage over its new rival: The carrier's flights operate out of OAK and SJC while Virgin runs flights out of SFO, where weather and congestion often hold up service. Keeping flights on-time is a great way to stay competitive.
Related Stories:
· VA Set to Take Flight [In Business Las Vegas]
· Southwest Taking on Virgin America at SFO [Jaunted]
· Southwest Airlines coverage [Jaunted]
· Virgin America coverage [Jaunted]
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