Tag: sfo

View All Tags

/ / / / /

Our Kind of History Lesson: In-Flight Cocktails Through The Years

January 17, 2012 at 4:10 PM | by | Comments (0)

We're not the only ones who like to sip on in-flight cocktails. The San Francisco International Airport is also a bit of a boozehound as evidenced by this SFO Museum exhibit at Terminal 1 which centers on in-flight cocktail service during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

The small display features glassware, swizzle sticks, coasters, drink menus and even cocktail napkins served by old-timey airlines like Pacific Southwest Airlines, National Airlines and Pan American Airlines as well as from still alive airlines like United, American and KLM.

Of course, the winner of the coolest glassware in the case award belongs to KLM for their ceramic Bols gin Delftware containers which are shaped like Dutch houses and filled with Bols Jenever gin. These ones here were given to first-class passengers in the 1980s. But if you're flying World Business Class today, you can score a Delft house of your own.

The exhibition is titled "Hydration, Libation, and Lift: Airline Inflight Beverage Service" and can be found in Terminal 1 at the A3 Entrance lobby from now until July 2012.

/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

Six US Airports for Stalking the Airbus A380

January 11, 2012 at 9:28 AM | by | Comments (0)


Korean Air and Lufthansa A380s snuggle up at JFK Terminal 1

Look, if you're an airport and you want to have the superjumbo Airbus A380 flying in and out, you can't just be like "hey, airlines, bring that big thang on over." Nope. Instead certain preparations must be made to accommodate an airliner of the A380's size and heft. To effectively manage each plane's 500+ passenger load, more jetways are needed, plus support vehicles to reach the upper deck. In some cases, airport runway indicator lights may need to be moved and the tarmac reinforced.

In other words, A380s can't just fly anywhere and, although the massive planes have been in the air since Singapore Airlines took delivery of the very first in 2007, not all that many airports around the world are treated to them. At least some of those are the United States...

US airports where you'll find A380s:

more ›

/ / / / / / /

The Most Improved Airport of 2011 Is...

December 29, 2011 at 12:05 PM | by | Comments (0)

It's that time of the year again, the time when the year just plain ends. Alas, we can't just let 2011 go that easily, especially since travelers spent it both up in the air and up in arms over a crazy range of topics, encompassing everything from nudie scans to tarmac delays. Needless to say, we're ready for 2012, but first we're taking a brief look back at the best of 2011 with the Jaunted Travel Awards,—or as we fondly refer to them—The Jauntys.

Plenty of new airport restaurants arrived in terminals and concourses this year, and some airports are even getting brand new television shows once 2012 rolls around. However, there’s one airport that stands above the rest as the most improved. It’s not Minneapolis-St. Paul—although we do love us some MSP—nor is it Reagan National Airport despite its addition of a nine-foot tall statue of its namesake.

We’re picking San Francisco International Airport as the most improved airport of 2011.

more ›

/ / / / / / /

Inside the New Cathay Pacific Lounge at San Francisco International Airport

Where: San Francisco International [map], San Francisco, CA, United States
December 21, 2011 at 9:35 AM | by | Comments (0)

Finally. Finally! Cathay Pacific has finally opened a lounge of their very own on US soil, at San Francisco International's International Terminal. This is huge news for frequent flyers on Cathay to Hong Kong, but even for design buffs as the lounge includes the specially designed Solus Chair, first introduced at their Cabin lounge at HKG.

Because Cathay actually enjoys making their lounges somewhere you want to hang out, we'd recommend getting there early enough before your flight to relax in the fresh space. It opens up four hours before the first Cathay departure. All in all there's several seating areas, three shower rooms, seven private workstations (with printer), a snack center and noodle bar. Plus free WiFi of course.

more ›

/ / / / / / / / / / /

In-Flight Cocktail of the Month: Virgin Atlantic's 'Virgin Kiss'

December 2, 2011 at 2:04 PM | by | Comments (0)

As many already know, we have a serious obsession with airline cocktails, and so much is our passion that we've created a whole first-Friday-of-the-month feature called In-Flight Cocktail of the Month, which highlights the special concoctions that flight attendants whip up with only a cocktail shaker, some tiny liquor bottles and a whole lot of hope that it won't make you drunk and unruly.

Up until now, Virgin Atlantic's In-Flight Cocktail of the Month accolades have been the liquidy soundtrack to our past two summers. But a cocktail is for life, not just the hot months, so for December we're warming up with the SFO Clubhouse's signature cocktail: the Virgin Kiss.

more ›

/ / / / / / /

Inside the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at SFO

Where: San Francisco International [map], San Francisco, CA, United States
October 7, 2011 at 3:14 PM | by | Comments (0)


There are airport lounges, and then there are Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses—the type of lounge that makes you pray for a flight delay. Happily, when we scored access to the Clubhouse at San Francisco International Airport the other week, we were early for our flight. Unhappily, it left on time. Here’s what we found.

The room is bright and airy, overlooking the runway like most lounges. But unlike most, it’s sexy. Take the vast bar, for example—it’s colored an icy blue, and takes up about half the length of the (lengthy) room. Propping up the bar is even more appealing when there’s a shelf of travel guides to flick through, too. Over by the window, facing the bar, is a row of armchairs.

There aren’t many snacks scattered around—just a plate of fruit and cookies at the bar—but, instead, the end section of the lounge works as a restaurant, with a cluster of TVs to watch while you wait for your table service, and pictures of pinups if you’re bored by the telly. By the window down that end are sofas, which also get table service. Windows have blue and pink-tinted filters over them, which is weird at first but quite soothing.

more ›

/ / / / /

Who Knew an Airport Bathroom Could Be So Nice?

September 16, 2011 at 2:52 PM | by | Comments (0)


[Note: we've only seen the ladies room]

The cleaning lady thought we were crazy taking pictures inside a restroom, but the public restrooms at Terminal 2 at San Francisco International Airport are actually something to write home about.

Flattering lighting, stools in the makeup room and—boy oh boy—Dyson Airblade hand dryers? Be still our frequent flying hearts!

more ›

/ / / / / / / /

The Positives and Negatives of United 777 Business Class Between SFO and Tokyo

September 15, 2011 at 2:26 PM | by | Comments (2)

United's 777 from San Francisco to Tokyo-Narita in Business Class was a fly-by-night thing. Literally. It was a flight on which we upgraded at the last minute, boarded at the last minute, and everyone onboard slept for the majority of the 11-hour, 15-minute flight.

Since we've already detailed the in-flight meals, we'll keep our impressions of the seats and service quick and dirty:

more ›

/ / / / / / / / /

Hope You're Hungry: United's Business Class Meals Between San Francisco and Tokyo

September 14, 2011 at 11:59 AM | by | Comments (0)

"The 'Grilled Shrimp Brochette' looks nice, but then so does the 'Saté Spiced Chicken!'"

No, you are not in a restaurant. You are 38,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean, sitting in Business Class on a United 777, and you've got a printed menu open in your hands. Hard to believe? Hopefully not, because that was us recently after scoring a last-minute paid upgrade.

We've begun by telling you how we got it, now it's on to the experience of the flights themselves. Key to the fun of chilling in biz is enjoying the actual plated meals, instead of a plastic tray of "fish or meat" in economy.

more ›

/ / / / / / / / / /

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like United Airlines Everywhere You Go

September 8, 2011 at 9:12 AM | by | Comments (0)

United and Continental have slowly but surely been aligning their services over the last few months, and they’ve been doing so through goodie giveaways, updated apps, and of course plenty of new signage. We were checking out the changes at Chicago-O’Hare at the beginning of the summer, but now as the season is winding down the changes have begun elsewhere.

Upgrades and updates have arrived in San Francisco, as they got their new signs and stanchions in the middle of July. You still should check-in with United for their flights and with Continental for their flights, but the new branding has certainly arrived.

more ›

/ / / / / /

SmartCarte Has a New Business Idea: The Airport ChargeCarte

June 6, 2011 at 4:23 PM | by | Comments (0)

You know the SmartCarte system—those luggage trollies that you have to pay like, $2 or so to use. One detaches from a line of more carts, and you are free to plop your bevy of bulky suitcases onto it, to tool around the airport. It makes things very easy, provided you're willing to pay for the small service. Well, SmartCarte has a new idea to get more of your money, bit by bit: the ChargeCarte.

We've only encountered the ChargeCarte at San Francisco International Airport thus far, but we've got our eyes open to spy more, since these things have dollar signs written all over them. Here's how a ChargeCarte works:

more ›

/ / / /

Memorial Day Already Happened at SFO, with the Arrival of the 'Honor Flight'

Where: San Francisco International [map], San Francisco, CA, United States
May 27, 2011 at 9:50 AM | by | Comments (0)

Here's to a three-day weekend! We may all enjoy the first taste of summer relaxation with this upcoming Monday off of work, but it's okay to remember why the day has been dedicated a national holiday. Memorial Day isn't just sleeping until noon on a weekday, boozy brunching and maybe driving through the closest cemetery to view all the flags placed on veteran's graves. Memorial Day is about remembrance, and before we start into some Hallmark card-like spiel, we'll leave you with a photo of a touching scene we accidentally walked into while at San Francisco International Airport last week.

After disembarking our flight and heading out beyond security, towards the BART train, we passed by firefighters and policemen hoisting up American flags, and families decked out in red, blue and white awaiting the arrival of a very specific flight. Our first thought? Maybe they were here to welcome home servicemen on active duty. But no...

more ›

Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy (Revised 08/01/2011). © Condé Nast Digital. All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast Digital.
Ad Choices