United to Launch Bay Area Flights to Spokane and Minneapolis

Beginning June 4, 2009, United Airlines will fly nonstop between San Francisco and Minneapolis/St.Paul Airports. According to the UA timetable, The once-daily flight will utilize an Airbus 319 aircraft.

Schedule:
SFO-MSP Departs 12:50 PM Arriving 6:33PM.

Also on June 4th, United Airlines/SkyWest will fly twice daily between SFO and Spokane, Washington, utilizing a Canadair regional jet.

Schedule:
SFO-GEG Departs 12:54 PM Arriving 2:50PM.
SFO-GEG Departs 10:00 PM Arriving 11:57 PM.

Delayed Passengers at SFO - pillows and sleepers now available

San Francisco International has taken a bold move to help extinguish customer frustrations for certain plane delays. Under a new plan now available, if a plane has boarded and then is delayed for longer than an hour, airline personnel {should} notify the airport who will then initiate some special TLC for the passengers; booze and pretzels for all! (No).

This special care includes:
1. Deplane passengers into the International Terminal where additional restroom facilities will be available. 2. Allow people to walk around a bit, not feel cramped sitting and waiting on the plane. 3. Provide sleeping pads, pillows and sheets during instances when passengers must remain in the terminal overnight.

The plan is voluntary for the airlines, and they must contact the airport directly in order for the plan to kick-in.

Renovation Plans for SFO's Terminal 2

The outdated, empty, and unused Terminal 2 at San Francisco International Airport will soon get some much needed tender loving care.

Formerly known as the old International Terminal, Terminal 2 has been closed since 2000, which is when the impressive and grand International Terminal debuted. Then with the drop in air travel around and after 9/11, considerations for reopening the terminal seemed pointless.

Now, business at SFO is up, but available space is not. International travel is up 8% year-to-date versus last year, and domestic up 2%. The airport simply needs more gates than currently available.

So, Airport commissioners voted last week to solicit bids for contractors for the renovation of the terminal. Once the bidding and design process are completed, it will take about 30 months of constructions before flights would begin again from Terminal 2. 14 new gates are expected once the renovation is finished.