Sfo

We’ll give you the bad news first: SFO is one of the most expensive airports in the country. That’s according to a study released Thursday by the Points Guy, a travel and lifestyle website. But the good news is that airports in neighboring Oakland and San Jose rank among the least expensive. San Jose is the fourth most affordable and Oakland fifth, while San Francisco is the fourth most expensive. Flights were on average more than $100 cheaper out of Oakland than San Francisco. But the South Bay airport had cheaper amenities, beating out its East Bay competitor for a better ranking. At San Jose, app-hailed rides average $15 versus $22 at Oakland. Luggage cart rentals are 25 cents less and a coffee three cents cheaper. SFO is the seventh busiest passenger airport in the country and served 57.7 million passengers from July 2017 to June 2018, the airport’s most recent economic impact report said. Visitor spending generated more than $12.5 billion in revenue. The Point … [Read more...] about SFO one of most expensive airports in nation, San Jose and Oakland among cheapest

In 2017, a commercial airliner lined up for takeoff at San Francisco International Airport on runway 01 Left, the main departure route. The pilot accidentally punched 10 Left — a much longer SFO runway — into the cockpit computer, causing the plane to incorrectly calculate the appropriate thrust and wing flap settings. The pilot’s simple reversing of the number caused the plane to nearly run out of runway, lifting off with only 400 feet left of asphalt, according to a Federal Aviation Administration report obtained by The Chronicle through the Freedom of Information Act. It wasn’t the only such close call at SFO. The March 2018 FAA safety report found 25 cases from 2014 to 2017 in which airplanes from several carriers took off with less than 1,000 feet of runway remaining. The FAA believes some of those cases probably were a result of “transposition error” and said no other major airport in the United States has had a similar problem. Aviation … [Read more...] about SFO: The typo that almost crashed a plane

Stuck in San Francisco overnight because of airport construction delays or cancellations? Don’t look to airlines to cover your accommodations. They say the construction is out of their control. And making a reservation yourself may be hard: Some hotels say they’re already at maximum capacity on weeknights, even before the surge in demand from desperate travelers. “Anytime (anything) affects the airport, the airport properties get packed,” said Rogers Macon, front desk manager at El Rancho Inn, which is 3 miles from San Francisco International Airport. Travelers, he said, are “going to be in trouble, because if we’re sold out, everyone’s sold out.” SFO is days into a three-week construction project to fix one runway’s crumbling pavement. More than 230 flights were delayed on Tuesday alone, and at least 100 more were canceled. Thousands of travelers have been stranded for hours, sometimes overnight, looking for a place to stay or … [Read more...] about Stuck at SFO overnight? Airlines won’t put you up and hotels are packed

The closure of San Francisco International Airport’s busiest runway for repairs has caused more than a thousand flight delays and hundreds of cancellations in less than four days — and more headaches are expected Tuesday. SFO announced it would close runway 28L for 20 days of reconstruction that started Saturday, and the early returns have been a frustrating mess for travelers through or departing. On Monday, 352 flights were delayed and 135 canceled, according to FlightAware, a flight-tracking website. As of 7 a.m. Tuesday, 85 flights were delayed and 89 had been canceled. Many of those cancellations — but not all of them — were made in advance of the shutdown, which was scheduled in March. Airlines took steps to reduce their flights by 13%, but many air travelers are complaining they were not warned of delays. United Airlines is allowing some travelers to rebook flights without an additional charge. All airlines are advising fliers to check with their airlines … [Read more...] about SFO: More than 1,200 flights delayed, canceled in 4 days — and more expected

The San Francisco International Airport construction that closed a runway Saturday, causing thousands of delays and cancellations, is 48 hours ahead of schedule, the airport announced Thursday. SFO will reopen one part of the runway under construction for use on Saturday, which should ease flight interruptions and could shorten the project. “We’re currently trending towards a completion date earlier than Sept. 27,” airport spokesman Doug Yakel said in an email Thursday. More than 2,000 flights have been delayed or canceled since construction started Saturday, with some passengers stranded overnight. Thursday, 223 flights were delayed and 83 canceled by midday, according to flight tracking site FlightAware. The fast progress on repairs was cold comfort to Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, who was among those inconvenienced by flight delays and reroutings. “It’s a nightmare for everyone who uses SFO,” she said in an email Thursday. “I’m … [Read more...] about SFO runway construction halfway done — delays should ease