San Francisco SFO Airport Overview


San Francisco International Airport SFO, located 13 miles south of San Francisco, California, near the junction of Highways 101 and 380, is one of the country's busiest airports. SFO serves the cosmopolitan city of San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and the wider Bay Area. SFO, the Gateway to the Pacific, is served by a multitude of major and minor domestic and international airlines offering nonstop flights to numerous destinations domestically, as well as to Canada, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Australasia. New Global Entry enrollment centers and kiosks opened recentlyat SFO, allowing pre-approved members an alternative to regular passport processing lines. At the kiosk, Global Entry members insert their passport or lawful permanent resident card into a document reader, provide digital fingerprints for comparison with fingerprints on file, answer customs declaration questions on the kiosk’s touch-screen, and then present a transaction receipt to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers before leaving the inspection area.

Bypass the in-terminal check-in counters and head straight to the gate by the remote check-in service. Passengers on participating domestic airlines are now able to check baggage and receive a boarding pass at the Long Term Parking Facility, 4am-1pm Wed-Mon. Airlines participating in the remote check-in program include: AirTran, Alaska, Continental, Delta/Northwest, Horizon, JetBlue, United, & US Airways.

San Francisco International Airport has of four passenger terminals--including the much-praised international terminal--three of which handle domestic and Canada-bound flights. An internal transit system--the AirTrain--links together the various parts of the airport. A secure connector now allows passengers transferring from domestic flights in Terminal 3 to international flights in Boarding Area G to walk directly to their new gate without having to exit and re-enter security or ride a shuttle bus between the two buildings. The passenger terminals offer a wide range of amenities and services, including a choice of diners, shops, spa treatments, wireless Internet access, banking services, a business center, and disabled facilities. Other amenities include an aquarium, an aviation library, a museum, a reflection room, and a children's area. The Airport is also the first airport in the country to feature a museum that is accredited by the American Association of Museums and its innovative exhibits have long received rave reviews from passengers. You might have an opportunity to check out the exhibits as flights out of San Francisco International Airport are often delayed when the infamous San Francisco fog rolls in.
In 2008 groundbreaking started on renovations to Terminal 2, which, when completed in spring of 2011, will transform the terminal into a domestic terminal state-of-the-art facility with 14 gates (13 narrow-body and one wide-body), and more than 575,000 square feet of public space.

If you need to pick up a passenger at the Airport, use the free Cell Phone Lot (up to one hour--closed 1am-5am) on 806 S Airport Blvd--five minutes from passenger terminals. The Lot has soft-drink and water vending machines. Stay with your car until your party has collected luggage and calls you to be picked up at the curb. Of course, you can also use the Short-term area of the domestic or international parking garage. Other parking options are:
1. The 5-level Domestic Parking Garage is in the Airport center, with short access tunnels to all the terminals, and is an ideal place to park travelers on a short trip or for those picking up arriving domestic passengers. To access the facility, follow the Domestic Terminal signs under the International Terminal and then follow the hourly parking signs to the entrance. Park in the appropriate color-coded section designated by airline (i.e., Air Canada operaes from Terminal 3/E - park in Domestic Garage E). Height restriction: 6.6 feet.
2. International Parking Garages A and G are in front of the International Terminal, on the north and south side of the Airport. To access the garages follow the International Terminal signs on the roadways and then follow the Garages A & G signs on the flyway. All Terminals can be accessed from these garage--the International Terminal via the pedestrian tunnels and the Domestic Terminals via AirTrain. Height restriction: 8.2 feet. AirTrain stations are located in both of the International Parking Garages--a 10-minute ride gets you to any of the domestic airline gates.
3. ParkFAST offers covered parking in a reserved area. Enjoy the ease of automated entry and exit--no lines, no cashiers. Just swipe your card and go! ParkFAST's dedicated entrance bypasses the general Domestic Terminal garage entry. Once at ParkFAST, simply swipe your ParkFAST member card or credit card to quickly enter and exit.
4. Park VALET is the ultimate convenience--just pull up and you are on your way, along with a complimentary copy of the Wall Street Journal. To access valet parking, go to the upper level Domestic 'Departures' roadway, opposite Delta Airlines. Valet Parking for all terminals and airlines is located in the Domestic Garage.

For current traffic information, call 511 from within the San Francisco Bay Area (510.817.1717) from outside the San Francisco Bay Area), or visit 511.org.

To get from the Airport to your destination, you can rent a car, take a taxi or limo, or use the Metro rail services which run between the Airport, the city, and the Bay Area.

San Francisco SFO Airport Update History

  • Updated SFO Airports page - Jul 19, 2010
  • Updated SFO Direct Flights page - Jul 19, 2010
  • Updated SFO Food & Stores page - May 9, 2010

AIRPORT & FLIGHT STATUS

SFO Delays Status: 15 mins or less.

Overcast and 60 F at San Francisco Intl Airport, CA

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SFO Parking & Shuttles

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