San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

San Francisco, US 🇺🇸 Large International Airport Scheduled Service

ICAO

KSFO

IATA

SFO

Elevation

13 ft

Region

US-CA

Local Time

Airport Information

GPS Code: KSFO

Local Code: SFO

Location: 37.619806° N, -122.374821° E

Continent: NA

Type: Large International Airport

Keywords: QSF QBA

Arrivals

View incoming flights

Departures

View outgoing flights

External Links

Official Website Wikipedia Live Flights

Nearby Points of Interest

Tourist Attractions View
Hotels View
Restaurants View

What Travelers Say

AI-Generated Summary Based on web research

Recent traveler reviews for San Francisco International Airport (SFO) reflect a generally mixed, but often positive, experience. Many appreciate the airport's modern amenities and efficient flow, contributing to its recognition as a top airport. However, some passengers encounter frustrations with navigation and staff interactions.

What Travelers Love

Modern and Clean Facilities: Terminals like Harvey Milk Terminal 1 are highlighted as new, modern, and spacious, featuring updated gates, enhanced security, lounge-style seating with charging ports, and local dining options. The E gate concourse in Terminal 3 is often praised for being gorgeous, brightly lit, with ample seating and very clean bathrooms. SFO also boasts a high cleanliness rating.
Seamless Terminal Connectivity: All terminals are now connected post-security, allowing for easy transit between airlines, thanks to the completion of Harvey Milk Terminal 1 and new corridors in Terminal 3.
Efficient Security and Amenities: Many travelers report quick security wait times, especially with TSA PreCheck (averaging 6 minutes). SFO's use of private contractors for security is sometimes noted as leading to more pleasant interactions. The airport also offers free Wi-Fi that is generally fast and easy to connect to.
Quiet and Culturally Rich Environment: SFO maintains a "quiet policy" with minimal public address announcements, which many passengers appreciate for a more peaceful experience. The airport is also lauded for its diverse art installations, museum exhibits, and experiential programs like the Wag Brigade, enhancing the travel experience.
Convenient Transportation Connections: The AirTrain is highly rated for its efficiency, connecting all terminals, parking garages, the BART station, and the rental car center 24/7. BART offers a fast and budget-friendly option to downtown San Francisco.

Common Complaints

Confusing Signage and Layout: Some travelers find signage, particularly for connecting to the AirTrain and rental car services, to be unclear and the airport's layout poorly designed, leading to long walks and confusion.
Rude Staff and Service Issues: Several reviews mention disrespectful, rude, or unhelpful staff, especially at immigration and information desks, and some perceived a lack of politeness from immigration officers.
High Prices and Limited Late-Night Dining: Food and shopping options are often described as very expensive, and dining choices become significantly limited or completely shut down after midnight, which is problematic for late or delayed flights.
Parking Challenges: Parking garages are frequently at or near capacity, especially during peak travel seasons, necessitating advance booking to secure a spot.
Inconsistent Global Entry Experience: Some international arrivals found that Global Entry interviews were not being offered on arrival, despite being advertised, causing inconvenience.

Overall, San Francisco International Airport offers a generally positive and modern travel experience, especially in its newer terminals and with services like TSA PreCheck and efficient AirTrain connections. However, travelers should be prepared for potentially high costs, and those needing assistance or clear directions may encounter challenges. Pre-booking parking and allowing ample time for security and transfers are frequently recommended for a smoother journey.

Generated False weeks ago

This summary is automatically generated by AI based on web research of traveler reviews and experiences. AI-generated content may not always be 100% accurate.

Current Weather Conditions

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Airport Routes

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Popular Flight Routes

Building Route Index: We are building our route index for commercial airports. Currently 537 routes are indexed for San Francisco International Airport. For real-time updates, admin access is required.

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Destination	IATA	City	Aircraft Type	Airline	Details	Route Map
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Top Airlines

Operating at San Francisco International Airport

Airlines by Flight Activity

Based on observed flight operations and route network

Airline	Routes	Flights	Destinations	Last Activity
United `UAL` / `UA`	84	1287	84	Dec 11, 2025
SkyWest `SKW` / `OO`	39	667	39	Dec 11, 2025
Delta Air Lines `DAL` / `DL`	16	448	16	Dec 10, 2025
Southwest `SWA` / `WN`	11	325	11	Dec 11, 2025
Alaska Airlines `ASA` / `AS`	17	225	17	Dec 11, 2025
American Airlines `AAL` / `AA`	8	191	8	Dec 9, 2025
NetJets Aviation `EJA` / `1I`	61	151	61	Dec 11, 2025
JetBlue `JBU` / `B6`	3	110	3	Dec 9, 2025
Frontier `FFT` / `F9`	12	96	12	Dec 10, 2025
Flexjet `LXJ`	45	93	45	Dec 10, 2025

Showing top 10 airlines by flight activity. Data includes observed departures and route networks from this airport.

For Pilots

Designation	Length	Width	Surface	Status
`01L/19R`	7500 ft	200 ft	ASP	Active Lighted
`01R/19L`	8648 ft	200 ft	ASP	Active Lighted
`10L/28R`	11870 ft	200 ft	ASP	Active Lighted
`10R/28L`	10602 ft	200 ft	ASP	Active Lighted

Type	Description	Frequency
APP	NORCAL APP	`128.325 MHz`
APP	NORCAL APP SECONDARY	`133.95 MHz`
APP	NORCAL APP INITIAL CONTACT	`134.5 MHz`
ATIS	ATIS	`113.7 MHz`
AWOS	AWOS 1	`118.05 MHz`
CLD	CLNC DEL	`118.2 MHz`
DEP	NORCAL DEP NW-EAST	`120.9 MHz`
DEP	NORCAL DEP SE-WEST	`135.1 MHz`
GND	GND	`121.8 MHz`
MISC	USCG	`34.5 MHz`
TWR	TWR	`120.5 MHz`
UNIC	UNICOM	`122.95 MHz`

Ident	Name	Type	Frequency
`SF`	Brijj	NDB	`379 kHz`
`SFO`	San Francisco	VOR-DME	`115800 kHz`

Ground Transportation

Last updated: Nov 21, 2025

Taxis

Taxis are available at designated zones on the Arrivals/Baggage Claim Level of all terminals. Uniformed coordinators are present to assist passengers. App-based ride services like Uber and Lyft also operate at SFO with dedicated pickup locations, typically on Level 5 of the Domestic Garage and the Departures Level roadway for the International Terminal.

Rental Cars

All major car rental companies are located at SFO's consolidated Rental Car Center. The center is accessible from all airport terminals via a short ride on the free AirTrain Blue Line, which operates 24/7.

Public Transportation

SFO is directly connected to the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) rail system, offering service to downtown San Francisco, the East Bay, and Millbrae. The SFO BART station is in the International Terminal. SamTrans public buses also serve the airport, providing connections to San Mateo County and parts of San Francisco. For Caltrain commuter rail service, passengers can take BART one stop to the Millbrae station to transfer.

Distances are approximate and calculated as straight-line distances.