San Francisco International Airport (SFO) — Terminals, Lounges & Travel Tips
San Francisco, CA, United States · SFO
Terminal Guide
| Terminal | Airlines |
|---|---|
| Terminal 1 (Boarding Areas B & C) | Southwest, Alaska Airlines, Delta domestic |
| Terminal 2 (Boarding Area D) | American Airlines, Alaska |
| Terminal 3 (Boarding Areas E & F) | United Airlines domestic |
| International Terminal (Boarding Areas A & G) | United international, Air Canada, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines, Air France, KLM |
Getting There — Ground Transportation
- BART Rail: BART's Millbrae/SFO station is inside the International Terminal. $12.65 to downtown SF (Embarcadero/Powell) in ~30 min. Runs 5 am–midnight.
- Rideshare: Uber/Lyft pickup from Garage G (domestic) or Level 5 of the International Terminal. Walk or take AirTrain to pickup point.
- Taxi: Available at arrivals levels. Metered; expect ~$55–65 to downtown SF (plus Bay Bridge toll if applicable).
- SamTrans Bus: Routes 397 and KX serve SFO for budget-conscious travelers; local routes connect to BART stations south of the airport.
- Car Rental: All agencies in the on-site rental facility, reached by the free AirTrain Harvey Milk Terminal station.
Airport Lounge Directory
| Lounge | Location | Access |
|---|---|---|
| United Club – Terminal 3 | Terminal 3 (E) | United Club membership, United MileagePlus Club card |
| United Polaris Lounge | Terminal 3 (E) | United Polaris Business class tickets on long-haul international |
| Amex Centurion Lounge | Terminal 3 (E) | Amex Platinum, Centurion cards |
| Delta Sky Club | Terminal 1 | Delta Sky Club membership, Amex Platinum/Reserve (limited visits) |
| Alaska Airlines Lounge | Terminal 2 | Alaska MVPG 75K status, first class on Alaska |
| British Airways Galleries Club | International Terminal (G) | BA Business/First class, BA Gold, oneworld Emerald |
| Air France/KLM Lounge | International Terminal (A) | AF/KLM Business class, SkyTeam Elite Plus |
| Lufthansa Business Lounge | International Terminal (A) | LH Business class, Senator/HON Circle |
Pro Tips for SFO Travelers
- BART is by far the most reliable way to downtown SF — fog and traffic make driving unpredictable, especially morning and evening.
- The AirTrain connects all terminals inside the airport but doesn't go to the BART station — you need to follow signs to Harvey Milk Station.
- SFO's International Terminal (Harvey Milk Terminal) has some of the best airport food in the US — allow extra time to explore.
- Fog delays (SFO is famous for them) can cascade hours of delays; check weather before assuming an on-time departure.
- If you're connecting between United's domestic and international terminals, use the AirTrain — it's faster than walking.
- Parking at SFO is expensive ($40+/day); BART from a South Bay station with free/cheap parking is the savvy long-term option.
- TSA lines at Terminal 3 can be very long during morning waves — use the CLEAR lanes or Mobile Passport app if eligible.
Know Before You Land — SFO Checklist
Review these before your flight so you hit the ground running at San Francisco.
- Confirm which terminal your airline uses — San Francisco International Airport has 4 terminals and inter-terminal transfers may require re-clearing security.
- Rail is available: BART's Millbrae/SFO station is inside the International Terminal. $12.65 to downtown SF (Embarcadero/Powell) in ~30 min. Runs 5 am–midnight.
- Renting a car? All agencies in the on-site rental facility, reached by the free AirTrain Harvey Milk Terminal station.
- Amex Platinum/Centurion holders: Amex Centurion Lounge (Terminal 3 (E)), Delta Sky Club (Terminal 1).
- United Airlines hub: expect higher flight frequency and stronger upgrade/standby availability for United Airlines elite members.
- Parking at SFO is expensive ($40+/day); BART from a South Bay station with free/cheap parking is the savvy long-term option.