---
iata: SFO
name: San Francisco International Airport
city: San Francisco
country: United States
lastUpdated: '2026-08-29'
officialWebsite: 'https://www.flysfo.com/'
sources:
  - 'https://www.flysfo.com/'
  - 'https://www.flysfo.com/passengers/shop-dine-relax/lounges'
  - >-
    https://upgradedpoints.com/travel/airports/san-francisco-sfo-airport-lounges/
  - 'https://www.bart.gov/'
  - 'https://www.bart.gov/tickets/calculator'
  - 'https://radicalstorage.com/travel/sfo-airport-to-downtown-san-francisco/'
quickFacts:
  - >-
    4 terminals: Harvey Milk T1 (Alaska/AA/Delta), T2 (Alaska/AA), T3 (United
    domestic), International (A/G for United intl + others)
  - United Airlines hub with Polaris and multiple United Clubs
  - 'Direct BART rail to downtown SF (~30 min, ~$11.85)'
  - TSA PreCheck and CLEAR available at all major checkpoints
  - AirTrain connects all terminals and parking
  - International Terminal handles most long-haul flights to Asia/Europe
bentoTips:
  - label: Timing
    title: 'Arrive 2 hours early domestic, 3 intl'
    detail: Check live wait times on flysfo.com; PreCheck lines often under 10 min.
    summary: Peak morning and evening rushes add 15-30 min to security.
    category: timing
  - label: Terminal
    title: Confirm terminal before arrival
    detail: AirTrain runs every 4-10 min; use it for connections or parking.
    summary: >-
      United domestic in T3, intl in G; no airside connection from G to A/B
      without re-clearing.
    category: terminal
  - label: Food
    title: Grab pre-security if possible
    detail: T3 has solid United Club food; T1 has The Club for PP access.
    summary: >-
      Better variety and prices landside; airside options limited in some
      concourses.
    category: food
  - label: Status
    title: Use airline app for gate changes
    detail: United and Alaska apps show real-time updates and security waits.
    summary: SFO fog and construction cause frequent gate shifts; monitor closely.
    category: status
lounges:
  - name: The Club SFO
    hours: '04:00-23:00'
    access:
      - Priority Pass
      - Day pass $75-80
    bestFor:
      - Work
      - Layovers
    summary: >-
      Reliable PP option in T1 with decent food and showers; more consistent
      access than some international-terminal contract lounges.
    verdict: worth-it
    terminal: Harvey Milk Terminal 1
    amenities:
      - Showers
      - Bar
      - Buffet
  - name: United Club
    hours: Varies by location
    access:
      - United Club
      - Star Alliance Gold
      - Day pass varies
    bestFor:
      - United flyers
      - Long layovers
    summary: >-
      Multiple locations in T3; good for United elites but crowded during peaks
      during peaks.
    verdict: depends
    terminal: Terminal 3
    amenities:
      - Showers
      - Work areas
      - Food
  - name: United Polaris Lounge
    hours: Varies
    access:
      - United Polaris
      - Star Alliance Gold (intl long-haul)
    bestFor:
      - Premium United
      - Long-haul
    summary: Strong for eligible flyers with food and space; limited access for others.
    verdict: worth-it
    terminal: International Terminal G
    amenities:
      - Showers
      - Premium dining
      - Quiet zones
  - name: Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
    hours: '05:30-19:15'
    access:
      - Star Alliance Gold
      - Air Canada premium
    bestFor:
      - Star Alliance
      - Work
    summary: >-
      Solid for eligible Star Alliance passengers; smaller and less crowded than
      United options.
    verdict: depends
    terminal: Terminal 2
    amenities:
      - Showers
      - Food
      - WiFi
waterOptions:
  - kind: purchase
    name: Hudson News or similar
    zone: landside
    price: $2.50-3.50 for 500ml
    summary: Convenient pre-security purchase before clearing lines.
    location: 'Near security Checkpoint B, landside'
    terminal: Harvey Milk Terminal 1
    isBestValue: true
  - kind: refill
    name: Water fountain
    zone: airside
    price: Free
    summary: Reliable refill spot near gates for United passengers.
    location: 'Near United Club Concourse E mezzanine, airside'
    terminal: Terminal 3
  - kind: free
    name: Public fountain
    zone: airside
    price: Free
    summary: Free option in intl area; bring your own bottle.
    location: Near Gate A1 post-security
    terminal: International Terminal A
    isBestQuality: true
airportistScore: 7.3
slug: sfo
region: North America
---
> Markdown for [/airports/sfo](/airports/sfo). Append `.md` to any page URL (or send `Accept: text/markdown`) for an agent-readable copy.

- [HTML page](/airports/sfo)
- [Lounge directory](/airports/sfo/lounges.md)
- [Sitemap](/sitemap.md)

# San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
San Francisco, United States · North America
Solid hub with good food and transport options but suffers from fog delays and occasional congestion.
## Airportist Score

**7.3 / 10**
- Comfort: 7.2
- Navigation: 7.0
- Food: 7.5
- Transport: 8.0
- Disruption resilience: 6.8

## At a glance

- Passengers: 52M
- Terminals: 4 active terminals
- Typical security: 15 min
- On-time: 78%
- Disruption: normal

## Best for

- United hub connections
- Direct BART to city
- Diverse food options
- PreCheck/CLEAR efficiency

## Watch out for

- Fog-related delays common
- Terminal splits for United flights
- PP lounge restrictions evenings
- Peak hour security surges

## More intel

- [Lounge directory](/airports/sfo/lounges.md) (free)
- [Getting there](/airports/sfo/getting-there.md) (free)
- [Amenities](/airports/sfo/amenities.md)
- [Traveler tips](/airports/sfo/tips.md)
- [Water](/airports/sfo/water.md)
- [Full guide](/airports/sfo/guide.md)
- [Disruptions](/airports/sfo/disruptions.md)
- [Reviews](/airports/sfo/reviews.md)