One map, pinned from each airport’s published coordinates.
Category scores
Overall is the published weighted sum. A highlighted score is ahead; a tie stays plain.
Ease of use
25% · Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
MRY8.5+1.3
SFO7.2
Comfort & amenities
20% · Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
MRY7.6+0.3
SFO7.3
Food & retail
15% · Food and retail quality and variety.
MRY7.6
SFO7.6
Ground access
15% · Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
MRY7.2
SFO8.4+1.2
Reliability
15% · Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
MRY6.8+0.1
SFO6.7
Lounges
10% · Worth-it density and access quality.
MRY2.0
SFO7.8+5.8
Best for
MRY
Monterey / Carmel / Pebble Beach trips that would otherwise drive from SJC or SFOLandside Woody's sit-down before TSA (USA TODAY 10Best airport restaurant 2023 and 2024)Overnight parking at leftover $20/day Long-Term (first 10 minutes free)
SFO
United hub connections that stay airsideBART to downtown without a carPriority Pass at The Club SFOPreCheck / CLEAR when Checkpoint B PreCheck is on the mezzanine
Watch out for
MRY
Live Priority Pass leftover /en/airport/monterey-mry is 404 — empty loungesOfficial leftover parking lots nearing capacity; Long-Term entrance moved 15 Jun 2026Official Airlines leftover still lists United Chicago seasonal vs ORD Saturdays ended 15 Aug 2026JSX leftover is Monterey Jet Center, 200 Sky Park Drive — not this TSA
SFO
T3 West: no T3 AirTrain until 2027; D/E check-in in T2; Centurion in T2United domestic vs international split (T3 E/F vs G)International A Priority Pass windows are much tighter than The ClubFog plus FAA staggered parallels still cut arrival capacity
Amenities and tips
MRY
Woody's at the AirportLong-Term parking $20/dayNo ticketed passenger loungeWoody's Cockpit after TSAMRY Guest Wi-FiGate 1 courtyard + observation deck
Official Airlines leftover arrive at least 90 minutes before departure for ticketing and TSA. Official Accessibility leftover 2 hours if you need a wheelchair.
One hall now; replacement leftover summer 2027
One scheduled-pax hall after a single TSA. Official leftover outdoor courtyard at Gate 1 after screening. Official leftover observation deck landside.
Woody's landside; Cockpit after TSA
Woody's at the Airport is the landside sit-down on the second floor. Woody's Cockpit leftover airside sandwiches, snacks, and a full bar, open at least an hour before each flight.
SFO
BART stationAirTrainThe Club SFOAirside refill stations#SFO FREE WIFI
Two hours domestic, three international
Fog, FAA arrival caps, and T3 construction still add buffer even when security is empty.
Confirm airline and gate, not just “United”
T3 West check-in is split — D/E ticket counters are in T2, F counters stay in T3 east.
Fill the bottle first, then eat airside
The Club in T1 is the reliable Priority Pass meal; T2 still has Compass Books and Napa Farms next to the temporary Centurion.
MRY · A one-hall Central Coast leftover with a real sit-down restaurant, a named PreCheck lane, $20 Long-Term parking, and no lounge pin — while a replacement terminal is already framed for summer 2027.
SFO · United’s Bay Area hub with a genuine BART ride to downtown, airside walks between every terminal, and a strong lounge stack — undercut by T3 West construction through 2027, fog, and FAA arrival caps that still sit below the old 54/hour clear-weather rate after Runway 1R reopened on 29 Sep 2026.
