Find Your Way Around: San Francisco SFO Airport Layout
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the Bay Area's main gateway, with four terminals arranged in a ring around a central parking garage. The layout is easier to read than it looks once you know one rule: every gate letter belongs to one terminal.
SFO is also in the middle of a major rebuild. The $2.6 billion Terminal 3 West Modernization project is reshaping United's home terminal through fall 2027, and it has changed where you check in, where you get dropped off, and which AirTrain stop you use.
One thing you can settle before you reach the curb is your ride. LUXY connects you with a licensed chauffeur who tracks your flight and meets you at the correct terminal, so your car is ready whether you land early or late.
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SFO Airport Layout Map
Here is the quick key to SFO's gate letters.
| Gate letters | Terminal | Main use |
|---|---|---|
| A | International Terminal, Boarding Area A | Most international airlines other than United |
| B and C | Harvey Milk Terminal 1 | Domestic flights, including Alaska Airlines |
| D | Terminal 2 | Domestic flights, including Southwest |
| E and F | Terminal 3 | United domestic flights |
| G | International Terminal, Boarding Area G | United international flights and partner airlines |
If your boarding pass says F12, you are flying United from Terminal 3. If it says A6, you are leaving from the International Terminal.
SFO Airport Terminals
Harvey Milk Terminal 1
Harvey Milk Terminal 1 is SFO's newest domestic terminal, rebuilt as part of a $2.4 billion redevelopment. It is named for Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in San Francisco, and the lobby holds a permanent exhibit about his life.
Alaska Airlines moved here from Terminal 2 in 2024 and is now the largest carrier in the terminal. The Alaska Lounge sits just past security, one floor up from the main concourse, and The Club SFO is next to it. Travelers with TSA PreCheck can use a mezzanine-level security checkpoint that opened in June 2024.
Airlines that operate from Harvey Milk Terminal 1 include:
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- JetBlue
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Terminal 2
Terminal 2 is the smallest of SFO's domestic terminals, with gates in Boarding Area D. In 2011 it became the first airport terminal in the United States to earn LEED Gold status, after a two-year renovation.
Southwest moved its SFO operation from Terminal 1 to the D gates in 2025, taking over the gates Alaska left behind. Terminal 2 is also busier than it used to be because of the Terminal 3 work. United passengers flying from D and E gates now check in at the Terminal 2 counters, and the Terminal 2 AirTrain stop has been renamed the Terminals 2 and 3 station.
Since June 2024, a post-security connector links Terminal 2 to Harvey Milk Terminal 1, so you can move between the two without clearing security again.
Airlines that operate from Terminal 2 include:
- Southwest Airlines
- United Airlines (check-in for D and E gate departures during Terminal 3 construction)
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Terminal 3
Terminal 3 is United's domestic hub, with gates in Boarding Areas E and F. United is SFO's largest carrier, operating close to half of all flights at the airport, according to SFGATE.
This is also the terminal most affected by construction. The Terminal 3 West Modernization project is rebuilding about 650,000 square feet of the terminal's western half, adding a seismic retrofit, an expanded security checkpoint, and 200,000 square feet of new space for food, beverage, and retail. SFO expects the new section to open in fall 2027.
Until then, a few things work differently:
- The departures curb is closed between Doors 6 and 13. SFO recommends drop-off at Terminal 2 or on the Terminal 3 arrivals level.
- United's west-end ticket counters are closed. Check in at Terminal 2 for D and E gates, and at the Terminal 3 east counters for F gates.
- The Terminal 3 AirTrain station is closed until 2027. Use the Terminals 2 and 3 station instead.
A post-security connector near Gate F1 links Terminal 3 to the International Terminal's G gates, which helps United passengers connecting between domestic and international flights.
Airlines that operate from Terminal 3:
- United Airlines (domestic)
- United Express
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International Terminal, Boarding Area A
The International Terminal is SFO's largest building, with a central main hall for ticketing, shops, and dining that splits into Boarding Area A on one side and Boarding Area G on the other. It also holds the airport's BART station and the SFO Medical Clinic.
Boarding Area A serves most international airlines other than United. Long-haul carriers from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America depart from these gates, along with their lounges.
Airlines that operate from Boarding Area A include:
- Air France
- Air India
- British Airways
- Cathay Pacific
- Emirates
- Japan Airlines
- KLM
- Korean Air
- Qatar Airways
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International Terminal, Boarding Area G
Boarding Area G is United's international home at SFO, shared with several of its Star Alliance partners. The United Polaris Lounge sits near Gate G1 for travelers in United Polaris business class and eligible Star Alliance premium cabins, and a United Club is also in this boarding area.
Because the G gates connect to Terminal 3 after security, United passengers can move between domestic and international flights without leaving the secure area.
Airlines that operate from Boarding Area G include:
- United Airlines (international)
- Air Canada
- Air New Zealand
- ANA
- Lufthansa
- Singapore Airlines
- SWISS
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Can You Walk Between Terminals?
Yes. Post-security connectors link SFO's terminals, and interim walkways built during the Terminal 3 project keep that connection open while construction continues. Ticketed passengers can walk between terminals without clearing security again, though the walk from the A gates to the far end of Terminal 3 is a long one.
Not up for walking? The free AirTrain runs a loop around the terminals, the garages, and the BART station. AirTrain runs outside security, so riders between terminals will need to go through a checkpoint again. Remember that the Terminal 3 stop is closed until 2027, so use the Terminals 2 and 3 station instead.
Getting Picked Up at SFO During Construction
The Terminal 3 work has changed the curb, especially for United passengers. If you are flying United out of the D or E gates, Terminal 2 is often the easier drop-off point, since that is where you check in.
With LUXY Ride, your pickup details, including where to meet your chauffeur, arrive with your booking confirmation. Flight tracking adjusts your pickup timing when your flight lands early or late, and your fare includes gratuity and tolls.
Get to SFO With LUXY Ride
SFO's layout is simple once you know your gate letter, and the 2027 construction is easier to manage when your ride is already settled. Book your transfer ahead with LUXY Ride, or manage every trip from the LUXY Ride App.