AirTrain

Reliable, offers good sight seeing of the rolling hills, and gets me around the airport/​car rental quickly. Great idea.

AirTrain is the fast and easy way to get around San Francisco International Airport (SFO). There are two lines, red and blue. It’s best to look at a map, but in simplest terms, if you need to go to the rental car center, take the blue line. Otherwise, take the red. Both lines hit all terminals at the airport plus the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) public transit station.
Since the blue line goes to the rental car center, it has a longer route (about 20 minutes round trip). The red line is shorter and quicker. Trains run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and arrive/​depart approximately every 3 minutes. Note: The two lines travel in opposite directions (red clockwise, blue counter-​clockwise).
I’ve ridden SFO’s AirTrain multiple times over the years to both the rental car center to rent a car and to the airport BART station to catch a train into the city. I haven’t had any issues. The train is free and efficient. The cars are well maintained, nicely lit and ventilated, clean, and spacious with big windows. The tracks are above-​ground, featuring elevated views of the airport and the 101 freeway.
There’s seating on either end of each car reserved for handicap folks and senior citizens. The rest of the space inside each car is standing room only. The good thing about this is it’s easy to roll luggage and push carts on and off the cars. Functional and practical. The cars are Canadian Bombardier Innovia APM 100s, the same model used for the underground train system known as «The Plane Train» at my home airport in Atlanta along with many other airports around the world.
Clearly marked signs inside the airport will direct you to the AirTrain which is located on the mezzanine (level 3). The maps are very easy to read and show all of the airlines for each terminal as well as all the rental car companies located at the rental car center. If your rental car company is not located at the rental car center, there is a free shuttle that will take you from the rental car center to your off-​airport rental car company.

Most convenient way to get from BART to the airport!
Super quick ride (less than five minutes from BART to terminal 3). Comes very frequently. Pretty spacious.
Can’t go wrong in my book!

AirTrain should exist in every single airport in the freaking world with how amazing it is. With how massive SFO is, it’s really truly absolutely necessary to use.
And the best part?
It’s a 100% free service!
~ Ease of Use:
If it’s your first time using AirTrain, I have to admit it may be slightly confusing since there are 2 trams, a red line and a blue line. There are plenty of tram maps at each stop, but if you’re ever confused you don’t have to worry. The only difference is that the blue line will take you to the rental car center and Westfield Road. Other than that, in terms of going from Terminal to Terminal, parking garages, as well as BART it doesn’t really matter which one you take (although the blue one would take longer since there are 2 more stops).
And if you’re STILL confused, from my experience there’s always attendants around. Just ask them and they’ll point to you where you need to go.
And if you royally fuck up (somehow), they come around every 4 – 5 minutes so you’re safe.
~ Other Perks:
+ Wheelchair accessible.
+ Plenty of room for luggage.
+ Because they come so frequently, I’ve never experienced an over-​crowded AirTrain (and I do love my personal space!)
+ It connects you to SFO Bart so if you’re a public transportation freak like me, it’s as easy as hop-​on hop off.
+ Inside the actual airport, there’s plenty of signs directing you to AirTrain. If you’re can’t see them, ask any of the helpful staff.
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There’s very little I can complain about when it comes to this amazing service. Since SFO is very large, AirTrain takes the pain of traveling from terminal to terminal away.

This thing is awesome. It gets you to where you need to be between Bart & SFO. it’s free & fast! The map is really helpful inside, too bad there aren’t more seats though!

Although AirTrain isn’t perfect, the increased choice that it provides can be wonderful.
The AirTrain stops are mostly comprised of the various airport terminals. Some of the stops require a little more walking then one might think to reach the platform, but it for the most part works out well. One of the lines are red and one is blue, each going in different directions. Try looking at a map if you are unsure about which to take, but the lines are fairly simple and self-​explanitory.
AirTrain runs frequently and the wait times are displayed on a screen.
When you get on, it can be a little bumpy. There are a minimal amount of seats and chances are you’ll be holding on for a few minutes. Of course, since the train is self-​automated over a small tract of land, it shouldn’t be more than a ten minute ride. I actually enjoy the whole modernistic feel of being way above ground.
One of the stops is for subways on Bay Area Rapid Transit, otherwise known as BART, which takes you to different parts of the Bay Area. BART’s subway run frequently and you are told on a electronic sign when the next train will arrive once you enter the San Francisco BART Station.
There’s only two minor imperfections, that AirTrain could have a little bit more seating since suitcases do get slapped around and it could be a little closer to each terminal, since this was planned only for the airport. But AirTrain on the whole is quite impressive.
AirTrain is a fun way to move about the San Francisco International Airport.

First thought about AirTrain: WHY DON’T WE HAVE THIS IN AUSTIN.
Second thought about AirTrain: WHY DON’T WE HAVE THIS IN AUSTIN!!!
I’m not lazy, I’m just not really into running around like a chicken with my head cut off before boarding my flight.
SFO I love you. BART to AirTrain to Flight. Perfection.

This is awesome and super convenient to get to multiple parking lots, BART, and other terminals. It’s super smooth and very clean. Not a lot of seating, but plenty of empty space… basically a stripped (but brand spankin’ new) BART car. Trains come fairly often in a clockwise and counterclockwise route (blue and red lines, respectively).

This service is free. FREE!
If you don’t like it, then walk WITH YOUR OWN TWO LEGS! Perhaps then will all the gripers appreciate this FREE SERVICE.

It’s FREE.
It’s convenient.
It’s reliable.
It’s always on time.
It’s eco-​friendly.
It’s cool-​looking and futuristic.
AND…
It takes you to your terminal, parking garage, BART or the car rental place.
So quit complaining and enjoy the smooth ride.

CAN’T BEAT THE PRICE
What’s not to like about free transportation? If you’re headed to SFO and don’t want to drive, BART is a convenient option. Once you arrive at the SFO BART station, AirTrain is pretty quick to arrive and take you to the terminals. I believe it also makes stops at the parking garages.
It was clean and free and fast. Actually, it went really fast. It kind of scared me :) but I don’t like trains much.
Not a lot of seating but lots of standing room. I like the seats at the ends of the train. Instead of regular bucket-​style seats, it’s more like sitting on a big bench. With a giant window behind you.

The AirTrain will take you to the different terminals, terminals garages, and the BART station at SFO.
There are two AirTrain loops… the blue and red lines. The difference between the two is that the blue line will take you to the the rental car section at the airport. The Red line will not. It may be confusing because I felt lost myself during my first time. I had to actually read the signs… there were no buttons to just press, no automatic-​anything, lol.

The AirTrains are clean, have short wait times, and the ride is smoothe and quick. 4 Stars!

Used this train to get to the rental car lot.
I just stood in it with my luggage while it chugged along. Other people did the same. No one really talked to each other.
The first time I rode it, there were problems and walking, if possible, would have been quicker.

It was just odd seeing this as a ‘check-​in’ option on my trusty Unilocal app on my phone, which means I could actually write a review on this thing, sure, why not! There wasn’t any real clear signs when getting off the plane to get my luggage to know how to go to the rental car area and I had to ask the information desk where to go. Eventually, after spiraling upward to get to the platform to the AirTrain we were on our way… or were we? You have to look exactly at where you are going cause one of the AirTrain’s just circles the terminal, while the other actually goes all the way to the rental car area.
The one thing about these train’s is that they are roomy. Enough to haul your big (super huge) suitcase and golf clubs without any problems, the problem I see is that there are no seats in these things, some people have to ride a far distance to the rental car company, and I think I saw two seats for the handicapped, but others, like seniors, or people that are tired on their feet, it would have been nice to put a few more seats, as these trains are wide. The trains are good though, as I didn’t realize how big SFO really was until riding it, and it beats travelling on some trolley bus to other parts of the airport!

What’s not to like about AirTrain? It can take you from BART or your rental car drop off right to your terminal (and vice versa obviously). It’s clean, has a smooth ride, and is absolutely free. There aren’t many seats but since there is no driver, your kids can sit in the very front and pretend that they are driving. Sweet!
Just remember to look at the overhead signs, which will let you know what direction you are heading. If you do that, you shouldn’t even need to worry about whether you’re on the red or blue line.

Why all the poor reviews? I think the Air Train is WONDERFUL! It is super convenient and easy to use. There are signs on each platform that show you which way you need to go depending on where you want to go. I found it easy to access and use.
Unfortunately, due to the amount of the humidity in San Francisco (fog), the cars smell a little funky. I’m not sure if it was mildew or mold, but it definitely had a scent.
Signs getting to the Air Train can be confusing. We had to stop off by the information desk to find out where to go. The upward arrow signage that they had either meant straight or upstairs. We were confused but eventually figured it out. Air Train is on the upper level from the main level where we deplaned.
We needed to get to the car rental area and Air Train took us straight there. We also took Air Train from the car rental area to the airport terminal. Both ways were easy to commute to.

The SFO’s AirTrain — So very cool.
‘Leave it to people to find a reason to bitch & moan about a great, FREE service to make their lives a bit more easier and convenient. Lame.
All aboard! (Photo) —
AirTrain Map —
AirTrain Directory —
To touch up on some of the whining —
It’s clean and it moves at a decent pace but if you think you can run faster w/​all your crap? ‘By all means. The seats aren’t plentiful but if you’re so worried about the elderly/​children, get off your @ss and give up your spot. The AirTrain stops at all the terminals, car rental companies, plus BART… Awesome. Someone complained about carrying/​balancing too many bags on/​off the AirTrain, here’s s rocket science tip! ‘Bring less bags! 8/​
Oh, did I mention it’s FREE! Yeh, the automated «secure your baggage» recording may get tiresome but sure beats the hell out of walking that distance.
The AirTrain is very cool.
Get over it, you fu-​fu, spoiled pansy-@sses! Enjoy!
View —
— Aloha!
Food: n/​a
Ambiance: 4
Service: 5
Value: 5

First time taking the AirTrain to get to BART.
It was clean but no seats… Ok, maybe a couple but they were «reserved». Since no one was on board, I helped myself to one.
Short trip to the BART and it was better than trekking the entire way thru SFO.
Note: Not fun if you have several bags and trying to balance yourself ensuring your bags don’t topple over while standing. Not that it happened to me or anything… Just an observation…

This is one of the most convenient additions to the San Francisco Airport. It is clean and fairly fast getting around the airport area. I fly in and out of the United terminal a lot. It is a quick walk over the elevator to the 3^rd floor, then across to the garage and up to the AirTrain.
Granted, it would have been nicer if they could have avoided the additional elevator ride up to the AirTrain platform, but it was added after the terminal was built.
When you get on the AirTrain platform, one platform takes you on a train that just circles the airport terminals and the BART station. The other takes you to the rental car facility.
Quick tip. If the airport is really crowded and you have to drop someone off, just drop them off at the AirTrain station at the rental car center rather than taking them all the way in to the terminal madness.

Please hold on, please set luggage cart break to on
I LOVE riding the AirTrain.
As inconvenient and annoying that it is that the Rental Cars are the last stop on the AirTrain, I think I secretly don’t mind as that means it’s just more time spent on the train.
You would think the voice would be annoying after awhile but I get a kick out of her every time.
Love the AirTrain. All airports should consider getting one.