Flying into San Francisco International Airport: Essential Tips and Information

This is part of the Been There, Done That series, where our expert globetrotters travel the world to get the insights and information you need for a seamless experience.

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Photo: Travelers enter into immigration at San Francisco International Airport. | Source: iVisa

As I descend back into the US, I'm greeted by the shining sea, eager for a burger and fries after weeks abroad. But first, I must navigate international arrivals at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) before reaching my final destination in Wisconsin.

Many international flights, like mine from Tokyo, only land at a few major US airports, necessitating a domestic connection.

This means you need ample time between flights to clear exit immigration, customs, and recheck any luggage before going through security again in a different domestic terminal. For international to domestic connections, it's wise to allow around two hours to ensure a smooth transition, considering potential delays and long security lines.

Before You Land: Get your documents in order

The United States has a strict immigration process for all travelers, including US citizens, who must interview an immigration officer upon arrival.

Before you land, ensure you have the appropriate visas for entry. Be prepared to show the officer your exit flight details, hotel reservations, and the purpose of your trip. It's helpful to print out this information and present it to the immigration officer when you go through customs at SFO.

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Photo: Travelers make their way to their correct immigration line at San Francisco International Airport. | Source: iVisa

Immigration: Declare anything here

When returning to the US at San Francisco International Airport, I navigated through a long hallway before reaching a large immigration room. Here, multiple immigration officers are stationed, each with their own lines depending on your nationality.

Everyone entering the US must speak with an immigration officer and declare any items they bring into the country. The process is taken very seriously, and officers may conduct additional screenings if they find your answers suspicious.

On one occasion, I was subjected to extra screening because a dog detected an orange I had forgotten from the plane bag.

This led to a thorough additional security check. To avoid such situations, declare all items to the officer and avoid bringing any produce, as this is a strict regulation.

The immigration lines are divided by nationality, so look for the one corresponding to your passport. As a US passport holder, I follow the US citizen line.

Since I am a frequent international traveler, I am a part of the US Global Entry Program. This program expedites the immigration process for pre-vetted, low-risk travelers, like myself.

Instead of undergoing a full interview, an officer asked if I had anything to declare before proceeding to baggage claim and customs.

If you are not a part of this program, you can expect a more thorough interview from your immigration officer.

Be prepared to wait and answer several questions in English from the immigration officer. It's useful to connect to the internet or printed materials to show the officer details such as your accommodation, the duration of your stay, your exit flight, and to use a translator app if necessary, as all questions will be asked in English.

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Photo: Everyone must collect their luggage at San Francisco International Airport. | Source: iVisa

Customs: Everyone must collect their luggage

After clearing immigration, the next step is to collect your baggage for a customs screening.

Everyone must collect their checked luggage here, even if you have a connecting flight.

After customs, there is a designated area where you can recheck your luggage for your domestic flight at no additional cost.

Baggage claims can be lengthy due to the large volume of luggage and the comprehensive screening each bag undergoes.

While waiting for my baggage, I saw a dog walking around the area. It's common to see airport personnel walking around with dogs trained to sniff out produce and other prohibited items.

As you exit the customs area, be prepared for airport personnel to ask questions about your travel, such as where you are coming from. There were no personnel When I landed, but I frequently see this when landing internationally back in the US.

If they suspect that you haven't declared something, including luxury goods subject to taxes, they may conduct a search of your bag.

Although I didn't encounter any additional screenings myself, I did experience a considerable wait for my luggage.

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Photo: Travelers recheck their luggage for their domestic connection at San Francisco International Airport | Source: iVisa

Re-checking your luggage: Don’t forget to do this

Since I had a connecting domestic flight, I needed to recheck my luggage after collecting it for customs screening.

In San Francisco, the recheck area is located right after you exit customs. There are usually attendants to guide you, so be sure not to leave this area without re-checking your bag. If you do, it could become difficult and time-consuming to check it at a domestic counter later.

iVisa pro-tip: Make sure to put any duty free liquid items in your checked bag. TSA will confiscate any liquid items over three ounces.

Make sure to recheck your bag with the correct airline. For instance, I flew into San Francisco on ANA but was connecting to a United flight to my final destination. So, I dropped my bag at the United recheck counter.

Always double-check which airline you must use to avoid hassle when rechecking your bag.

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Photo: Travelers make their way to through domestic security at San Francisco International Airport | Source: iVisa

Domestic Connection: Leave plenty of time for security

After clearing customs and re-checking my luggage, I walked a long distance to my next terminal, Terminal F, one of the many domestic terminals at San Francisco International Airport.

Here, you'll need to go through a full security check again before entering the domestic terminal.

Expect a long line for security screening due to the volume of travelers, since you are re-entering the airport with all domestic travelers, and the thoroughness of TSA agents checking carry-on luggage.

Despite having TSA PreCheck, which expedites the process for pre-vetted travelers, I still waited about ten minutes. PreCheck allows me to keep my shoes on, leave electronics and liquids in my bag, and bypass the full-body scanners used for other passengers, but there can still be a wait.

iVisa pro-tip: To move faster through security, remove electronics, metal jewelry, and shoes before putting them through the scanner at the TSA checkpoint.

Once through security, I entered the expansive terminal and had about thirty minutes before my flight boarded.

After spending a few weeks in Asia, I ate a classic American meal – a Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich and fries – before heading to my gate.

If a chicken sandwich and fries aren't your preference, plenty of cafes and restaurants are scattered throughout the terminal where you can grab a bite to eat before your next flight.

Boarding: Done in groups

Boarding is typically done in groups. I was in one of the later groups for this flight, which is common if you're not a frequent flyer with United Airlines.

In the later groups, airlines often check larger carry-on luggage for free to your final destination. I only had a backpack, so my bag wasn't checked, but several people behind me had their larger carry-on luggage checked.

Once on board, I said a quick goodbye to San Francisco before continuing on to Wisconsin.

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Photo: Travelers must change terminals when making a domestic connection at San Francisco International Airport. | Source: iVisa

With proper preparation, navigating international arrivals in San Francisco can be a seamless experience. Ensure you have enough time for customs, baggage recheck, and security screening before your domestic flight.

You can smoothly continue your journey to your final destination by staying organized and aware of the procedures.