SFO – International Garage A and G

This garage is mainly used for hourly parking for international flights. If you’re looking for long-​term parking or domestic flights, that would be in another section.
My experiences mainly revolve around Garage A (A and G are separated based on which airlines you’re taking).
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~ Pricing:
The price is $ 2 for 20 minutes of parking, going up to $ 28 max for 24 hours. Not cheap, but I do feel like the pricing is pretty standard and fair (at least in my opinion). Like others have said, FastTrak is accepted as well as credit/​debit and cash.
~ Parking Availability:
The parking lot is pretty massive and I’ve never had a problem with finding a spot here before (there are several levels to the garage). Worst case scenario if it is full, just head over to a different garage and bear the minor annoyance of needing to travel further to get to your terminal.
~ Ease of Use:
I find the garages pretty straightforward to use as long as you follow the signs. After parking, there are loads of signs pointing you to the right direction such as for ticketing and checking in. There are also maps around the elevators as well as level descriptions. So far I’ve never been confused about which direction I need to go despite how massive the place is.
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Overall, I have very little complaints about the garages here. Then again, I have very little complaints about SFO is general. It’s easy to navigate and simple to get to where you need to go regardless of where you parked (you’re also connected to the free tram system throughout the airport to get to all the terminals). Not to mention, it’s super clean! As most garages I’ve been to are filthy and smell, I’m super happy that staff even bother to keep this place well-​maintained.

$ 2 per $ 20 minutes and they accept FasTrak. Simply have your FasTrak on your windshield to gain entry and a receipt will pop out upon approaching the exit gate with the total.
Plenty of spaces in the garage and there is a good mix of small and large spaces.
Plenty of elevators make getting in and out a breeze!

Two words… «F**KING EXPENSIVE»
The only bright side is that you can use your FastPass to pay so you don’t have to wait in line. There’s also constant security driving around the lot slowly.

I went to pick up a friend coming in on an international flight and parked in the hourly parking garage. it took me 1.5 hours to get from San Jose to SFO going North on 101 during 6:00 p.m. traffic for what is normally a 45 minute drive without traffic.
Got lost the first time thru the airport and had to make a loop back around to try again. If you’re going to Garage G (your other choice is Garage A) you need to drive the same way that you would if you were dropping off passengers at the international departure area. Pass the drop off area and stay in the right lane and it will take you directly into Garage G. I needed Garage G because I was picking up someone flying on United. But, I think that either Garage A or G would’ve worked just the same.
I parked on the 6^th floor where there was plenty of parking near the elevators. I took a picture of the pole number of where I was parked and a picture of the elevator signs that clearly marked Level 6. Finding your car when you return is a challenge if you don’t recall the floor and pole number. (Don’t forget to take your parking stub with you so that you can pay at the vending machine inside because it’ll save you time when you drive out of the garage when you get to use any exit lane. The vending machine takes credit card or cash.)
I took the elevator to Level 3 to use the walkway to the terminals and international gate for arriving customers. Everything worked out fine, but I gave only 4 stars because I got lost the first time around. Thank goodness it’s easy to make a loop around for a 2^nd try.

This garage is pretty great, but to be fair, I haven’t been to that many airport parking garages. The garage is well connected to the terminals without having to do too much walking, there’re a ton of floors and empty spaces, and rates are reasonable and not absurd. Pretty good.

Plenty of parking… Evening pick up the best. Avoid all the traffic!

Man is this garage complicated for a newby like me! I am usually flying off or dropping/​picking someone up quick. But I have never done the garage. It is covered so that is a plus, for when it rains. But gosh, was I confused as to how to enter the airport! I did follow the signs but was lead no where? lol

They have indoor and outdoor parking. At the indoor garage, they have a board that shows how many spaces on each floor are available. The shuttle comes every 15 minutes and takes another ten to fifteen minutes to get the terminal. Its 18 dollars a day so its about the same price as taking BART.

The airport is clean, and I give it a 4 stars (instead of 5) because I have a love hate relationship with it.
Whenever I come here, it’s either with leaps of joy or painful goodbyes.

International Garage A & G are one of the garages to park your car in. When you are at the airport chatting with a family or a friend before they go through the security check points to get to the gates to board their flights. The parking garages are one of the best places to park your car.
I find it easy and convenient to park in any of the garages at San Francisco International Airport. Bus stop for the SamTrans 292, SFO AirTrain Blue & Red Lines as well as the San Francisco International Airport BART Stations are all one of the public transportation options. What’s there to not like about San Francisco International Airport? This is among one of the cleanest airports I’ve been to and it is very well lit. There is more of where this come from and until next time, have fun and be safe. Enjoy your travels!
Free Wi-​Fi?
There is free wi-​fi available at almost any of the airports you go to. I’m not too sure if the wi-​fi signals are strong with an ipod touch! If you have an iPhone, Android or any smartphone as well as a laptop with a built-​in wi-​fi compatibility function, then it is very likely that the wi-​fi signals are stronger!
Parking Garages available:
— Long Term Parking
— Daily/​Hourly Parking
— Short Term/​Hourly Parking
FAST & Valet Parking are available as well
Acceptable forms of payments:
— FasTrak/​Cash/​Credit/​Debit Cards
For more information, feel free to click on:

Here’s the thing. No matter how much I plan, I am somehow ALWAYS running late to the airport. Here are the options that usually run through my head as I am stuck on the 101 praying that my plane has some technical difficulties:
1) San Bruno BART — the best option, as it’s free parking over the weekend (starting at Friday around 3pm), so all I have to pay is the BART pass to come over. But now I’m at the BART schedule’s mercy, as well as the stupid SFO rail’s schedule, which both always seem to be departing right as I come up/​down the escalators…
2) Off Airport Parking Lots — around $ 10/​day but once again I’m at the mercy of their shuttle bus schedules. They all claim to have frequent running shuttles, but somehow I always end up standing in the cold with my bag for 15 minutes waiting.
3) SFO Long Term Parking — $ 14/​day which is reasonable and they actually do have frequent shuttle buses that come by. This is usually my pick IF I have about 45 minutes left until departure.
4) SFO International Hourly Parking — that’s right, I said HOURLY parking. You’re thinking… that’s crazy! Aren’t you paying close to $ 40/​day? You’d be wrong. While the Domestic hourly parking is $ 33/​day, the sneaky folks at SFO don’t advertise that the International hourly parking lot is only $ 20/​day. Twenty bucks! So for six extra bucks a day compared to Long Term parking, I can rest assured that I’ll still make my flight even if I’m just exiting the SFO off-​ramp with thirty minutes until departure. That is WAY less than a flight reschedule, plus it’s a short walk or rail ride to my car when I return. :-)

I parked in G to wish my friend a huge welcome back and I could not find it returning for the life of me. I had to walk all the way there and there wasn’t a quicker way to get there!!!

Very convenience and affordable for short parking (1 day) at the airport. You do not have to wait for a bus shuttle and you have access to all terminals serving domestic and international airlines by Airtrain the automated airport transportation system. As of this writing it only cost $ 20 a day. If you park on level 8 you have quick access to transit by escalator although on lower levels you can take an elevator to floor 8. There are two lines to take depending on Airtrain which wisk you to your terminal destination. The Red line serves all terminals and the Blue line serves the terminals and the rental car building. Look at the airport map to see which line is quickest to get you to the terminal for your airline. No fuss with umbrellas as it is all enclosed away from weather.