Airport review: San Francisco International, SFO

It's worth arriving early at San Francisco's airport.

THE AIRPORT

San Francisco International Airport, SFO

THE FLIGHT

UA60 to Melbourne, Australia

THE ARRIVAL

The airport is about a half-hour cab ride from central San Francisco and is connected by a sky train that takes you easily around all five terminals: 1, 2, 3 and International A and G.

THE LOOK

In a word: arty. San Francisco has a citywide rule that 1 per cent of the construction cost of any new building must be put towards public art. This is the city of Haight-Ashbury and the Summer of Love and the home of Silicon Valley and it wants you to know that is loves creativity, so the airport is full of public art and constantly changing art exhibits, including a short film festival.

The soaring white walls of the new Harvey Milk Terminal 1 have black-and-white photographs honouring the titular LGBTQIA+ crusader as well as colourful murals that serve as signposts for travellers by artists such as Jason Jagel. There are even retro winged SFO chairs worth $8000 a pop. There is a very golden-age-of-travel vibe here, a place where you would happily turn up early to just hang out, and it is a quiet airport so announcements are kept to a minimum.

THE LOUNGE

The United Polaris Lounge has been the focus of constant upgrades during the past two years and has emerged as a world-leading lounge and is just metres from where you finish with security. Spread over two levels, the lower level has a series of quiet rooms and reading chairs in a hushed setting in The Library. Head up the dual escalators and you come to appreciate the size of the lounge, with more seating, a huge bar, buffet and private dining room. Grab a table and order dishes like San Fran's signature dish, a plate of cioppino, fresh seafood cooked in a tomato sauce with a side of fresh bread.

SECURITY

It's a little over zealous with the body search if you forget to take everything out of your pockets for the full-body scan, but it moves along at a good pace.

CHECK IN

Straight to the desk for Polaris Business Class with helpful service so I'm left with plenty of time to wander around.

FOOD AND DRINK

What is great about the fast food offerings here is they are primarily local, so you get the San Francisco experience right up until you board the plane. Chains like Bun Mee Asia food, The Little Chihuahua Mexican restaurant and Amy's Drive Thru organic give you the convenience but with a local slant. There are also a few coffee robots like Cafe X to give you that Silicon Valley vibe.

RETAIL THERAPY

There are some standard airport shops like the high-end fashion and Brookstone gadgets but for some more interesting fare try DepARTures for an arty take on the gift shop or District Market which sells some of the best of Californian produce from Thomas Keller chocolates to olives oil and some excellent sandwiches from the deli counter.

PASSING TIME

One of the main ways to pass time here is to look at the 45 art spaces curated by the SFO Museum and spread across the entire airport (sfomuseum.org). You can also check in on the Wag Brigade, a group of therapy animals, including a pig and an angora rabbit, depending on who's awake. Or head out to the bar and restaurant at the Grand Hyatt at SFO (hyatt.com), one for the plane nerds as it is right on the tarmac and makes full use of the runway views.

THE VERDICT

There are very few times in my travelling career when I have thought "Gee, I wish I had more time at the airport". This is one of them.

OUR SCORE OUT OF FIVE

★★★★½

Paul Chai was a guest of United Airlines and San Francisco International Airport.