SFO will likely be totally different for flyers, simply in time for vacation journey

The $2.6 billion SFO Terminal 3 West Modernization challenge is in full swing to renovate the 650,000-square-foot western a part of the terminal, together with including 20,000 sq. ft of extra house. As the challenge strikes into the following section, flyers will see adjustments on the AirTrain station, United ticket counters and curbside beginning Tuesday, in response to an Oct. 30 information launch from SFO.

Perhaps probably the most important change is to curbside drop-off. Doors 6 by way of 13 at Terminal 3 are slated to be inaccessible to passengers beginning Tuesday and persevering with till 2027.

“Since most of the Terminal 3 departure level curbside will be closed off for the construction, we’re recommending passengers get dropped off either at Terminal 2 or on the lower/arrival level of Terminal 3,” SFO spokesperson Doug Yakel advised SFGATE in an electronic mail, which implies vacationers ought to take into account permitting further time to navigate to their departure gates.

SFO can also be closing the Terminal 3 AirTrain station and changing the Terminal 2 cease right into a shared cease for terminals 2 and three. The United ticket counters within the east finish of Terminal 3 will stay open, in response to the airport’s information launch, however a brand new United ticket counter will open in Terminal 2 for passengers departing from the D and E gates.

“This should make navigating from the AirTrain a little easier… get off in Terminal 2, United ticket counters right there!” Yakel mentioned.

Flyers taking off from F gates ought to nonetheless use Terminal 3 ticket counters.

It’s not the primary time SFO has made adjustments throughout a serious journey interval. In June 2024, as a part of renovations to Terminal 1, the airport added a mezzanine-level safety checkpoint for vacationers with TSA PreCheck. The deliberate renovations to Terminal 3 embrace an identical mezzanine-level safety checkpoint.

The Terminal 3 constructing’s renovations additionally prolong to the outside, aiming for improved attraction curbside and extra space for check-in, together with a self-bag drop choice. The challenge consists of making the constructing safer from earthquakes, creating an even bigger safety checkpoint and including extra restaurant and retail choices. It additionally entails including a brand new constructing for airline lounges and workplace house. The renovated western half is predicted to open to vacationers in fall 2027, whereas the opposite facets of the challenge gained’t be accomplished till 2028 and 2029, the discharge mentioned.