The 24-hour AirTrain light rail service links the International Terminal with the other terminals, parking garages, the Airport BART station and the car hire centre.

Airport information booths are located on the Arrivals level of all terminals; staff can translate over 166 languages (tel: 650 821 8211). Computerised information kiosks are available at the desks 24 hours a day. Travelers Aid kiosks are located on the Departures levels of all terminals (tel: 650 821 2735). They are open daily 0800-2000.

Money and communications: ATMs are available in all terminals and boarding lounges. There is a full service bank in Terminal 3, as well as a self-service postal centre. Bureaux de change and automated currency exchange machines are located throughout the International Terminal. Telephones equipped with data ports are located throughout the terminals. Wireless Internet is available. Mobile telephones can be hired. Eating and drinking: There are various bars, cafés and restaurants in each terminal. Shopping: Four duty-free shops are located in the International Terminal. There is a duty-free kiosk in Terminal 1, boarding area B. Other shops include gift shops, newsagents, bookshops, clothing and accessories stores, sweet shops, toy shops and cosmetic and toiletries shops. Luggage: There is a lost property office on the Arrivals level of Terminal 1 (tel: 650 821 7014). Trolleys are available for a fee throughout the terminals. Left-luggage is available at the Airport Travel Agency, in the International Terminal. Other facilities: These include a medical centre, nurseries and a meditation room.

The airport is physically accessible and airline employees can assist passengers with disabilities before departure or upon arrival; passengers requiring wheelchairs should contact their airline prior to travel. There are TDD/TTY phones throughout the airport for hearing-impaired travellers. Reserved car parking is also available in all car parks (tel: 650 821 7900); the shuttle bus from the long-term car park is equipped with a lift. Ramp-accessible taxis are available. SamTrans buses and the Caltrain shuttle are wheelchair accessible. So are all BART stations.

The Turpen Aviation Museum, in the International Terminal (tel: 650 821 9911), is available for hosting private functions, accommodating up to 250 delegates, with catering and equipment available. The Airport Travel Agency (tel: 650 877 0422), also in the International Terminal, provides fax and photocopying services.

The rental car centre is located outside of the terminals but on airport property and is linked to the terminals and BART station on the 24-hour AirTrain Blue Line. Eight major car hire companies are based at the centre: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty.

Short-term (hourly and daily) car parking, with direct access to the terminals, is available at both the domestic and international parking garages. Passengers flying to Canada should use the domestic terminals parking garage. Valet parking for all terminals is located in the domestic garage, off the Departures level roadway. A long-term car park is located 3.5km (2 miles) north of the airport terminals. A free shuttle bus service operates between the long-term car park and the terminals. Parking information is available (tel: 650 821 7900).

From central San Francisco, take Route 101 south and follow signs to the airport. For access to the car hire centre, turn left onto I-380 and turn right onto South Airport Boulevard. For access to the long-term car park, take Route 101 south, exit at San Bruno Avenue/San Francisco International Airport, take the San Bruno Avenue exit, turn left and follow the signs.

Rail: The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) operates a rapid rail service to northern San Mateo County, San Francisco (journey time: 30 minutes) and the East Bay from the SFO BART station on the Departures level of the International Terminal. The station is linked to all terminals via the free AirTrain service. BART services connect to Millbrae Station, from where a Caltrain shuttle service runs between San Francisco and San Jose. Road: Taxi: Taxis depart from outside the Arrivals levels of all terminals. Taxi drivers are required by airport regulations to accept fares to all destinations. Limousine: A number of limousine companies provide transport to/from the airport and must be pre-arranged; a full list of providers is available on the airport’s website. Van: Door-to-door vans provide services between the airport and various destinations in San Francisco and surrounds; vans are available on a walk-up basis until 2300 and pick-up is outside the Departures levels of all terminals. Bus: SamTrans buses run from the terminals to destinations in San Mateo County and parts of San Francisco and Palo Alto, 24 hours. For further ground transportation information, visit the airport information booths or call the Bay Area Transit information line (tel: 511; website: www.511.org).

Hotels located very near the airport include the Holiday Inn San Francisco International Airport North (tel: 650 873 3550), Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport (tel: 650 347 1234), San Francisco Airport Marriott (tel: 650 692 9100) and the Sheraton Gateway Airport (tel: 650 340 8500). Courtesy telephones for hotel reservations are located on the Arrivals levels of all terminals.