Is Terminal 1 at SFO International?
Actually Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3 at SFO (San Francisco International Airport) are NOT part of the International terminal. All of the numbered terminals (1, 2, and 3) are all part of the domestic area of the airport. So, if you have a flight that leaves from Terminal 1, 2, or 3 at SFO, then you must be sure to go into the Domestic section of the airport.
The international terminal does not have a number assigned to it – it’s simply known as the “International Terminal”.
This can often be confusing for people who are traveling internationally but have a connecting flight that is domestic before reaching their international destination that is outside of the United States. A lot of those flights actually initiate from the domestic section of the airport.
What if I’m driving to SFO?
If you are driving to the SFO airport coming off of the 101 freeway, when you take the Airport exit you will see two lanes – one for domestic flights and another for international flights. Be sure to take the domestic exit instead of the international exit if your departing flight leaves from Terminal 1, 2, or 3.