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How long is SFO international to domestic layover?

SFO international-domestic transfer in 1hr 45mins.



For an international-to-domestic connection at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in 2026, you should allow a minimum of 2 to 3 hours. Even if your flight is on a single ticket, you must go through the full federal inspection process: this involves clearing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Immigration), collecting your checked bags from the international carousel, re-checking them at the "Connecting Flights" desk, and then clearing TSA security again to enter the domestic terminal. If you have Global Entry and TSA PreCheck, you can often complete this process in 60 to 90 minutes. However, SFO is a massive hub, and if your arrival is delayed or if you arrive during the "noon rush" when most trans-Pacific flights land, the lines can be long. In 2026, all SFO terminals are connected airside via the "AirTrain" or walkways, which makes moving between Terminal G (International) and Terminal 3 (United) or Terminal 2 (Delta/Alaska) relatively fast once you are past security. If your layover is under 90 minutes, it is considered "tight," and you should alert a flight attendant or gate agent to see if they can help expedite your exit from the aircraft.

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What is a good connection time? Travel advisers say there's a lot to take into account when booking connecting flights, but a general rule of thumb is 60-90 minutes between domestic flights and at least two to three hours for international itineraries.

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In 2008, to accommodate growth in passenger traffic and airline demand for gates, SFO embarked on a $383 million project to renovate Terminal 2 into a state-of-the-art domestic terminal. The terminal, which formerly housed international flights, closed when SFO's current International Terminal opened in December 2000.

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SFO's pretty much busy from 7:15 a.m. on to mid-evening. The first peak departure time is from 7:15 to 8:45, with first peak arrival time from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., and then it just keeps going. The international flights pick up later in the day. The airport's basically at capacity.

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