Flight Delayed or Cancelled at San Francisco International Airport (SFO)?
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is a United hub and a major gateway to Asia. SFO is known for fog and low-cloud delays, because its closely spaced parallel runways can't all be used at full capacity in poor visibility.
Airlines and terminals
United carries the most SFO passengers. Alaska, Delta, American, Southwest, JetBlue, and many international airlines also fly there.
SFO has Terminals 1, 2, and 3 plus an International Terminal, connected by the AirTrain.
Your options depend on the airline operating or selling your ticket. Airline guides: United, Alaska, Delta, American.
Common causes of delays at SFO
- Fog and low clouds, especially summer mornings
- Winter rainstorms and wind
- Ground delay programs set by air traffic control when arrival capacity drops
Crew and many maintenance problems are generally within the airline's control; weather is not. See our weather delay guide.
The DOT refund rule
The DOT refund rule (14 CFR Part 260) covers every flight to, from, or within the US, including flights at SFO. If your flight is cancelled or significantly changed and you decline the new flight and any voucher or credit, the airline must refund the fare, taxes, and unused paid extras to your original payment method. That applies whatever the cause, including weather.
A significant change includes departing 3+ hours earlier or arriving 3+ hours later than scheduled on a domestic trip (6+ hours international), a different airport, extra connections, or a cabin downgrade. Refunds are due within 7 business days for credit cards and 20 calendar days for other payment types. Accepting the rebooked flight or a credit generally ends the refund right.
Meals, hotels, and rebooking
On the DOT Airline Customer Service Dashboard, large US airlines commit to free rebooking and a meal or meal voucher for 3+ hour waits when the disruption is within their control. All except Frontier also commit to a hotel and ride for overnight disruptions. Weather and air traffic control usually fall outside these commitments.
A local tip for SFO
Fog delays at SFO are often announced as ground delay programs, which hold flights at their departure airport. Screenshot the delay notice and your original arrival time.
What to do
- Check the airline app before joining a line.
- Screenshot the delay or cancellation notice and the reason given.
- Write down scheduled vs. actual arrival time.
- Decide: refund or rebook before you accept anything.
- Keep receipts for meals, hotels, and rides.
- Follow up in writing with a clear timeline.
Related guides: Flight cancelled, Missed connection, How to request a refund in writing, All US airport guides. Not sure where to start? Check your flight.
FAQ
Is a fog delay at SFO covered by United's commitments? Fog is weather and air traffic control, which are generally outside the airline's control, so United's meal and hotel commitments usually don't apply. The DOT refund rule still applies to cancellations and significant changes.
Can I request a refund if my SFO flight was cancelled for weather? Yes. The DOT refund rule covers cancellations for any reason, as long as you decline the rebooking and any voucher or credit.
What if I already accepted a travel credit? Accepting a credit generally ends the refund right under the DOT rule. You can still ask the airline, but it may treat the credit as your choice.
Create your letter
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