No need to feel bad for a short trip out of SFO. Taxi drivers who return to SFO within 30 minutes are permitted to skip the long queue for their next pickup.

See http://transportationreviews.com/new...nsafe-driving/.

The article says the airport was considering revising the rule last month, so I'm not sure if it's still in place.

I have mixed feelings about the short trip rule. On one hand, I do see the reason why drivers shouldn't get screwed after waiting for three hours in line, effectively without pay. (Then again, if the short rule is abandoned, taxi queues at SFO may shorten commensurately with the lowered EV of getting in line.) On the other hand, we've been in some scary taxi rides as the drivers drive like the car's stolen to make their short. (We live close to short range, so some taxis think they can make it if they hurry -- they can't.) Or sometimes you see empty taxis hauling a** down 101 to get back to the airport in time. It can be scary.