Arrivals can actually get pretty jammed up at SFO, but departures is never backed up.

Yep, like many others, I've played the cat-and-mouse game of picking up someone who isn't quite at the arrivals curb yet. You try to act like your passenger is right there, and you're loading up their luggage. Unfortunately, the traffic cops have seen all of the tricks.

That actually is one of my biggest pet peeves. All those people waiting tend to block the curb for those who are actually trying to get to their rides. Short term parking is $2 and the cell phone lot is free. Or just go around and get out of the way for those who need to use the curb.

More importantly, picking people up in the departures area is far more efficient.

We've done several Friday evening drives the past year from downtown Santa Rosa to our home near the SW side of S.F. 75 minutes is usual door-to-door, and it's another 15 if we were to continue to SFO. Most of the Sonoma Co. traffic is opposite-direction at that time, esp. once one leaves the Hwy 116 exit for the casino.

However, for catching this flight, I'd budget 2 hours for the distance to SFO.

I usually park at ParkSFO just N. of the San Bruno exit off of 101 and at the end of the 380 exit from 280 S. However, Fri. night is peak parking time for the private lots and ParkSFO might be valeting cars that time, even if they still have room. Their shuttle usually takes about 10 mins. from the time it leaves to get to AA.