BART to/from SFO or OAK?
 

Hello

We are planning trip to San Francisco in November. I can fly non-stop to Oakland or to SFO with stops. We will be staying in Union Square area and are planning on using BART to get to/from airport. Is it easy to get from Oakland to Union Square? or would you take the non-stop flight to SFO and take BART from there? Thanks for your help.

If price is the same and you only care about sheer convenience, SFO would be easier. The BART entrance is right off the International terminal so it's basically within the airport. From Oakland, you need to get on the airport shuttle (basically a bus) with exact change which will take you to the BART station.

Oak is a much easier airport to maneuver, but from various friends' experiences, it's rather easier to figure out BART at SFO given that you don't have to rely on any additional transportation.

Hi momtoCCC, just in case you do not have the official BART website here it is.

http://www.bart.gov/

I have used BART since they first came into service but not for transportation from either airport.

I am a bit confused. Is it the Oakland flight or the SFO flight that is nonstop? When possible I prefer a nonstop flight.

If it is the Oakland flight that is nonstop I have known many people that have used BART from Oakland including Italians from Italy and they all said it was quite easy to figure out etc.

Have a lovely time in SF!

It is the Oakland flight that is non-stop. What is the time difference for traveling between OAK to Union square versus SFO.

Oops - I see in my original message how it was confusing...

It will probably come down to the arrival/departure times also (we are flying Southwest from Albuquerque). For some stange reason, OAK has non-stops whereas SFO doesn't. I wanted to see if transportation to/from OAK was easy and how long it would take. Thanks for the help!

I do know at Oakland that you have to take a bus to get to BART.

I think BART from OAK is fairly easy, but it's my home airport. As noted, you'll have to catch the AirBart bus at the airport. Fairly easy to find - there's pretty good signage, and the bus has "AirBart" written in big letters on it.

The fare is $2.00 to get to the BART station, and is only 10 minutes depending on traffic.

Once you get to the station, you'll have to figure out how to get a ticket, but you'd have to do that anyway in SFO.

As noted, SFO is easier since there is a train station at the airport itself, but you have to get there on the Air Train - not a big deal.

Also, it's practically impossible to get on the wrong BART train at SFO if you're headed to Union Square.

Bear in mind that BART stops running at midnight, so if you're coming in late at night, that may be an issue.

The time tables, prices and all information is on the BART website I posted. For Union Square one wants to get off at the Powell Street station.

After checking the flights again, the Oakland non-stop is definitely better for us. I checked out BART web site - seems simple enough - ride shuttle to BART station, catch blue or green line to Powell St. I think we got it! Thanks for your help!

For me personally, OAK to SF is easier to navigate.

Momto, the connecting bus is not running 24/7, when are you arriving?

If off the usual hours, you can take shuttle from OAK door-to-door to your hotel. I think around $40 for 2 people.

Also, "blue and green" is only on paper. There will be a sign telling you where the train is going. You will need any train going to SF or SFO. They all stop in the city.

Check which station is more convenient for you: Powell or Montgomery.

Take the direct flight. In today's era of airline delays and lost bags, why run the risk of a connection unless the price is dramatically less.

If they were both direct flights, I'd suggest the San Francisco option for the BART. But, if given an option of direct or connection, think of all the bad things that can happen with connections that are less of a risk than with a direct flight.

We arrive at 2:40pm so I think we should be ok.

How early to we need to catch return BART back to OAK on Sunday morning for 11am flight?

Well... on Sundays BART opens only at 8 am, I don't know how early is the train to the airport.

Hi Momto, checking the BART website there first train on Sunday's from the Powell St., BART station is 8:06am and arrives at the Oakland Airport station at 8:29am. So with catching the shuttle bus from the BART station to the Oakland airport you will be arriving on time for your 11:00am flight. You can have a cup of coffee or whatever without feeling stressed, or at least that is what I would do. Best regards.