Key Waymo SFO Airport Field Report Findings

Waymo SFO Airport Field Report

After a cross country flight, we landed at San Francisco International Airport to evaluate Waymo’s airport pickup operations. Our test covered the full journey, the walk and AirTrain ride from the United terminal to the pickup zone at the Grand Hyatt at SFO.

Pickup Location and the Walk from the Terminal

Waymo riders at SFO are not picked up at the terminal curb. We walked and took the AirTrain from the United terminal to the Grand Hyatt at SFO, which took 24 minutes. That is not a wait time. That is a walk.

The Hyatt pickup zone is a clear improvement over the rental car center pickup location. It is easier to reach and easier to find. Even so, the distance from the terminal is significant, and curbside pickup at SFO cannot come soon enough.

Operating Under a 46 Page Airport Permit

Waymo’s operations at SFO are governed by a 46 page permit document. The rules are strict. Curbside pickup operations are prohibited, and an autonomous vehicle’s presence on any airport curb is strictly prohibited unless specifically authorized in writing by the airport director.

Traffic and safety rules require vehicles to keep moving, obey posted speed limits and avoid blocking traffic lanes or trapping other parked vehicles. For Waymo, this is the easy part. The Waymo Driver follows these rules by design.

The Eight Minute Staging Window

The rule that affected us was the staging limit. Vehicles may not stay in a designated area for more than eight minutes without loading or unloading passengers. Exceeding that limit counts as unauthorized staging.

After our 24 minute walk, we did not reach the vehicle in time on the first attempt. The Waymo had to cancel the trip, and we were charged a $5 fee. The second attempt succeeded. Riders arriving at SFO should time their ride request to their walk and AirTrain ride to avoid the same outcome.

Freeway Performance

Leaving the airport, the Waymo merged onto the freeway. From the passenger seat, the drive looked simple. From the vehicle’s perspective, freeway driving is complex, and Waymo handled it with confidence.

The Rider Experience

There is something special about getting into a Waymo after a long cross country flight. We put on the Grateful Dead, rode the freeway through the San Francisco Bay Area and did not have to talk to anyone. It is a remarkable experience, and it was well worth the walk.

Outlook

Waymo’s airport service at SFO works very well, but access is the bottleneck and the permit rules are not exactly designed for the travelers convenience. When curbside pickup is approved, the airport experience will match the ride itself.