SFO is taking bids September 30–October 7 for a private luxury terminal on Plot 42, a 75,000-square-foot parcel off North Access Road, with separate TSA and customs screening, a lounge, and car-to-plane valet. No operator is named, no pricing disclosed, and at least one bidder has raised concerns about qualification requirements.

San Francisco International Airport is soliciting operators to build and run a fully separate luxury terminal with private TSA and customs screening, a members-only lounge, and car-to-plane valet service, according to an SF Chronicle report by Roland Li. The airport's request for proposals opens September 30 and closes October 7.

The site is Plot 42, a 75,000-square-foot parcel off North Access Road, with an adjacent 13,415-square-foot lot reserved for parking. SFO would issue a long-term ground lease — targeted for award by December — and the winning operator would then navigate approvals and construction, with an opening no earlier than late 2028.

SFO spokesperson Doug Yakel told the Chronicle the airport has "been monitoring the development of private terminals at other large hub airports both in the U.S. and abroad" and believes there's a market for pay-per-use or membership-based access. Private VIP terminals are already standard at major European and Asian hubs and are expanding in Latin America; SFO's own press release page confirms the airport has been actively upgrading its customs and passenger experience infrastructure throughout 2026.

What's not settled: no operator is named, no membership price has been disclosed, and at least one prospective bidder has already flagged that the minimum qualification requirements "may be more restrictive than necessary," per the Chronicle — with the airport awaiting bidder feedback before finalizing terms.

SFO is simultaneously expanding its existing premium footprint: United is building its largest West Coast lounge, and Terminal 3's renovation includes a 27,000-square-foot lounge still seeking an operator. The appetite for premium travel amenities is real. Whether a private terminal clears the construction and regulatory hurdles by 2028 is a separate question. Watch for who submits during the October bid window and whether qualification thresholds shift before it closes.