Which airport is more "user-friendly" - San Francisco or Oakland?

I would prefer SFO. It is easy to navigate there. I get lost at Oakland airport many a times... more over, there is no BART to santa Clara. You need to either rent a car or take a shuttle or cab. Access to cab is easy. just get out the terminal and you get cab/shuttle. The SFO airport is more organized. If you want a rental car, you take air train. The directions are very clear when you get out for your terminal and pick up your baggage. Also, drive is easy and safe if you take 380-280 route rather than 101. 380-280 is less crowded and the lanes are wide compared to 101. It is easy a drive. It takes you to Santa Clara.

But honestly, buy a ticket to San Jose airport if you get it cheaper. It is small, easy to navigate and right next to santa clara. If I had a choice of San Jose, I prefer this compared to both SFO and OAK.

Taxis to Downtown San Francisco from Oakland Airport will cost between $50-55, not including tip (and assuming good traffic). Using public transit, you'll only pay $6.35. Here's how to do it: 1. AirBART is just a shuttle bus from the airport to the Coliseum station. There are clearly marked stops on traffic islands outside the arrival hall. AirBART fare is $3.00. 2. From the Coliseum station, board any train bound for "DALY CITY" or "MILLBRAE." Get off at Powell Street station and follow the signage to the exit for Union Square. BART fare is $3.35. - If this is your first time in San Francisco, however, you might want to take a taxi. Seeing the skyscrapers and water from the Bay Bridge makes for a far better impression than a subway tunnel.

I have been to SFO several times. I went to OAK for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I was pleasantly surprised at the differences. OAK is not as crowded and not as large so it was much easier to get around. It is not far into the city of Oakland. I was there at 10pm and never felt unsafe. Lets face it, it is an airport and there is tons of security at any airport these days! SFO is not bad just larger and more congested. If you are going to Santa Clara why not fly into SJC? SJC is a terribly messed up airport, but so much closer to Santa Clara.

If you're doing car rental rather than public transit, there isn't that much difference between them. I'd just go with the one with cheaper airfares.

- Oakland is much smaller than SFO, so it is very easy to navigate. Though SFO isn't that much harder to move around either, as the four terminals form a full indoor circle.

- SFO has better access to public transportation because it's directly connected to the BART subway. In Oakland, you have to pay $3.00 for a shuttle bus to the nearest BART station.

- Both airports operate off-site car rental centers. In Oakland, there's a shuttle bus to car rental. In SFO, you'd take the airtrain from the terminals.

- Oakland is connected to Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway) and SFO to U.S. 101 (Bayshore Freeway). They are relatively equal distance from the city, although I-880 usually has worse traffic.

Flew to SFO a couple of weeks ago for the first time and had a good experience. I'm a frequent business traveler and thought the airport had a good layout, easy to get around, and the car rental hub was great.

I didn't find much difference between the two for car rentals.

Getting to Bart is easier from SFO though.

Also, if you are going to the S. Bay then you can also travel to San Jose. Just a thought.

Oakland

I say San Francisco.

i don't know OAK i've never been there but many times in SFO and i think this one is easier to get around..but like other people say it could be easier if you arrive to San Jose.

You stand less of a chance of getting shot at San Francisco...