From November 17, North Bay travellers can skip the drive down the 101 and start their airport process in wine country. Landline's new "Straight to Gate" service links Sonoma County Airport (STS) with San Francisco International (SFO) — and unlike a normal shuttle, you check in for your flight, drop your bags, and clear TSA security in Sonoma before the wheels even start rolling.
The coach then drives straight into SFO's secure area, letting passengers step off inside the terminal and walk to their gate without a second checkpoint. Checked bags travel separately and are handed to the airline for the rest of the trip. Eight round trips run daily, departing Sonoma County from 5:00 AM to 7:45 PM, with the drive taking just over two hours in good conditions. Adult fares start at $55 one way, and children 15 and under ride free with a paying adult.
There's a catch on the outbound leg: the secured connection only works for eligible same-day flights on United, Alaska, Hawaiian, American or JetBlue, and Landline's booking system checks eligibility. The return trip is open to everyone — arriving passengers on any airline can board at pickup points in Terminals 1, 2, 3 and the International Terminal, as long as they collect their checked bags first. Note that the airline ticket and the Landline fare are separate purchases, with standard airline baggage fees still applying.
Landline recommends booking a coach tied to your SFO departure, with minimum connection windows of 45 minutes for domestic flights and 60 minutes for international ones — though Bay Area traffic being what it is, a longer buffer is wise, especially before a long-haul departure. The coaches themselves are comfortably equipped: reclining leather seats, extra legroom, free Starlink Wi-Fi, power outlets, a restroom and wheelchair access.
The launch extends Landline's remote-terminal model, already running between Framingham, Massachusetts and Boston Logan. For Sonoma County residents, the appeal is practical: access to SFO's huge domestic and international network without the long drive south or the parking bill. Landline has floated Monterey Regional and Stockton as possible future additions, though nothing is confirmed. If the Sonoma route proves demand exists for an integrated road-air connection, expect more of these bus-plus-flight pairings across California.
For anyone flying out of SFO from the North Bay, it's worth comparing the $55 fare against the real cost of driving — fuel, tolls and a day or two of airport parking add up fast.
