Pages : Stanford National Forensic Institute

Airport Transportation for Stanford National Forensic Institute programs

Students from around the country attend the SNFI each summer, and for a modest additional fee we can provide transportation from SFO airport to the campus on the day of registration, and / or from the campus to SFO airport on the day of departure. We have attempted to answer the most common questions which we receive about our airport shuttle service below, but if you have additional questions, please contact us.

We also have a Frequently Asked Questions page which addresses general logistical questions about SNFI programs.

Do you provide an airport pickup/dropoff service?

Yes, we provide an airport shuttle service from San Francisco International Airport (SFO)—but not from any other area airports, unfortunately. SFO in our experience has the greatest variety of services and flights. Our staff are at the airport helping meet campers and direct them, and are sent equipped with their flight details and cell phone numbers you provide on our forms to facilitate meeting up in the baggage claim area. On the return, our standard service has our staff get students dropped of with their baggage at the proper terminal. If you wish to provide an additional level of staff support for your camper, with our ‘unaccompanied minor service’ we are able to accompany students beyond the security checkpoint if and as allowed by TSA staff. With unaccompanied minor service our staff see students off to the furthest point allowed by the airline and airport security officials, up to and including to the gate of departure. If you elect to send your student with Unaccompanied Minor Service, you will need to notify us in advance on your transportation form, and there will be an additional $75 fee, as we must dedicate one staff member for each Unaccompanied Minor who arrives. This service is available first-come, first-serve, and we do only have a limited number of staff available. However, use of the service is fairly rare, so we usually can meet most or all requests.
When is the airport shuttle available?

We run the airport shuttle on the first and last day of each camp we offer. In order to use our service, please plan flights to arrive at SFO airport no later than 2PM on the first day of your camp, and to schedule flights leaving no earlier than 1:30PM on the last day of your camp. Please note that our staff won’t arrive at the airport until 11:00AM for arrivals, so plan your flights accordingly. You're of course welcome to schedule an arrival prior to 11AM, but please understand that your child will need to wait until our staff arrives and may have a several hour wait until the first shuttle departure. Similarly, our staff won't be able to stay at the airport once we drop your student off and they are checked in for their flights on the return, as we are unable to go beyond the security checkpoint and must return to campus for additional camp sessions.
What time does the airport shuttle leave Stanford’s campus on the last day?

Our airport shuttle departs around 11:30AM, and the airport is a 30 minute drive from campus. Students will arrive at the airport with enough time to check in and clear security for flights beginning at 1:30PM. You are welcome to schedule flights departing at any time after 1:30PM, however please understand that our staff won't be able to wait at the airport with your child after we drop them off at the terminal and they check in for their flight because we are unable to go beyond the security checkpoint.
What is the cost of the airport shuttle?

Our airport shuttle service is available for $45 one-way and $75 round-trip.
How do I sign up for the airport shuttle service?

You will be able to sign up for the airport shuttle service from the parent portal beginning mid-May. We will send an email announcement when signups begin. Feel free to book your flights whenever it is convenient for you--adding the airport shuttle is simple and easy, and as long as your child's flights fall within the listed times, we will accommodate your needs. There is no capacity control for the airport shuttle, so there will always be space available for your child.
Is there a deadline to signup for the airport shuttle service?

We ask that you sign up for the airport shuttle at least 72 hours before the start date of your child's camp to allow us time to arrange the appropriate number of seats. If you know that you plan to use the airport shuttle, please do sign up up earlier to help us gauge demand. If it is less than 72 hours to your child's camp and you would like to use the airport shuttle service, please email or call to check for availability with our staff.
There is a cheap flight the day before camp starts. Can you pick my child up a day early?

Unfortunately, no. We are only able to offer the dedicated shuttle on the days that your camp starts and ends, as the cost of running the shuttle for a single student is prohibitive, and our staff are having pre-camp planning meetings in the days leading up to the program. If you’re planning to arrive or leave on a day other than the scheduled start or conclusion of our camp, we recommend Supershuttle, a private shared-ride van service which has gotten generally good feedback from past attendees.
Can you accommodate my child, who is flying as an "Unaccompanied Minor?"

Yes. We are required to have one staff member at the airport per student, and they must stay until the flight has departed, therefore there is an additional fee of $150 in addition to the base airport shuttle charge. You must contact us in order to inquire about the availability of this service, and until we confirm it in writing via email it is not confirmed.