san francisco airport

Are you sure it is Terminal 1 for the Lufthansa flight? The International Terminal is called just that, without a number. The AirTrain connects all the terminals and is used for transfers between them. It is outside the security zone. If you do have to go to Terminal 1 you would use that. But if you are heading to the International Terminal, with your connection (United Express to T3, then heading to Lufthansa) there is a connecting hallway from Terminal 3 to the G boarding area of the International Terminal. This is on the interactive map for SFO. I haven't done it myself, we have only used the AirtTrain to get to BART at that airport. But it looks like you would then go through security again to enter the G boarding area. Here is the interactive map:
http://www.flysfo.com/web/page/as_airportmaps.htm

Thanks for your reply, my Lufthansa info shows Terminal 1. I will check out the web page. I may just pay to change the fly to an earlier one...don't like close connections before a International flight.

LH does not depart from Terminal 1, it's the International Terminal, which is often referred to as T-I (which may seem like a 1, but it's a I). Terminal 1 is on the opposite side, and it's not where you'll be going, that's part of the Domestic Terminal. Refer to the Map below. The International Terminal is the one in Green: http://www.flysfo.com/web/export/sites/default/download/about/news/pressres/maps/artwork/map_airport.jpg I take the LH flight to FRA all the time. The Gate is in the G area. That's the only one with a triple jetway for the Airbus 380. Passengers on flights arriving at Terminal 3 may transfer to International Terminal Boarding Area G via a connector walkway linking the two terminals. The entrance to the connector is located post-security in Terminal 3 near Gate 75, and the exit is located post-security in International Terminal Boarding Area G near Gate G92.

Thanks Roberto, that was really great information regarding the connector walkway. I ended up changing my flight from Portland to SFO to an earlier flight just to give me more time with the connection. Thanks, Kathleen

OK, so the connector walkway keeps you behind security? I saw the connector on the map I posted for kathleen earlier, but you can't tell if it actually bypasses security coming into the G boarding area.

Yes I think it's all in the sterile area. Although I've never done it myself, since SFO is my home airport.