Getting away this Labor Day Weekend?
San José Airport Advises Passengers to Arrive Early
Travelers urged to plan ahead and pack patience

SAN JOSE, CA – As the Labor Day holiday weekend concludes the busy summer travel season, Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) continues to advise passengers to arrive at the terminals at least 90 minutes before their flight. Allowing for the extra time will make the Airport experience less stressful in getting to the parking lots, navigating roadways and passing through security.

Airport officials encourage passengers at Terminal C to give themselves even more time for the early morning peak hours. The busiest time at Terminal C is between 5:00 and 8:00 a.m. when the first cycle of morning flights prepares to depart. That is when waiting times at security checkpoints are at their peak.

Airlines usually complete boarding passengers at the gates at least 15 minutes prior to scheduled departures, which means that people should plan accordingly.

“As we’ve done all summer long, we work hard to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for passengers traveling through our airport,” said Vicki Day, Director of Customer Services for SJC. "But travelers also can really help by planning ahead, learning how to pack for security regulations, and allowing plenty of time to reach your flight.”

An additional factor that will help to make the entire process easier for passengers is that no construction work on the New Airport will be scheduled during the holiday weekend.

“Although our summer has been busy, we also expect the number of people traveling this holiday weekend will be a bit lower than last year because airline traffic in general is lower because of capacity reductions throughout the nation,” said Day.

To ensure a safer and stress free experience, the airport encourages travelers to follow these tips:

Park at the Airport and save $3 a day on Long-term Parking. Plenty of parking is available throughout the holiday weekend. Visit www.flysanjose.com to download a $3-off-per-day coupon for parking in the airport’s long-term lot on Martin Avenue valid through September 5, 2008. The regular fee for long-term parking is $15 per day. Short-term parking is also available at $30 per day in the Terminal A garage.

Check your flight status before coming to the Airport. You can confirm the status of your flight by contacting the airline’s toll-free number, or by visiting the airline’s web site. Links to airline phone numbers, web sites and schedules can be found at www.flysanjose.com.

Check in early. Use online check-in to obtain your boarding pass before arriving at the airport. Airlines allow you to check in as early as 24 hours in advance. If you can print out your boarding pass from home, you will be able to bypass the ticket counter if you are not checking luggage. Also use airlines’ electronic check-in kiosks at the ticket counters to get your boarding pass.

Pack smart. Remember the TSA’s 3-1-1 security program: only liquids and gels that are no more than three ounces are permitted in carry-on luggage. They must be kept in a clear sealed plastic bag, no larger than one quart, and only one bag per traveler is allowed at the security checkpoint. For a complete list of prohibited items and permitted items, visit www.TSATravelTips.US.

Fuel up for the flight. Airlines have reduced in-flight meals, so dine at the airport, or grab some take-out for the trip. All airlines allow you to carry food onto the plane. The food courts in both terminals are now available post-security for boarding-pass holders only.

Recent changes. Mineta San José International Airport is in the midst of a very busy and challenging period of construction. The comprehensive terminal area improvement program is replacing and upgrading existing terminals and roadways over the next two years. When completed in 2010, the New Airport will provide greater comfort and convenience for the benefit of travelers and businesses in the South Bay.

San José passengers will notice many changes to Airport terminals and roadways that include:

• New hourly parking lot now open by Terminal C: An interim hourly lot intended for “meeters and greeters” is open just south of the Terminal C baggage claim. Access to this new lot is from Airport Boulevard south of the terminal at the new traffic light – follow the signs to “hourly parking.”
  
  
• Terminal C security checkpoints now consolidated: All Terminal C security checkpoints have been moved to a single, more efficient central location between the food court and baggage claim. Restaurants and retail services are now beyond security. Food, beverages and restrooms are also available pre-security, near baggage claim.
  
  
• New, closer cell phone waiting area: The free and convenient cell phone waiting area is available on Airport Parkway between Technology Drive and Highway 87 just outside the Airport. The waiting area is only about a minute or two from the terminals.
  
  
• Construction activity everywhere: Construction of new roadways, upgrades at Terminal A, and construction the new Terminal B and consolidated rental car garage are changing the face of Mineta San José International Airport every week. Be prepared for construction equipment, crews, and changes.

About Mineta San José International Airport

Mineta San José International Airport, a self-supporting enterprise, is owned and operated by the City of San José. SJC served 10.7 million passengers and handled approximately 209 million pounds of air cargo in 2007. SJC has 166 flights a day on 13 domestic and international carriers to 30 nonstop destinations.

Mineta San José International Airport is located in San José, California’s third largest city and the nation’s tenth largest city (population of 989,500). For more information, visit www.sjc.org.

SJC currently is well under way with its comprehensive $1.3 billion program to replace and renovate all terminal facilities, roadways, and parking over the next two and a half years.

The program includes the new Terminal B that will replace the old Terminal C in mid-2010; expansion and upgrades at Terminal A that will provide more spacious waiting areas and faster security check-in systems by summer 2009; a new 3350-space rental car and public parking garage directly across from the new Terminal B; more options for quality food, beverage, and retail services; and improved access and roadways serving the airport by the end of 2010.

-SJC-

1732 N. First Street, Suite 600, San José, CA 95112-4538 24 Hour Media Line: 408.501.7700