Mineta San José International Airport: Plan Ahead and Arrive Early for a Smooth Travel Experience

SAN JOSE, CA, 2013-05-27 — /travelprnews.com/ — As Memorial Day weekend kicks off the summer travel season, Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) and its airlines advise Silicon Valley travelers to plan ahead and check in early to prevent delays on a traditionally busy travel holiday.

Passenger traffic is on the rebound at SJC due to increased volume for summer travel and expanded air service. Travelers should plan on getting to their airline’s check-in counter in the terminal at least 90 minutes before domestic departures and two hours prior for Hawaii and international departures, especially during peak periods. Peak travel times are generally in the mornings from 5:00 to 9:00 a.m. and evenings from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

At SJC, Virgin America recently added service to Los Angeles and Delta Air Lines will expand service to this market on June 10, 2013. All Nippon Airways will resume service between San Joséand Tokyo/Narita on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner on June 1, 2013.

To celebrate summer travel, SJC is offering the Summer Flyaway Contest at flysanjose.comthrough June 14, 2013, with a chance to win roundtrip tickets for four from SJC to anywhere Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines and Virgin America fly.

Silicon Valley Airport offers a modern, convenient and customer-friendly experience for travelers through its terminals, roadways and parking lots, all rebuilt and renovated in 2010. These include:

• Shops and restaurants throughout Terminal A and Terminal B include many local and regional businesses.
• Free Wi-Fi throughout the terminals, along with 25 percent of waiting lounge seats equipped with power outlets for passengers to plug in their laptops and mobile devices.
• Economy Parking Lot 1 for longer-term public parking located north of Terminal A is conveniently located close to the terminals and is a very short shuttle ride away. Price is $15 per day.
• Short-term public parking for Terminal A is in the Terminal A Garage, and for Terminal B is on the ground level of the Rental Car Center Garage and Hourly Lot 5.  For a complete parking map and rate list, go to flysanjose.com.
• SJC’s free and convenient Cell Phone Waiting Area is a handy alternative to driving around the airport’s roadways while waiting for passengers to arrive. The waiting area is located on both sides of Airport Parkway between Technology Drive and Highway 87, less than two minutes away from SJC terminals.

Travelers should consider the following important travel planning and security tips before arriving at SJC, and should check www.tsa.gov for comprehensive guidance and additional helpful information to prepare for travel during the Memorial Day holiday weekend and the busysummer season ahead.

• Check in online in advance. Most airlines permit this beginning 24 hours before flight departure time.
• Before coming to the airport, check flight status by contacting the airline’s toll-free number or by visiting the airline’s web site. Links to SJC’s airline websites can be found atwww.flysanjose.com.
• Remember the TSA “3-1-1” security program: Only liquids and gels that are in containers no larger 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.
• Have boarding pass and a government-issued photo ID in hand (such as driver’s license or passport) when approaching the passenger security screening checkpoint.
• Know airline carry-on limits and charges. Each passenger is allowed one standard size carry-on bag and one personal item, such as a purse, briefcase or laptop computer. Check airline size limitations and extra baggage charges, and plan ahead to minimize surprises.

About Mineta San José International Airport
Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) is Silicon Valley’s airport, a self-supporting enterprise owned and operated by the City of San José. SJC served 8.3 million passengers in 2012, and offers approximately 125 daily flights on 13 domestic and international carriers to 30 nonstop destinations.

The airport’s $1.3 billion comprehensive modernization project, completed in 2010, makes SJC the most technologically advanced airport in the nation and the first terminal awarded LEED Silver certification for environmental sustainability. Silicon Valley’s airport is located in San José,California’s third largest city and the nation’s tenth largest city. For more airport information, visit www.flysanjose.com/fl.

– SJC –