Introduction
San Jose is the largest city in Northern California. The city is also known as the “Capital of Silicon Valley”.
When you are traveling to and from the San Jose International Airport, it is a good idea to know about the airport and the amenities it offers. Whether it’s your holiday or a business trip, having general information and tips, especially when traveling alone or with a companion, can actually save you from experiencing troubled moments.
Our airport guide gives you all the essential insights that you, as a traveler, can make use of while journeying across places in any part of the globe.
A Brief Overview of San Jose Airport
San Jose International Airport, also known by the name Mineta San Jose International Airport, is located just a few distances away (about 10 minutes) from downtown San Jose. The airport is named after Norman Y. Mineta for his services as Transportation Secretary, councilor, and mayor.
The airport is the best starting point for a Northern California holiday. It is the closest international airport to popular attractions such as Monterey, Santa Cruz, and whale watching in Monterey Bay, Pebble Beach/ Carmel, Yosemite National Park, Redwood forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Cruz Mountain wineries, and Paso Robles Central Coast wineries and Levi’s Stadium (frequent site of international soccer matches, large concert events and also home to American football’s famous San Francisco 49ers). San Jose also has corporate headquarters for some of the world’s major technology companies like Google, Apple, and Facebook.
You can get a free shuttle bus from San Jose Airport to the nearby Santa Clara CalTrain station that provides direct rail service through Silicon Valley and into San Francisco.
The airport is open 24 hours. However, TSA, airline check-in, and baggage drop hours vary in accordance with the flight’s schedule. So, it is important that you check these hours with your airline. If you are in the public area of the terminal (landside), you may not be able to get past the security area of the terminal (airside) until morning.
IATA: SJC
Address: 1701 Airport Boulevard, Suite B-1130 San Jose, CA 95110-1206
Contact: 408-392-3600
Website: https://flysanjose.com
Airport Terminal
The Mineta San Jose International Airport has two terminals, namely Terminal A and Terminal B. Both terminals are connected airside and have numerous gates. Terminal A has a total of 17 gates, while Terminal B has a total of 20 gates.
Gates 1 through 7, 7A, and gates 8 through 16 are located at Terminal A. Gate 7A is a ground-level gate for remote parking with curbside parking space, ground-level ticketing counters, security checkpoints and offers concessions. The arrivals building is located in Terminal A, at Gates 15 and 16. There are strict regulations enforced at the airport and passengers are mandated to pass through customs and immigration at the arrivals building.
Gates 17 through 36 are located at Terminal B. The first two gates i.e. Gates 17 and 18 are for international arrivals, which also mandates clearing customs and immigration at the airport.
Flights in Service
The San Jose International Airport services numerous international passenger airlines and cargo. Air Canada, Air Canada Express, Alaska Airlines, All Nippon Airways, American Airlines, American Eagle, British Airways, Delta Airlines, Delta Connection, Frontier Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue, Lufthansa, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, United Express, and Volaris are the major international flights that are serviced in Mineta San Jose International Airport.
The San Jose Airport also services private and corporate and is located on the west side of the airfield off Coleman Avenue.
Facilities and Services Available at San Jose International Airport
The San Jose International Airport provides various amenities to travelers.
Security Check-points
San Jose International Airport enforces strict security as it is also a major port of entry and an official U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security. Security checkpoints open at 3:45 AM in Terminal A and 4:00 AM in Terminal B. Only ticketed passengers are allowed past security checkpoints. Once through the security checkpoint, travelers are then provided access to all concessions and retail options in both Terminal A and Terminal B.
Airport Information Booth
If you need help when you are at San Jose International Airport, there are information booths. These information booths are located at the landside in Terminals A and B, in the Baggage Claim area. Their hours of operation are from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM (Monday to Saturday) and 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM on Sundays. The airport has also added robots to supply information and nearby area assistance. These can be found at the airside at Gates 11, 21, and 25. These robots are given names. You will find Norma, Amelia, and Piper who are ready to help.
San Jose Airport provides mailboxes, that let you drop off your last-minute postcard at the airport’s mailbox counter. These mailboxes are located at the landside in both South Check-in and North Check-in.
Wi-Fi and Mobile Charging
If you need to use the internet at San Jose International Airport, there is free Wi-Fi. You can connect your smartphone, tablet, or laptop to access Wi-Fi at the airport, in case you need to communicate with your family, friends, or peers.
Mobile charging facilities are also available at the airport. If your phone is low on battery, simply head to the Power Suites where you will find cozy seating and workstations with power outlets to charge your phone’s battery. These mobile charging outlets are located at Gates 7A, 9, 15, 18, and 28.
Baggage Handling
The airport provides Luggage Carts that are available curbside for departures and in the Baggage Claim area in Terminal A and B. Luggage Cart rentals by Smarte Carte will cost you $5.00. They accept cash, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and Debit Cards.
Lounges
At San Jose International Airport, lounges are available as Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes, and Lounge Memberships. Regardless of what classification of service you are flying, there is a lounge that you can enter by paying at the door, buying a lounge pass, or via a lounge membership program.
The Club premium lounge is located at Terminal A, Airside, 3rd Level, across from Gate A15. Showers and a designated relaxation area are available. The lounge can be accessed by using Pay at the Door, Prepaid lounge passes, and Lounge membership programs.
The Club has another premium lounge located at Terminal A, Airside, Main Level Concourse, across from Gate 8. Showers are available. The lounge can be accessed by using Pay at the Door, Prepaid lounge passes, and Lounge membership programs.
A military lounge is also available to active duty U.S. military traveling on orders, on a pre-arranged basis. Services include snacks and beverages and feature cozy seating, tables and chairs, Wi-Fi, mobile charging stations, books, and large-screen TV. The military lounge is located in the backyard of the airport, between the two terminals, close to the US and California flags. The hours of service of the lounge are from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Shops, Cafes, and Restaurants
The Duty-Free Store is located in Terminal A, between Gates 14 and 15. In addition, there is a small range of stores which include eight locations of Hudson News accessible for any last-minute snack and drinks.
Food concessions are available throughout the airport that operates under different schedules. There are a few 24-hour dining options though. Vending machines are also available at the airport.
If you are thirsty, a water fountain and bottle fill-up stations are available. You can find these located in Terminals A and B at Gates 9, 10, 15, 17, and 24.
Hotels
When you are in the city of San Jose or at the San Jose International Airport, you will find luxury and budget hotels for your temporary stay. A lot of hotels also provide convenient shuttle services to their customers. So, if you are staying at any of these nearby hotels, you can rest assured that you will be at the airport on time to catch your flight.
DoubleTree by Hilton hotel is not far from the airport. The hotel provides free airport shuttle services every 20 minutes.
The courtyard hotel is minutes away from the airport. There is a free airport shuttle that can be accessed on request.
Comfort Suites is only 5 minutes from the airport. The hotel also provides a free airport shuttle.
Four Points by Sheraton is another hotel that is 5 minutes from the airport. A free shuttle bus is available to transport you from and to the airport.
Hotel Shuttle
There are many hotels in San Jose city that provide airport transportation services as a courtesy to their guests. Shuttles stop at the Off-site Courtesy Shuttle Stops that are located in the ground transportation areas of both Terminals A and B.
A few hotels that provide shuttle services from and to San Jose International Airport include Biltmore Hotel & Suites, Silicon Valley Central, Comfort Suites Airport, Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, San Jose International Airport, Courtyard San Jose Airport, DoubleTree by Hilton San Jose, Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, San Jose Airport, Four Points through Sheraton San Jose Airport, Holiday Inn San Jose – Silicon Valley, Hyatt House Santa Clara, La Quinta Inn & Suites San Jose Airport, Quality Inn Silicon Valley, Sheraton San Jose Hotel, Staybridge Suites San Jose, Sonesta Silicon Valley San Jose and Wyndham Garden San Jose Airport.
There is also a free shuttle service that operates in a circuit between Terminals A and B. The Rental Car Center and Daily Lot 4 Shuttles serve every 10 minutes, from 2:30 AM till 1:00 AM. A separate free shuttle runs every 10 minutes, 24 hours a day between Economy Lot 1 and Terminals A and B. A white courtesy shuttle runs between Terminal B, Hourly Lot 5, and Daily Lot 6 from 4:30 AM till 12:30 AM.
Bus
To make your travel convenient, the San Jose Airport is connected to several bus systems. You can take a ride in a bus from the Valley Transit Authority (VTA) Route 10 Airport Flyer which links the airport’s Terminals A and B, the Metro Light Rail, and the Santa Clara Caltrain station in a circuit. Buses depart every 15 or 30 minutes and service from 5:00 AM until 11:30 PM. There is also Ace Rail VTA Airport Flyer which makes regular stops between the airport and the Santa Clara Caltrain Station from where you can easily catch the ACE Train.
Taxi
When you are at the Mineta San Jose International Airport and need a ride, you can easily find taxis located in the ground transportation areas of Terminals A and B. All taxis are metered, and reservations are not required. A taxi ride from San Jose International Airport starts at a minimum of $15, which includes the first 5 km (3 miles) of the trip and an airport fee of $1.50. Beyond 5 km (3 miles), the fares are charged via a meter at $3.00 per mile.
There are several other agencies that offer scheduled or on-demand door-to-door shared-ride shuttle services to and from the San Jose International Airport. Reservations are particularly recommended, and might also be required for some shuttle services. Shared-ride shuttle stops are located at the lower level of the Terminal A Parking Garage, and at the Ground Transportation Center across the road from the Terminal B baggage claim area. You can contact your service provider of choice for statistics and reservations as the services vary with different agencies.
Car Hire
You can hire a car at San Jose International Airport if you need to explore the city, or just reach your hotel. Car rental services are handled at the Rental Car Center, which is a designated facility located in the airport. You can find them across from Terminal B. A few on-site car rental agencies serving at the airport are Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, FOX, Hertz, National, Payless, Sixt, Thrifty, and Zipcar.
Car Parking
Inter-terminal and Economy parking lots and desegregation busing (transportation for students) are provided by the airport at no charge.
Conclusion
The Mineta San Jose International Airport is a very busy airport as it services many international flights. Despite being a busy airport, travelers will find the airport worth visiting, not to forget the abundant facilities and services that this airport has to offer. Even if you are here for a short stay, you will definitely find the city and its popular attractions amazing.
