Mineta San José International Airport Gears Up
for Memorial Day Weekend Travelers
Passengers advised to watch for construction and roadway changes

SAN JOSE, CA – As a busy Memorial Day Weekend kicks off the popular summer travel season, Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) is offering tips to make the Airport experience less stressful and more pleasant for passengers.

With many recent changes to roads, parking and terminals at SJC because of construction, travelers during this holiday weekend should get to the airport at least 90 minutes before their flight is scheduled to depart to allow time get to parking lots, navigate airport roadways, and pass through security.

"As we build the new airport for San Jose and Silicon Valley, we’ll continue all we can to help our customers and keep them informed as the work progresses,” said Vicki Day, Director of Customer Services for SJC. "Especially during the busy summer travel season, everyone should plan ahead and allow plenty of time.”

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 long-term lot on Martin Avenue. 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 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 will 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. In-flight meals have gone the way of printed airline tickets – they hardly exist anymore. 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.

Watch for construction. As San Jose builds the New Airport, travelers should be alert to frequent changes in Airport roads and traffic patterns. The following construction impacts will be in effect during this holiday weekend:

• In front of Terminal A: The four lanes of the roadway merge down to two lanes due to road construction. This sometimes causes some traffic congestion at peak traffic times, generally around 12 noon. Please allow another 15 minutes in your travel plans to get to your destination.
  
• In front of Terminal B construction: A section of the new road was placed in service recently. This has improved traffic at this location; however, please be alert to lane adjustments as you drive to Terminal C.

Recent changes. San José passengers will find several changes to the Airport terminals and roadways which 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.

Mineta San Jose International Airport is about to begin a very busy and challenging summer of construction. The comprehensive terminal area improvement program is replacing and upgrading existing terminals and roadways over the next thirty months. When completed in 2010, the New Airport will provide better service and greater convenience for the benefit of travelers and businesses in the South Bay.

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.

For more airport information, visit www.sjc.org, or call Airport Customer Service at (408) 501-0979. Motorists can also tune their radios to 530 AM within two miles of SJC for current information on airport traffic, parking and security.

-SJC-

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