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Oakland International Airport (OAK)
International Airport
Central East Oakland, Oakland
"Be cool to the flight crew on Southwest - they're awesome!! :-)"(48 Tips)
"Easy connection to downtown SF via the AirBart bus and BART"(14 Tips)
"OAK: it's not FREE wifi if you have to download an app to use."(18 Tips)
"Some nice upgrades at OAK, much more comfortable."(7 Tips)
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D JohnsonDecember 23, 2016If the planes are departing to the north have your camera ready. The first minute of the flight you will have an excellent snapshot of San Francisco & even the Goldengate bridge weather permitting.
Tom LoweMarch 28, 2015If your gonna stay overnight at the airport, better make sure you grab a bench seat before 10pm. There is only a few and they fill up fast. Sleeping there is fine. Sandwich $8 water bottle $3Upvoted Feb 26
Leah BecerraDecember 13, 2014Grab some Peet's coffee in terminal 2 (so much better than Starbucks). Security was also very quick. Power stations all over the place. Love it.Upvoted Mar 10
Matt WOctober 24, 2011Beautiful views of the bay (Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, SF, etc.) while flying in and out of this airport.
Taneshia BlackwellSeptember 5, 2013I love this place. So much more convenient than going to the crowded SFO.
Some of the nicest, friendliest, most competent and speedy TSA folks anywhere. They are great. So different than SJC or SFO.
Jennifer HalliganMarch 4, 2017Love this airport ... good size and I like the Pyramid Brewing place to stop for a quick drink!
Very easy to get in and out of. Baggage retrieval is generally swift. Great weather prevents delays. Huge Southwest hub. Wish it was better served by more airlines
Best airport to fly in and out of the Bay Area. TSA lines are pretty quick and it's accessible by Bart. Flights are more affordable than San Jose and San Francisco.
If the security line in the Terminal 2 (Southwest Airlines) building is too long, it may be worth it to walk to Terminal 1 and do security there since the airport connects all gates in the back.
Alex DobyanDecember 17, 2017Definitely convenient for East Bay folks, but the usual gain you get in breeziness that you get at smaller airports is not quite in effect here - can be longish security lines.
Paul MartinMay 12, 2021easy to negotiate this passenger friendly airport and plenty of options preflight
Katie HoganJune 7, 2012Andalé has great guac - all fresh and creamy. If you ask nicely they'll give you a little taste before you order!
If you're using public transit, this is a great alternative to SFO. The BART/shuttle transfer to OAK is a little annoying, but totally worth it if you want to breeze through check-in and security.
BART is a good option. It leaves you right at the airport. No need to worry about parking.
Small airport with easy day, weekly parking. Don’t skip the first Starbucks in Terminal 1 thinking the second will be less busy. Everyone else had the same thought. 😂
Tripti BurmanAugust 26, 2014Lots of private parking lots where you can get parking for as low as 5$ a day with prior online booking. Have tried 'park n travel' and was very pleased. Perfect for a weekend trip.
Southwest terminal is smooth sailing in the morning, whereas you'll want to allow some time for any other airline.
@Essie nail polish vending machine in Terminal 2 (By @SouthwestAir) is very cool. Same price as stores; great color selection. Perfect for flight delays!
Eddie ReyApril 7, 2014Check out the Oakland Museum of Art's new exhibit-- "Bees". Left me so inspired I've decided to re-enroll in my beekeeping class when I return to San Diego! Pictured here: "Bee Hotel" for urban areas!
Solid alternative to SFO, less delays, less crowds, easier parking, close to downtown SF.
Morning flight out of the Southwest Terminal? The Starbucks after the moving walkway is always has a super long line. Skip it, walk down a little further to Peets, which usually has no line.
OAK looking better except for the high concession prices. Still the best airport in Bay Area!
Kimberly WongJanuary 23, 2013This airport always has a breezy security line if you know what you're doing. :) Remember in winter to take off that hat, scarf, jacket, and bulky sweater!
Sandrene MathewsApril 3, 2019The food options are much better near terminals 20-32, especially if you’re vegetarian. Some places will serve breakfast past 10:30. And all the coffee is Peet’s but the prices vary at each location.
Holy cow, all the Starbucks are closed and so all the coffee is now Peets, which is fine but they do t have the same breakfast options (where is my oatmeal?). I
Daniel ZMay 3, 2019Bring empty water bottle through security. Refill right after security on your left hand side between Peet's and Gate 4. Hidden free fountain made to refill bottles. Don't pay 5 bucks for water.
Nick CampbellMarch 3, 2014Terminal 2 definitely seems like the more happening spot. More diverse food options, a wine bar, and a pub. Terminal 1 has lots of plug-in spots but only offers a Chilli's and mall-familiar pan-Asian.- Spare the Air at www.sparetheair.orgApril 17, 2014At Ron Cowan Pkwy & John Glenn Dr on 4/26, trade in your working, old gas powered lawnmower & save up to 60% on the purchase of a new one. Pre-register at
The Ride share area is not working well. Airport staff regularly yell at cars and riders to pull up and not Double park but the app assigns you a section for pick up.OAK work with the app developers!
Park at Espresso Parking - best in town, and pickup a chicken BBQ salad from CPK to eat ON the plane (to pass the time) - but be sure to get extra dressing or you'll be disappointed at 35k feet....
Patricia WJanuary 14, 2013At security checkpoint, please move all your bins forwards as you stuff them so we dont have to wait in a line behind you. don't take it personally if I leapfrog you with all that space ahead of you.
They must have seen my previous tip, because they have new Rental Car Shuttle buses that are clean and pleasant, and helpful well-dressed drivers! Nice work OAK!
Arrive early, be prepared and dress comfy. Small but busy. Get your energy up.- If the security line a Terminal 1 (Southwest) is super long, just take the short walk to Terminal 1 where there's usually no or little line. Best way to navigate OAK. Especially during the holidays.
Great option for domestic flights though calling OAK an intl airport is a stretch. Avoid incoming intl flights if you can, very limited capacity to handle plane loads of incoming passengers 🙅🏻♂️
cyn kNovember 24, 2010best deal in the airport on healthy food: andale's chicken salad without chicken. $8 for a huuuuge salad of non-iceberg lettuce, avocados, tomatoes, goat cheese. get it with dressing on the side.
Even when the airport is busy, as king as you're there at least an hour before your flight you shouldn't have any problems making your flight. TSA is quite efficient.
Mariano AmartinoSeptember 3, 2018Fast, reliable, not even a lounge (escape doesn't count :p) but it works!
So much easier to get in and out of than SFO. It’s become my go-to for flying to Ontario, CA on Southwest.
Brad FriedmanOctober 10, 2016Small airport. Great for flying in and out of without a lot of hassle. Would be awesome if Rhett was a decent restaurant in the terminal before going through security.- PreTSA is extremely easy. Be prepared to walk if you’re in Terminal 2 and gates 32-34.
- If you need to mail something before you fly-there are two mailboxes just outside the terminal 1 building, and another one on the northeast wall of the Terminal 1 Hawaiian/International ticket counter
park'n'fly is only $10 a day! they shuttle you into the airport for free.
Kendal CockrelAugust 10, 2018Be careful when taking the AirTrain to/from BART if you’re pressed for time.
Get here at least 1.5 hour early or sign up for clear to beat the security line especially during thanksgiving weekend.
- A good part of the airport is under renovation (est. completion around late 2020), so expect most food places to either be gone or replaced.
Cool airport w/great wifi and comfy! Guard your outlets though they're prime real estate
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Owned and operated by the Port of Oakland, OAK is California’s fourth largest airport, with more than 13 million passengers passing through our gates every year.
Open (Show more)
- Mon–Sun
- 24 Hours
(510) 563-3300
Features
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Free
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