Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) serves the largest city in Silicon Valley in Northern California. Nonetheless, it is the second-busiest airport in the region after San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
The airport is located about 3 miles (~5 km) northwest of downtown San José, just west of Rosemary.
SJC handles over 12 million passengers annually, with service by around 10 airlines to 40+ nonstop destinations, including both domestic and international direct flights.
Major Airlines - Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines is a major carrier at SJC, holding a large share of domestic routes. It captures over half of the market share at the airport, serving more than 25 routes throughout the country.
Alaska Airlines treats San José as a focus city, complementing its network in the Western USA and providing several direct flights to popular cities across the border in Mexico.
Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines, the three largest US carriers, link San José Airport to some of their respective hubs throughout the US. Similarly, Hawaiian Airlines flies to Honolulu and Kahului.
The low-cost sector is dominated by Spirit and Frontier, and the Mexican LCC Volaris.
A link to Asia exists in the face of Zipair Tokyo, which flies direct to the Japanese capital 5 times per week during the summer and shoulder seasons.
See all airlines that serve SJC.
Terminal Layout and Gates
The airport has two passenger terminals with a total of 38 gates between them:
Terminal A is the older one, on the airport’s north side. It serves Delta, American, Frontier, Spirit, United, and Volaris and has 17 gates (Gates 1-7, 7A, & 8-16).
Terminal B is newer and located on the south side. Airlines using this terminal include Alaska, Southwest, Hawaiian, and Zipair. Terminal B has 19 gates (Gates 17-36).
The terminals are connected on the airside, meaning you can access gates in either terminal after crossing Security.
There are two security checkpoints - one in each terminal. Both open around 4-4:15 AM and close at the last departure.
A shuttle bus links Terminals A and B, the rental car center, and the daily parking lot 4 every 7 to 10 minutes.
Connecting Flights & Transit Experience
Connections are very simple because both terminals (A & B) are connected airside, letting you pass between gates without re-clearing Security. In most cases, you will just need to walk to your new gate in either terminal, without any additional procedures. Note that you have to leave the airside area in order to re-check your luggage if it’s not checked through to your final destination.
Non-precleared international arrivals must clear customs via the International Arrivals Building located in Terminal A. You must retrieve and re-check your luggage, even if flying with the same airline.
A longer layover will allow you to check out some of the best things to do in San José.
Official Airport Wi-Fi
SJC Airport offers one of the fastest Wi-Fi connections of all airports in the USA. With speeds up to 203 Mbps, you are almost certain to load anything you need quickly and reliably. Downloading a movie before a flight takes less than 3 minutes!
To connect, select “sjcfreewifi” from the list of available networks. No password is required and subscribing to the newsletter is only optional.
Dining Options at SJC
Both terminals have a cafe located before Security (landside) and a variety of food & beverage outlets post-security (airside).
Options include fast casual, cafés, local, and national brands.
Notable places to eat and drink in Terminal A include:
Einstein Bros. Bagels: near Gate A11.
Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant: near Gate A11.
San José Beer Union: near Gate 7.
Greenlee’s Bakery: near Gate 14. Also available in Terminal B, near Gate B26.
Pizza My Heart: near Gate A11.
In Terminal B, the popular favorites are:
Jim Stump's Taproom + Kitchen: Near Gate B24.
Peet’s Coffee: near Gate B25.
Smashburger: near Gate B22.
San José Mac + Cheese Kitchen: near Gate B19.
Trader Vic's Outpost: near Gate B22.
Lounges at San José International Airport
San José Airport has three lounges - two open to any ticketed traveler on any airline and one for the military.
The Club SJC has two locations in Terminal A:
One near Gate A8, open from 5 AM until 8 PM.
One at Gate A15, open from 5 AM until 6:30 PM.
Access is available to anyone, regardless of airline or status, for a fee of $50. Amenities include complimentary snacks & beverages (soft drinks, beer, wine, liquor), workstations, shower facilities, charging stations, and flight information displays.
There is also a USO Lounge for active U.S. military members and their families. This lounge is situated between Terminals A and B and is open daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Transportation to & from the airport
Public transport at San José Airport is provided by the local VTA buses. Chiefly, Route 60 runs from the airport to the train stations and transit centers, as well as the Winchester Transit Center for a small charge, which only applies for routes to the airport (otherwise, this bus is free).
Scheduled buses stop at the Terminal A Ground Transportation Center (stop 4) and the Terminal B Ground Transportation Center (stop 12).
To connect to the rail network, you have the following options:
Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) Rail: Take the VTA Bus Route 60 to the Santa Clara Caltrain Station. This train is a commuter service that connects San Jose to Stockton.
Amtrak: Take the VTA Bus Route 60 to the Metro/Airport LRT Station, then proceed on the Green Line to San Jose Diridon Station, where the trains depart.
BART: Take the VTA Bus Route 60 to the Milpitas BART Transit Center. The BART links San José with Oakland and San Francisco.
Caltrain: Take the VTA Bus Route 60 to the Santa Clara Caltrain Station. The Caltrain commuter rail line runs along the San Francisco Peninsula.
Other than public transit, the airport is served by a fleet of taxis available from stop 2 at Terminal A and stop 1 at Terminal B. A trip to the city center costs around $25 and takes less than 10 minutes.
Ridesharing is also available, provided by Uber, Lyft, and Wingz. Drop off curbside is allowed, whereas pick up is at stop 1 for Terminal A or stops 8 and 9 for Terminal B.
Pre-arranged limousines, door-to-door shuttles, and hotel shuttles are also popular transportation options. Organize in advance, depending on your needs and/or destination. Book a private transfer at SJC.
Lastly, a Consolidated Rental Car (CONRAC) facility houses all 11 car rental agencies providing services at SJC, including major national chains such as Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, and Thrifty. Rent a car online to pick up at the airport.
Parking at SJC
Several on-site parking lots/garages exist at the airport, including short-term/hourly and economy options.
Economy Lot 1: 2446 spaces available at a rate of $19 per day.
House Lot 2 (Terminal A): 873 spaces, located right next to Terminal A and about 15 minutes walking from Terminal B. The parking rate is $4 per 30 minutes, capped at $25 per day.
Hourly Lot 3 (Terminal B): 336 spaces, located right next to Terminal B or about 15 minutes walking from Terminal A. The parking rate is $5 per 30 minutes, capped at $41 per day.
Daily Lot 4: 717 spaces, located at 1639 Airport Blvd., San José, CA 95110. It costs $4 per 30 minutes, capped at $31 per day.
Hourly & Daily Lot 5: 887 spaces, located at 1661 Airport Blvd., San José, CA 95110, about 20 minutes walking from Terminal A or 10 minutes to Terminal B. Also costs $4 per 30 minutes, capped at $31 per day.
Electric vehicle charging stations are located in parking lots 2 & 5.
A Cell Phone Waiting Area is also provided - perfect if picking up arriving passengers. It’s located at 2470 Airport Boulevard and is free of charge.
Hotels near San José Airport
While there are no hotels within the terminals or on airport property, several are very near the airport, some of which offer “park & fly” deals.
The closest accommodation options are Sonesta Select San Jose Airport and DoubleTree by Hilton San Jose, both less than half a mile from the terminals.
Other popular hotels nearby include Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott San Jose Airport, Residence Inn by Marriott San Jose Airport, and Hyatt Place San Jose Airport. See other hotels near SJC, along with their location and amenities.
Most (if not all) of these hotels offer a complimentary hot breakfast, an on-site restaurant, a free shuttle to and from the airport, and often a fitness center and an outdoor pool.
San Jose, CA, USA
