Traveling via plane is fun — jet-setting over beautiful blue waters or rolling hills, taking in cloud formations, and landing in a completely different location in a matter of hours is unlike anything else.
The whole navigating the airport part? Less exciting, and sometimes pretty stressful. To help make your time at the San Jose Mineta International Airport as smooth as possible, we’ve created a guide that covers everything from gates and parking to details on the airport’s 40+ nonstop flights.
What to know
- TSA | According to SJC’s website, travelers should arrive two hours prior to their scheduled departure for domestic flights, and three hours prior for international flights.
- Parking | Not everyone has a bestie who will drop everything to drop them off at the airport. Luckily, SJC has plenty of options — check the airport’s parking map to see each lot’s capacity and which one is closest to your terminal. Pro tip: Reserve your spot in advance and make this part a breeze.
- Map it out | If you’re like us and need to completely visualize a place before you step foot inside, these maps of the entire airport will be your saving grace.
- Food and drink | From local offerings at Jim Stump’s Taproom + Kitchen, to Japanese cuisine at Sushi Boat, there are plenty of options for you to grab a bite or brew before heading out. And even more concessions are coming soon.
- Reminder | As if May 7, 2025, you will need a REAL ID or a passport to board commercial flights in the US.
- Flight status | While we recommend staying updated via your respective airline, you can also check the airport’s dashboard for your flight status in a pinch.
Nonstop flights
SJC offers more than 40 nonstop domestic flights — plus international flights to places like Mexico and Asia. Here are five nonstop flights to nearby locations and the airlines that service those routes.
- San Diego, CA | Alaska, Southwest, Spirit
- Las Vegas, NV | Delta, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit
- Portland, OR | Alaska + Southwest Airlines
- Seattle, WA | Alaska, Delta, Southwest
- Honolulu, HI | Alaska, Hawaiian, Southwest
Bonus: Get lower fares by signing up for Going. You’ll get emailed when flights are 40-90% cheaper than usual. Get a two-week free trial of the Premium plan, which lets you set custom destination flight alerts (score).
Pro tip: Remember that flight times and schedules will often change — you should rely on your respective airline for exact timing and to stay updated on any changes.
Food, drink, and shopping
SJC is a hub of eateries with dozens of restaurants, bars, and coffee shops for fliers to dine before or between flights, like:
- Trader Vics Outpost | Terminal B near Gate 22 | Menu highlights: Asian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean dishes + tropical cocktails
- San Jose Beer Union | Terminal A across from Gate 7 | Menu highlights: Casual American fare with craft brews, and vegan and vegetarian options
- Una Mas Mexican Grill | Terminal B near Gate 22 | Menu highlights: Fresh and healthy tacos, burritos, salads, and quesadillas
- Jim Stump’s Taproom + Kitchen | Terminal B between Gates 23 and 24 | Menu highlights: Casual California gastropub serving breakfast, appetizers, and small bites
- San Jose Mac + Cheese Kitchen | Terminal B across from Gate 19 | Menu highlights: Gourmet, customizable mac + cheese, and local beer, cocktail, and wine selections
- Authors Bookstore | Terminal A near Gate 10 | Grab your in-filght read among this shop’s best-selling books + magazines.
- Mike & Niki’s Honey | Terminal B near Gate 26 | Take home a sweet taste of the great 408 with honey products from this local brand owned by Mike Ryan + Niki Canotas.
- San Jose Marketplace | Terminal B near Baggage Claim | We spy lots of SJ souvenirs here.
In March 2025, the City of San Jose announced it had selected two partners to co-manage a new retail concession program at SJC. This means 12 new concepts are coming soon to the airport specializing in local merch, snacks, and travel essentials. We hear Nirvana Soul Coffee will be among those new concessions.
Fly comfortably
While we may not be able to offer solutions for crying babies or mysterious in-flight meals, we do have some tricks up our sleeves for upping your comfort while flying. Browse some of our favorite travel essentials:
- The AirFly Pro | Make sure you can always access in-flight entertainment (while avoiding the wired headphones airlines pass out) by using an AirFly. It plugs into your seat’s headphone jack and connects to your earbuds or headphones via Bluetooth.
- Trtl travel pillow | The Trtl pillow is scientifically designed to provide a better head position when sleeping upright, thanks to an internal support system comfortably cushioned in cozy fleece.
- Bose Noise Canceling Headphones | These headphones are tried-and-true traveling companions, beloved for their crisp sound and ability to block exterior noise.
- Cozy Earth joggers | These Oprah-approved joggers are polished enough to navigate the airport in, but comfy and stretchy enough for long flights.
- Anti-nausea wristbands | Some simple anti-nausea wristbands might relieve a nervous stomach or sensitivity to turbulence while flying.
