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 41 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.
- 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’s plenty of options for you to grab a bite or brew before heading out.
- Reminder | By May 7, 2025, you will need a REAL ID 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.
Parking, shuttles, and rideshare
Not everyone has a bestie who will drop everything to pick them up from their 3 a.m. landing. The hourly and daily lots cost $2 per 20 minutes for the first day; beyond that, the price per day is as listed:
- Economy lot | $18/day (Pro tip: You can make an online parking reservation for this lot ahead of time.)
- Hourly lot 2 | $24/day
- Hourly lot 3 | $40/day
- Daily lot 4 | $30/day
- Hourly & Daily lot 5 | $30/day
Check SJC’s parking map to see each lot’s capacity and which one is closest to your terminal.
Hate the thought of driving yourself? Try out a rideshare, taxi service, or peer-to-peer car share that will take you to and from the terminal. These services are suggested by SJC:
- Rideshares | Uber, Lyft, and Wingz | Pick-up locations can be found at Terminal A, Stop 1 or Terminal B, Stops 8 and 9.
- Taxis | American Cab, Bay Area Taxi, Checker Cab of Silicon Valley, Rainbow Cab, and Yellow Cab | Taxis can be found at Terminal A, Stop 2 and Terminal B, Stop 1.
- Peer-to-peer car share | Turo | Pick up your car north of the Rental Car Center lobby, or in Economy Lot 1, Hourly Lot 2, Daily Lot 4, and Hourly & Daily Lot 5. Contact your car host for more specific information on pickup.
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.
- San Diego, CA | Alaska Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines
- Las Vegas, NV | Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines
- Portland, OR | Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines
- Seattle, WA | Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Southwest Airlines
- Honolulu, HI | Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Southwest Airlines
Bonus: Get lower fares by making a free account on Going. Add San Jose Mineta International Airport to your notification list (you can add up to five airports on the free plan), and you’ll get emailed when flights are 40-90% cheaper than usual.
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 and drink
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
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.
