Long lines are coming back to Terminal 3 security check points at San Francisco International Airport.
After the federal government shutdown ended last week, airports are prepared to return to normal service ahead of the holiday season, but Bay Area airports are advising that passengers still plan cautiously before taking flight to visit loved ones.
The Bay Area’s three largest airports urge passengers to arrive with plenty of time for long lines and unexpected delays since the holiday season represents one of the busiest travel times through airports.
The annual AAA holiday travel forecast estimates over 81.8 million people will be traveling across the country between Friday and Dec. 1, an increase of over 1.3 million from the previous year.
San Francisco International Airport predicts over 6.3 million people will be traveling through the airport between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, a 4% increase from the same period in 2024.
Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport estimates over 250,000 people will be passing through in just the final weeks of November.
“We wish travelers and our Bay Area community a very happy Thanksgiving,” Port of Oakland director of aviation Craig Simon said. “As OAK will be busy for the holidays, passengers are encouraged to arrive at the airport early, reserve parking ahead of time, and check in with their airline before coming to the airport.”
San Jose Mineta International Airport predicts it will average over 16,000 people daily between Friday and Dec. 1, which could lead to lines at check-in and security areas.
The three airports are providing the same advice for all travelers: plan to arrive at the airport with plenty of time and with plans for ground transportation already in place.
They suggest arriving at the airport two hours before departure for domestic flights and three hours for international flights.
Travelers should have either a REAL ID or another government-issued document, such as a passport, to pass through Transportation Security Administration checkpoints.
For those planning to park at the airports, reserving parking in advance is highly recommended to secure a spot. And for travelers planning on using other methods of transportation, public transit options are available at all three airports, such as BART at SFO and OAK.
As always, passengers should check with their respective airlines for any changes in the case of unexpected delays from weather or other factors.
Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.
To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.
We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.
A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
Only subscribers can view and post comments on articles.
Already a subscriber? Login Here
The San Mateo Union High School (SMUHSD) Sustainabilty Committee presents a community event:… Read moreWater is Life
The San Mateo County Blue Star Moms, a local military moms support group is holding a karaok… Read moreHelp Support our Troops
Dirk van Ulden said:
Dirk van Ulden said:
cube_corner said:
Maybe the state government should stop doing everything they can to push out and destroy Silicon Valley and capitalism?
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.