Oakland International Airport - Terminal 1

Ninety-eight percent of the time, I fly Southwest, so my flight always* departs from Terminal 2. Southwest flights sometimes arrive at Terminal 1, but when I get back to the Bay Area, I'm using the restroom and grabbing my luggage and going on BART (in that order). I haven't got time to peruse Terminal 1's meager offerings.

I have had plenty of time to peruse Terminal 1's meager offerings, though, because when I used to fly out of OAK right after work on Fridays, I often had a very late flight, so I sometimes had two hours to kill.

Fun fact: Once you get past security, you can move freely between Terminals 1 and 2, so if the security line is really long in Terminal 2, maybe try Terminal 1's security line? I've never done it, but I thought you might like to be my guinea pig.

The connection between the two terminals is super strange. I wonder what they were going for there. Just remember if you do fly Southwest and arrive at Terminal 1 that you still have to go to Terminal 2's baggage claim.

The only thing that Terminal 1 ever really had going for it was the Chili's To Go and the ice-cream place. I think the Chili's is gone, and the ice-cream place was replaced by a Starbucks (boo!), so there's really not much for me here now.

Most of the international flights depart from Terminal 1. That's all I've got.

*One of my Southwest flights did depart from Terminal 1 once, but it was a bad experience because it wasn't even a Southwest-branded gate, so they didn't have the lineup poles or anything. As you can imagine, boarding was a complete disaster.

I have a love-hate relationship with this restaurant. This is a review for some love. I came here some years ago and everything was closed. There was one coffee spot, overpriced and way too sweet and something else open. Everything else was boarded up. But all of that stuff is open now. They could have had some signs explaining that there was a remodel but didn't.

This last time through, I was able to walk the whole of the airport, because our flight arrived super late and we had to walk the length of the airport to get our luggage. Fun times? Not!!!

There was only one boarded up shop. It's my go to airport for all things and I love it that I can catch a BART train and get there. And get back, although the one thing I think that SF Airport has over them is that you can catch the train from the airport, but for this one, you have to walk quite a distance (when you have luggage), go upstairs, and then take a tram. On the other side, you have to deal with the cluster that is Clipper card or some other madness which includes having no one in the booth to help you, calling a transit center that is closed, going through the gate illegally (how will you get out?), pressing a button for help and not being able to hear a word the person is saying to you, having to go downstairs to the attendant, and having them help you with a clipper card that should work and doesn't. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

But that's a BART issue. I'm just glad that I was able to get in and get on to my flights. That's most important for me and for that, it works just fine!

I usually fly Southwest to Oakland and they usually arrive at Terminal 2. But once in awhile, their flights (to and from) are routed to this terminal.

Lately, that's been going on much more often which I completely welcome. It gives me the chance to take a look at what they have to offer here (well, food-wise, for one, especially when I come through on early mornings to catch early flights.) It feels a little smaller than T2, but I think that's just me.

If you happen to be at T2 and have plenty of time to kill, take the few minutes' trek/walk (even if it's just to get steps in!) check out what they have up in here. You might just discover something new.

Not my favorite Bay Area airport. TSA or Clear doesn't get you through the lines quicker as you're just mixed in with everyone else. It is definitely a different vibe with more clueless travelers as well as people who are unruly and unreasonably defensive.

The positive though is that the artwork inside is pretty nice and the shops including coffee & pastries offered are far better than SJC and SFO.

It's an easy airport to get through security and to your gate usually under 15 minutes. Services are improving as construction is underway for another quality sit down restaurant. My one complaint: please get rid of the announcements! SFO is a "quiet airport" and it's so nice. Noise = stress, and you've got your announcements turned on so loud it makes me need a Xanax. Making announcements for individuals who are not at the gate? We're all adults, catching a plane on a very clear schedule. If they aren't there, close the door! We don't all need to hear that they didn't show up on time!

This was a Southwest stop on the way to Portland, so I only had a little time to see the airport. Based on first impressions, it seemed to be a rather old but well maintained airport, with some local cultural artwork and artifacts along the terminal pathway to my connection. It seemed this was a main hub for Southwest Airlines, as there were many gates dedicated to the airline. Not many options for food or drinks at this airport, so it's definitely not a destination spot. All in all, a fair airport to just switch planes on the way to a final destination.

This airport is becoming more popular for travel to and from the Bay Area. It can connect you directly to San Francisco via the BART which opened it's line just outside of Terminal 1. It's not as busy and overcrowded as SFO, but it can get you to closer No Cal. OAK is very simple, with a small food court that has a few eateries, coffee shops, and newsstands. Lots of people movers to connect you between T1 & T2. Everything is all on the ground floor so you'll never get lost.

Older busy and loud airport divided into two sections, one for Southwest Airline and the smaller half for Hawaii and Alaskan airlines and every other smaller airlines that are struggling to survive. The restaurants are small in numbers and desperately needs some upgrades. It's a convenient stop for regional transfer to San Francisco Airport or smaller county airports.

The temperature here in the terminal is outrageously high!!!!!!! The bathrooms filthy
I am so disappointed

I guess SWA is expanding and taking over OAK. I naturally assumed I was flying out of terminal 2. Past security I looked up at departures and I was to board a gate in terminal 1.

The trek wasn't far, but know the moving sidewalks are gone and the space is under construction. Actually, there's a lot of construction going on everywhere. New restaurants and more to come.

My return flight also dropped me off in terminal 1. Still, if you're on the east bay using SWA or bound for Hawaii, OAK is the way to go!