San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport

Spring Break 2015 in CA...This is a pretty nice metropolitan airport...as far as airports go. Oakland is one of those airports where you would guess they might not have many flights because of a competing nearby airport (San Francisco...SFO)...but this airport has a healthy amount of flights and is much closer to the Oakland/Berkeley area than the more congested SFO. If you want to fly international, you probably have to get over to SFO, but if you are domestic this just might be your place.

The airport is small with but two main terminals, but everything is much closer at hand than at many other major airports. Clean and with more than enough TSA security peeps to usually speed you through your entry to the gates, this one is easy to navigate. Additionally, if you are flying in to see baseball/football at the O.co Coliseum or professional basketball at the Oracle Arena, Oakland is your airport...a flight on Southwest here puts you very close to the professional sports palaces.

A big plus here...and this just started a short while ago...is that the BART system now comes all the way out to Oakland Airport. You used to have to get on a shuttle bus at the airport and be transported to the nearest BART stop, and now you can get on the BART directly at the airport and shuttle over to the mainline BART. You transfer to a mainline BART train at the Coliseum Station (where all the professional sports stadiums are), and visa versa when returning to the airport. So you now have access from Oakland all the way to San Francisco...neat stuff.

For visitors, the pick-up/drop-off area is a breeze, and parking is cheap for those that leave their car. Anyway you look at it, this is a nice airport.

This place could be so much better...
Parking? Expensive. Flights all over are expensive. The food options are fair but all of the prices are ridiculously expensive. Maybe I should take the train more often?

Between the airports in the Bay Area, Oakland has less and older facilities compared to San Jose and San Francisco. And on a crowded day, this place is packed and uncomfortable. Growing up, I didn't like this airport, but I now have a reference point locally, domestically, and internationally: this smaller size, especially when you have an early morning or late night flight, does this airport many favors. It's very easy to get in (or pick someone up), hand over your bags, and go through security. Security here is also very efficient when I go, which makes going to larger airports a more frustrating experience.

Most airports aren't great during busy seasons, so I think the better ones shine more when there's less travelers. Yes, you only have one option for coffee, an average Centurion Lounge, and not much seating room at your gate, but it's easy to navigate and it gets the job done.

Pretty organized. Easy airport to get around.

Decent places to eat on quick lay overs

Not too busy.

We love this airport for the convenience and ease of use. The place is generally very clean and plenty of room while you wait for your flights. Only drawback is waiting for luggage, that can take some time. Otherwise we bring a carry on and avoid the dreaded baggage wait.

We didn't have a long layover here but did fly in and out on our trip to San Francisco. Easy to get to and from the city from here. Wasn't super busy when we went through and staff was nice and helpful. We arrived pretty late at night and couldn't find an open women's restaurant and an employee was very helpful giving us directions to where we could find one. The shops and restaurants in our terminal that had snacks/breakfast/coffee opened early enough we were able to get stuff before a 5am flight the day we left. No complaints going through Oakland, would do it again!!

Decent size international airport. I always find cheaper SWA out of OAK than SFO. It's closer to home anyways. The view towards gate 26+ is amazing!! You get to see the bay really clearly.

Parts of the airport is upgraded some not upgraded. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes open when you fly during the day. At night as late as 9pm arrivals or departures, yeah not much luck in terms of finding food to eat. Best is to bring fast-food takeout to the airport.

It's clean for the most part, not sure whether seats are deep cleaned and sanitized. There are so many passengers sitting there throughout the day.

I like OAK, I can get in and out of the airport very easily. Departures, some days you're in luck with tsa short lines, some days not. Arrivals is very simple, drive towards the end of it to pick up passengers. You can't stay there for too long tho so coordinate with your ride.

I love flying into the Oakland Airport, if I can avoid flying in SF airport. LOL I would consider this a medium size airport, it is easy to navigate around, shuttle service to rental car is right outside the airport, you can't miss it. The TSA lines is pretty quick for us. If you're flying with Southwest Airline there is are 2 security check point you can go through, one by the main entrance of airport or the one near the end of Terminal 2, which is usually my preference since its even quicker and less crowded than the main security areas. Some of the areas of the terminal has been updated, there is several mother station for nursing available. Plenty of food options as well. All the rental car is about 10-15 minute drive on the shuttle and all located at the same general area which makes it super convenient for pickup/drop off. The Bart station is user friendly as well, it just takes some time so prepare wisely.

TSA precheck was a joke. things I took international and domestic. like 8oz lotions that are TSA cleared and purchased as so. didn't make the clearance. Only at this single airport. There goes a good $18 lotion. $15 body wash. Which was purchased as TSA cleared!!!! Terrible. I'm not going to argue or make a point or say that it's been cleared at every airport, including international. just chock it up as a loss and keep it moving. I will check in everything from now on if I fly out of Oakland, so I keep my expensive and needed body creams, so I'm not ashy post covid and have protection against skin diseases and mosquitos. . Thanks, Oakland. Now I know better as a traveler here what to expect at TSA. This airport gets cramped fast. No seating when flights seemed pretty empty when loaded. Food lines are quick. There are plenty of choices for coffee or pastries. A full bar. A few restaurants. No chains, just niche places. However, great stuff. Checking has long lines. Get here early on weekends. Add +1 HOUR to your +1. Trust me! Easy to get here by Bart. It's cheaper than rideshare. Terminals are clean. Bathrooms past TSA are maintained, older though to be ready for that. Overall experience was 4 stars after ghetto security. Highly recommend this place if you follow the check in your bag standard. I'm TSA Global, and they still went through all my stuff. Be prepared for that. The cost of flying out of here outweighs the hassle of all the walking and hustle of San Francisco with all the errors, lost luggage. That says a lot....Happy Traveling grace!

Security is terrible! Lines stretch out to the street and move at a snail's pace! It us no fun to fly out of OAK. I will never do this again. SFO is the better choice simply based on the bad security situation.

Horrible internet. I'm using WhatsApp to locate my ride and right outside the terminal it's cutting out