OK, probably all the OAK regulars know this, but I just found it.

Tucked behind the luggage-for-sale booth, before security, is a tiny elevator. Despite there being only two stories in the building, there are buttons for 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9.

That's because you're actually standing under the control tower, and the 9th floor is the control room (no, I didn't push it "by accident" and go up there. Next time.)

More to the point, the 8th floor is "The Tower Bar", with a great view of the whole airport, reasonably comfy chairs, outlets that work (unlike the ones in the concourses.)

Even odder, the small sign beside the elevator said "closed", and the bar was completely deserted. No problem going in; the elevator opens directly into the bar, but nobody there.

Made a nice rest away from the hordes (though I could wish it was inside security, rather than outside.)

--Laird

Hmmmm... never thought of going up there when the bar is closed. Once someone gets "caught", I'm sure the elevator will be turned off when the bar is closed (there's a second elevator the employees can use).

I think that space was once upon a time a VIP lounge.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Eastbay1K:
Hmmmm... never thought of going up there when the bar is closed. Once someone gets "caught", I'm sure the elevator will be turned off when the bar is closed (there's a second elevator the employees can use).</font>

Maybe, maybe not -- I should clarify that the liquor was all locked up; it wasn't a magic self-serve bar.

--Laird