Any recommendations for San Francisco (SFO) vs San Jose (SJC) airport choice
May 17, 2019, 4:09 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: BA Bronze, Marriott LTP
Posts: 125
Any recommendations for San Francisco (SFO) vs San Jose (SJC) airport choice
Title says it all really. Haven't been through SFO for many a year and see that San Jose is an option for a last minute trip this weekend to Pleasanton. Any recommendations/advice appreciated. I assume/hope they both have Global Entry?
May 17, 2019, 4:15 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: NQY
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 500
LF
May 17, 2019, 4:17 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: BAEC - Gold
Posts: 47
The BA flight is the only international flight into SJC (i believe), so immigration has never been a problem when I have been there. The traffic can be a nightmare heading north, but you should be on the right side of town to get to Pleasanton vs SFO.
May 17, 2019, 4:21 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 80
I go to Livermore several times a year and always opt for SJC over SFO. Immigration is an absolute breeze (yes they have Global Entry), you can be curbside in 10 mins from deplaning. As other commenters have noted, traffic can be a nightmare on 880/680 but so can 92/680/238/580. Once you get over the Sunol Grade it's reasonably easy all the way to Pleasanton.
May 17, 2019, 4:26 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: BD Silver, HH Gold, BA Silver, CX Gold
Posts: 443
Flew back from SJC in March. The experience was fine, lounge is pretty good. I've always been massively underwhelmed by SFO so the 787 + flight times made it an easy decision for me.
May 17, 2019, 4:28 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: London
Programs: Mucci Blue, BAEC Gold, Blockbuster Video card
Posts: 1,378
SJC just so you can easily go to the Winchester Mystery House (a bizarre must see in that area - it's just nuts)!!!!!
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/...-mystery-house
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/...-mystery-house
May 17, 2019, 4:28 am
#8
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 80
I love SFO for a lot of reasons (new food court in International A is pretty good, the museum exhibits throughout the airport, etc) but immigration and baggage are nightmarish these days so I avoid. I've also noticed that fares to SJC are markedly cheaper than SFO too.
May 17, 2019, 4:57 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,422
SJC is a great airport relative to SFO. With GE and TSA-Pre you can be aircraft to curb or curb to lounge in under 10 minutes.
My last 2 departures have been from gate 15 which is directly below/across from the lounge.
My last 2 departures have been from gate 15 which is directly below/across from the lounge.
May 17, 2019, 5:11 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Leeds
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 54
SJC just so you can easily go to the Winchester Mystery House (a bizarre must see in that area - it's just nuts)!!!!!
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/...-mystery-house
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/...-mystery-house
May 17, 2019, 5:16 am
#12
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: LON
Programs: BA Gold, LH SEN , A3*G & others less exciting that don't fit in my wallet
Posts: 1,657
I've only departed from SJC on BA .. but I'd definitely do it again if it was equivalent with SFO ( which geographically at least it should be from Pleasanton ... indeed it would even be a bit closer and less traffic-y I'd say ) ... Fairly small airport , TSA lines not bad at all .. lounge is good, quite large, but busy - it's not an Amex lounge, but it reminded me a bit of the Amex lounges if you've been in one .. definitely good for an airport run 'club' ... delays less likely too in SJC compared to SFO
May 17, 2019, 5:22 am
#13
Join Date: Jan 2019
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 16
I regularly travel to both airports. SJC is much smaller and has the fastest TSA-pre experience I've witnessed. The 787 is also an advantage for the overnight flight.
The lounges at SFO are better (use Cathy while refurbishments are ongoing) but SJC is not unpleasant.
The only reason I consider SFO, is if I want to take the earlier flight (~16:30) on the 747, so I arrive in London in the morning. The later SFO flight is typically around 19:30 and SJC 20:10.
Getting a taxi/ Uber pickup is a significantly better experience at SJC.
The lounges at SFO are better (use Cathy while refurbishments are ongoing) but SJC is not unpleasant.
The only reason I consider SFO, is if I want to take the earlier flight (~16:30) on the 747, so I arrive in London in the morning. The later SFO flight is typically around 19:30 and SJC 20:10.
Getting a taxi/ Uber pickup is a significantly better experience at SJC.
May 17, 2019, 7:38 am
#14
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: WAS
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 1,757
In addition to the previously mentioned NRT and PEK flights, there are also flights to GDL, MLM, ZCL, BJX and multiple flights to SJD.
May 17, 2019, 7:57 am
#15
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 194
The biggest advantage of SFO over SJC, in my opinion, is BART. Traffic is horrendous in BayArea freeways during peak hours and I dread 880 in the evening. There is no direct BART from SFO to Pleasanton but it is very easy to connect. BART starts from SFO, so easy to get seats, however BART will be a nightmare if you have large baggages. It works for HBO better
I frequently travel from SFO to Hayward, started using BART 6 months ago during peak hours and it is such a relief
I frequently travel from SFO to Hayward, started using BART 6 months ago during peak hours and it is such a relief