SFO or SJC?
Aug 13, 2010 | 8:52 pm
#1
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SFO or SJC?
Booking a flight to DFW from San Francisco and there are good options from both SFO & SJC. We'll primarily be in San Francisco while we visit so it would seem that SFO would be the logical choice but with SJC so close I thought I'd consider that airport too.
If it matters, we'll be dropping a rental car off and will be flying AA. I saw the posts on the new terminal but not sure I'd drive to SJC just for a new terminal. I'm more looking for opinions on which one is easier to get to, drop off the rental car, better overall experience, etc.
(If there's already a thread on this topic, please point me to it...I did some searches but came up empty).
If it matters, we'll be dropping a rental car off and will be flying AA. I saw the posts on the new terminal but not sure I'd drive to SJC just for a new terminal. I'm more looking for opinions on which one is easier to get to, drop off the rental car, better overall experience, etc.
(If there's already a thread on this topic, please point me to it...I did some searches but came up empty).
Aug 13, 2010 | 10:40 pm
#2
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SFO is much closer. And a very pleasant airport. On your return, if you get there early, just take the train (from the rental car dropoff) to walk around the beautiful Int'l terminal before the short walk over to T-3 for your AA flight.
Aug 13, 2010 | 11:24 pm
#4
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SJC Isn't THAT close
From SF proper it's an hour's drive; little less to SFO.
The only consideration in favor of SJC is that flights seldom get delayed at SJC for fog.
The only consideration in favor of SJC is that flights seldom get delayed at SJC for fog.
Aug 15, 2010 | 9:57 am
#5
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Booking a flight to DFW from San Francisco and there are good options from both SFO & SJC. We'll primarily be in San Francisco while we visit so it would seem that SFO would be the logical choice but with SJC so close I thought I'd consider that airport too.
If it matters, we'll be dropping a rental car off and will be flying AA. I saw the posts on the new terminal but not sure I'd drive to SJC just for a new terminal. I'm more looking for opinions on which one is easier to get to, drop off the rental car, better overall experience, etc.
(If there's already a thread on this topic, please point me to it...I did some searches but came up empty).
If it matters, we'll be dropping a rental car off and will be flying AA. I saw the posts on the new terminal but not sure I'd drive to SJC just for a new terminal. I'm more looking for opinions on which one is easier to get to, drop off the rental car, better overall experience, etc.
(If there's already a thread on this topic, please point me to it...I did some searches but came up empty).
The only advantages I can see for SJC are that it is a smaller airport (depending on the airline taxiing could be a lot quicker for example), and it won't get fogged some times of the year in like SFO, which limits the rate of flights in and can cause some backup
Aug 15, 2010 | 7:03 pm
#6
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I think I should've worded my first post differently to say "I wouldn't drive to SJC just for a new terminal."
This will be an award flight (booked through a partner) so it may come down to availability. Right now it looks like SJC has more/better options so I'll need to see if it's worth flying at 2pm vs. 9am for SJC vs. SFO. We'd rather fly out later and the 2pm would give us more time, although I need to factor in the hour it will take to get there.
This will be an award flight (booked through a partner) so it may come down to availability. Right now it looks like SJC has more/better options so I'll need to see if it's worth flying at 2pm vs. 9am for SJC vs. SFO. We'd rather fly out later and the 2pm would give us more time, although I need to factor in the hour it will take to get there.
Aug 16, 2010 | 3:16 pm
#8
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The new SJC terminal isn't worth going out of your way to see IMO... Since SFO will be 45m-1.5h closer depending on when you go and the restaurants are better, I think you have your answer.
The only advantages I can see for SJC are that it is a smaller airport (depending on the airline taxiing could be a lot quicker for example), and it won't get fogged some times of the year in like SFO, which limits the rate of flights in and can cause some backup
The only advantages I can see for SJC are that it is a smaller airport (depending on the airline taxiing could be a lot quicker for example), and it won't get fogged some times of the year in like SFO, which limits the rate of flights in and can cause some backup
Aug 16, 2010 | 5:59 pm
#9
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OAK is much less prone to the delays that plague SFO. And the BART ride is much, much shorter. You just have to endure that bus .......
Aug 16, 2010 | 8:16 pm
#11
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Aug 16, 2010 | 8:42 pm
#12
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VTA was almost named SCAT. What do you expect? It wasn't until an article appeared in the paper that the Board of Supervisors apparently realized that this was not the best name for a rail system.
Aug 16, 2010 | 9:33 pm
#13
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I second this. OAK is much better for SF than SJC or SFO. SJC, in reality, is nowhere near SF. Neither is SFO, but that is a different discussion. Aside from renting car and driving it, I'm not even sure how to get to SF from SJC. The only downside to OAK is the hostile bus drivers on the BART bus. And the Coliseum BART station leaves much to be desired.
OAK is much less prone to the delays that plague SFO. And the BART ride is much, much shorter. You just have to endure that bus .......
OAK is much less prone to the delays that plague SFO. And the BART ride is much, much shorter. You just have to endure that bus .......
Aug 16, 2010 | 10:20 pm
#14
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I second this. OAK is much better for SF than SJC or SFO. SJC, in reality, is nowhere near SF. Neither is SFO, but that is a different discussion. Aside from renting car and driving it, I'm not even sure how to get to SF from SJC. The only downside to OAK is the hostile bus drivers on the BART bus. And the Coliseum BART station leaves much to be desired.
OAK is much less prone to the delays that plague SFO. And the BART ride is much, much shorter. You just have to endure that bus .......
OAK is much less prone to the delays that plague SFO. And the BART ride is much, much shorter. You just have to endure that bus .......
As to SJC, I don't know the answer to this, but are rental cars in the short term garage across from the terminal? If so, I think it's going to be a good option for the OP. It's a longer drive than SFO (30+ minutes more) but you'll save some time renting and returning the car. Add better flight times to that and I would probably pick SJC.
Aug 17, 2010 | 4:09 am
#15
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In fact, the driving distance (via US Hwy 101) from SFO to downtown SF is only about 13 miles.
The driving distance (again via US 101) between SJC & SFO (i.e., between these 2 airports) is approx. 34 miles.
And the driving distance (via I-880 & I-80/Bay Bridge) from OAK to downtown SF is ~21 miles.
Driving times on all of these routes are quite variable, as all are heavily traveled highways & subject to congestion during peak commute times (& other times
).All this info is readily available from online (and/or paper) maps....