The AirBart Bus sucks - it takes too long and the transfer is a pain in the .... Now that BART goes into SFO, I'm using it. So much better and convenient as I always stay downtown by the Montgomery St. station.

Now, if I am going to do the city then Napa, I will fly into OAK, deal with AirBart, go into the city, do my stuff, rent a car from Avis, drive to Napa, then return to the airport for no penalty.

Ditto that. Less than US$5 each way is a bargain to connect SFO to downtown.

Gerryallen, if I were coming from out of town, I'd use the downtown car rental spots instead of the airport. BART into town, go carless for a few days doing business, then rent a car for some out-of-the-city fun. You'll save with fewer rental days and fewer parking days.

fiat_owner

Thanks for the map Letiole, but I've been to OAK a hundred times in the past. I just rarely fly Southwest and haven't been to OAK but once since 9/11.

I just realized that I still have to go to the Southwest counter to check in and get a boarding pass. Or will they let me in the other security line with a email printout?

So I'd have to walk a mile or so to go through the other security line. I'm not sure it will be worth it. We'll see how the lines look.

Stimpy: You can print out a WN security document one day in advance of your flights that gets you through security if you don't have bags to check. Because WN uses gates in both terminals it's not a problem to use that at either terminal.

I printed out the map because a lot of longtime OAK fliers don't realize the connector is there. The walks's really not that long and you really shouldn't have to go between the two terminals twice ... and there is that chance your flight will go out of what I call the UA terminal anyway. Of course, it's one of those things you'll have to decide when you get there and see what the situation is.

Here's the security doc info:

http://www.iflyswa.com/travel_center/security_doc.html

As far as checking in, there are rapid check-in kiosks at both terminals so that should eliminate one trip between terminals. In Terminal 1, kiosks are by the information desk and by gate 10. In Terminal 2, Kiosks are across from the ticket counter, by baggage claim and by gate 24.




[This message has been edited by letiole (edited 10-12-2003).]

OAK is still better. I would skip the AirBart bus and take a short taki-ride to the BART station.

Let me add my voice to flying into SFO. If you are taking public transportation of any sort into SF you are better off arriving at SFO.

The change in bus and extra cost of taxis is not worth flying into OAK. It eats up most cost differences in airfare.

Stimpy:

From the SW/AA terminal, I've been giving serious consideration to walking to the car rental center even at good times. While things aren't set up efficiently for walking (like sidewalks and crossings), it probably is faster than the hike to the now distant shuttle bus location and the horrendous airport tour that follows once you get on the bus. Depends on how much baggage you've got, though.

Both SJC and OAK are now way more hassle than SFO -- and long term parking is actually cheaper at SFO than at either SJC or OAK!

Huh? I paid $7 for a day of off-airport parking at SJC yesterday. That would be a challenge to do anywhere around SFO.

I tend do avoid OAK now strictly for schedules...AA only flies to DFW from there now, so I'm flying more out of SJC and SFO depending on fare.

Well I did BART to OAK this afternoon and it was just fine. The AirBart bus was waiting when I got off the train and it was a short easy ride to the airport. I don't know what people were complaining about, but perhaps it's less fun during the week?

I was using a free coupon for Southwest so I had to check in with a human. The lines looked very long, but the whole process of getting a boarding pass and going through security at T2 was about 35-40 minutes.

Walking out of my room at the Parc 55 to my place in LA took 3.5 hours. Not too bad considering...

Sorry, I was comparing the official airport long term parking lot prices.

I've parked at one of the $7 (AAA rate) SJC places, the one that's part of the old FMC plant. Off site places with a coupon at SFO are admittedly a bit pricier than that, but not much more.

Depending on how long you want to park, and how much hassle you are willing to undertake in return for the joy of beating the system, there are some really cheap SJC options that involve Caltrain and/or the trolley.

I stopped parking there about a year back (Park, Shuttle and Fly), when I returned to find that several cars had been burglarized. There's just too many hidden spots there that must make it a car thieves paradise. I park at DeLaCruz in Santa Clara now ($7 with 3A card) where I feel a little safer. Haven't heard of any problems there and their shuttles run frequently. Last night at 11pm they were pulling up as I walked out to the pickup zone (JFK-SJC on AA). Seem to recall that Letiole recommended this place to me.

The last couple of times I parked off airport at SFO, I used ParkSFO and their free 2 day coupons. Each stay was exactly 2 days, so it ended up being free. Can't do much better than that. I did a 3 day stay for SEA-DO, and paid $15 total with the coupons. I have another one good until year end. I don't see how they can make a profit and keep sending these out.

I prefer SFO too these days.

OAK has become a zoo and really lacks the expediency that SFO offers.

My 5 cents worth. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

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Patrick A. Inouye, LMT
volunteer trip reports moderator