San José Mineta International Airport Prepares to Ring in the Holidays

The Bay Area’s most on-time airport welcomes therapy animals, parking discounts and carolers to make the season bright
 

San José, Calif. – Following a busy Thanksgiving week at San José Mineta International Airport (SJC), the Airport is prepared to welcome travelers for the December holiday season, with plenty of cheer in bustling terminals and parking lots for holiday travel between Thursday, December 19, 2024 and Sunday, January 5, 2025. SJC expects to welcome more than 300,000 travelers during the 18-day period.

In addition to being the Bay Area’s easiest and most on-time airport, and among the top five most on-time airports in the country during the holiday season*, here’s what’s in store for passengers during the festive season at SJC:

Victorian Carolers Return to Ring in the Season—SJC is excited to welcome back the joyful sound of Victorian carolers in its terminals. Enjoy their jolly tunes on these dates and times:

• Monday, December 16, 6-8 p.m.– Terminal B, Octet
• Tuesday, December 17, 6-8 p.m. – Terminals A & B, Two Quartets (one quartet in each terminal)
• Wednesday, December 18, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Terminal B, Octet
• Thursday, December 19, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. – Terminal B, Octet
• Friday, December 20, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Terminals A & B, Two Quartets (one quartet in each terminal)
• Saturday, December 21, 11 a.m-1 p.m. – Terminals A & B, Two Quartets (one quartet in each terminal) 
• Sunday, December 22, 6-8 p.m. – Terminals A & B, Two Quartets (one quartet in each terminal)
• Monday, December 23, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Terminals A & B, Two Quartets (one quartet in each terminal)

Holiday Happy Tails Therapy Animals—SJC’s beloved Happy Tails Therapy Animals will be out and about, spreading festive cheer and wagging joy for travelers all around the terminals. 
Seasonal Eats, Sips and Treats—Satisfy every craving with a delicious mix of savory bites, festive drinks and sweet treats. From cozy holiday coffee to a festive cup of cheer or a spicy donut, SJC has everything you need to fuel your travels and indulge in seasonal flavors.

Holiday Shopping at SJC—Shop your way to holiday hero status. With over 20 stores featuring everything from cozy socks and travel accessories to tech gadgets and unique San José-themed treasures, SJC has something special for every holiday shopper.

SJC 75th Anniversary Coloring Contest through Jan. 2—Get into the holiday spirit by coloring in Ernie and designing your very own festive baby chick for a chance to win an SJC prize pack, including an Ernie plush toy and more! All ages are welcome to join the fun. Pick up a coloring sheet in the terminals (just past the Terminal A security checkpoint, at Zoom Zone, or at the kids' tables at Gate 19), or download it online. Learn more.

Holiday Fun in San José—From Christmas in the Park and Downtown Ice to stunning Nutcracker performances and beyond, San José is the ultimate holiday destination, located just minutes from all the fun. 

Enjoy over 15% off parking through January 6, 2025—SJC is running a special holiday parking sale: just $15/day in Economy Lot 1 (2300 Airport Blvd., San José, CA) for travel dates through January 6, 2025, when reserved in advance via flysanjose.com/parking. Given the high demand during peak periods, parking reservations are strongly recommended. For parking inquiries, SJC's parking services team is available at 408-441-5570.

Last, but not least, the SJC team has compiled top tips for smooth and stress-free travel. Passengers flying SJC during the busy holiday travel period are advised to:

Check-In
To streamline the check-in process during peak travel times, online check-in is recommended up to 24 hours before departure. Most airlines allow customers to pay for checked baggage in advance online, which speeds up the process at the ticket counter. Travelers with only carry-on luggage can skip the ticket counter entirely with online check-in.

Arrive Early and Pack Smart
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) advises travelers to arrive at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours prior to international flights, and to familiarize themselves with TSA’s travel tips.

Speed Up Security with TSA Precheck and/or CLEAR
To expedite security clearance, travelers can enroll in TSA Precheck® and/or CLEAR, available at both SJC Terminals and other airports nationwide. Travelers are now able to enroll for—or renew—TSA PreCheck right at the CLEAR checkpoints at SJC, no appointment needed. Available daily at both terminals from 6 a.m. - 8 p.m.

See Accessible Services and TSA Cares
Passengers in need of additional help navigating through the Airport are encouraged to check the list of SJC Accessible Services and the TSA Cares program, and select the one that best suits their needs.

Use Cellphone Waiting Areas or Park for Airport Pickups
For airport pickups, SJC advises using Cellphone Waiting Areas or parking in the nearest hourly lot, as waiting at terminal curbs is strictly prohibited to maintain traffic flow.

Need more information before traveling through SJC? Contact SJC at info@sjc.org or 408-392-3600.

*According to data published in KAYAK’s November 12, 2024 news release entitled “The real deal with holiday flight delays,” SJC was one of the top five most on-time airports (of the top 50 airports) during the 2023 holiday travel period, including the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Years Eve.