San José Mineta International Airport Prepares Travelers for Thanksgiving with Time-Saving Tips

Pet parade, parking discounts and coloring contest will kick off the 2024 holiday season
 

San José, Calif. – After a banner year in which San José Mineta International Airport (SJC) celebrated its 75th anniversary and added new low-cost flight options to six destinations, the Airport is readying for a busy holiday season. The Thanksgiving travel period officially kicks off this week, with a pet parade, parking discounts and a coloring contest to welcome travelers.

The Airport expects bustling terminals and parking lots for Thanksgiving travel between Friday, November 22, and Monday, December 2, with peak days including November 22, 26, 27, and December 1.

SJC Happy Tails Therapy Animals on Parade:
SJC’s beloved Happy Tails Therapy Animals will parade through the terminals on Wednesday, November 27, spreading Thanksgiving joy and paw-sitivity for travelers: 

• 9-10:00 a.m. – Terminal A Bag Claim
• 10-11:00 a.m. – Gate 12 to Gate 27 (between security checkpoints)
• 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. – Terminal B Bag Claim 

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 November 22, 2024-January 6, 2025, when reserved in advance via www.flysanjose.com/parking. About Economy Lot 1: 

• Mix of covered and uncovered parking options
• Garage clearance of 8’2” (surface portion of the lot has no height limit)
• SJC Shuttle Buses to Terminal A and Terminal B available
• 24-hour lighting 
• Routinely patrolled by SJPD and Airport staff 

75th Anniversary festivities continue! SJC is calling kids of all ages to design their own baby chick in its first-ever coloring contest:
75 years ago, the Airport opened for commercial service and welcomed its first arriving passengers: 2,550 baby chickens, brought to life in an award-winning campaign in early 2024. The SJC 75th Anniversary Coloring Contest runs through January 2, 2025, with coloring sheets of “Ernie” the baby chick located throughout the terminal (just past Terminal A security checkpoint, at the Zoom Zone or at the kids tables in the terminals) and online. Prizes include Ernie plush toys and other goodies in an SJC Prize Pack.

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

Plan Ahead for Parking and Upgrade the Experience with Future Wash 
Travelers can reserve and pay for parking online, as well as book a waterless car wash in the Airport's Hourly, Daily and Economy parking lots. 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.

Check-In Online
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.