Lower Rates and Plenty of Parking Available at OAK This Memorial Day Weekend
-- Travelers Should Arrive 90 Minutes Prior to Domestic Flight Departure Time --
Oakland International Airport (OAK) staff expects there will be plenty of extended-stay parking available over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Airlines serving OAK are anticipating a busy weekend to kick-off the summer travel season and advise travelers to plan ahead and check-in early so they don't miss their flights.
Airport officials expect that approximately 258,000 passengers will travel through OAK over the six-day travel period that runs May 24 through May 29. It is estimated that up to 135,000 daily passengers will travel through the airport on the peak travel days of Thursday, Friday and Monday. An average day at OAK, based upon April 2007 statistics, is about 41,000 travelers per day.
OAK travelers should plan to arrive at least 90 minutes prior to departure time for domestic flights and three hours for international flights, or as advised by their airline. Allow enough time for roadway traffic delays, parking, flight check-in, and baggage and passenger security screening.
GUARANTEED ON-AIRPORT PARKING
Parking will be available over the holiday weekend, however, the Economy Parking Lot is expected to fill by the evening of Friday, May 25. With OAK's Parking Upgrade Program, when the Economy lot fills, travelers are directed to the ValuPark lot where the lower Economy rate will be honored. Upon entering the ValuPark lot, the dispensed ticket will be at the lower parking rate. Travelers should look for roadway signs or tune to 1700AM to learn whether lots are full and for information on parking in the appropriate lot.
OAK offers approximately 6,175 parking spaces in its three extended-stay lots. An additional 815 spaces are available in the close-in Hourly lot. OAK's parking lots are open 24 hours a day. Frequent, free shuttles link the lots and the terminals. For parking availability and road conditions, travelers can call TravInfo's 511-information line, or the airport's parking assistance line at 510-633-2571, or visit oaklandairport.com. On-airport parking rates per 24 hours are: $15 in Economy and $19 in ValuPark.
OAK's Park & Call Zone allows meeters and greeters who can connect to their passenger by cell phone to wait for FREE up to 30 minutes. Drivers must remain with their vehicles at all times. The 25-space Park & Call Zone is located at the Oakland Maintenance Center which is the large hangar with billboard advertisements clearly visible to motorists as they enter the airport terminal area. Once contacted, drivers should turn right upon exiting the Park & Call Zone to pick-up their waiting passenger at either terminal.
Travelers might consider other ground transportation options such as BART/AirBART, bus, taxi or regional shuttles. Call 511 for assistance with ground transportation inquiries.
TRAVEL TIPS
OAK and all other U.S. airports continue to maintain a high-level of security. Help us to help you have a pleasant travel experience by planning ahead before coming to the airport. More valuable travel tips follow:
- BOARDING PASS AND I.D. - to proceed through OAK's passenger security checkpoint, a government-issued photo ID is required of all travelers age 18 and older and ALL passengers must present a boarding pass or other airline-approved document;
- 3-1-1 - get the 3-1-1 on air travel: liquids, gels and aerosols must be in three-ounce or smaller containers and placed in a one-quart, clear, plastic zip-top bag; Transportation Security Administration (TSA) allows one plastic bag per passenger. Larger quantities of liquids and gels will need to be placed in checked baggage;
- CARRY-ON LUGGAGE - travelers are limited to two carry-on bags, which include a personal item such as a handbag, briefcase, diaper bag or laptop computer. To avoid a secondary inspection which may average three minutes per person, place loose metal items such as coins, keys, cell phones and jewelry in carry-on bags, and remove outer garments and shoes as the TSA has made shoe screening mandatory for all passengers.
Visit TSA.gov to review the comprehensive Permitted and Prohibited Items List, and for other valuable information on preparing for travel over the Memorial Day holiday weekend and the busy summer season ahead.
ABOUT OAKLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
OAK has over 200 flights a day on 13 domestic and international carriers to 40 nonstop destinations, including Atlanta, Boston, Columbus (begins 6/07), Fort Lauderdale, the Hawaiian Islands, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Mexico and seasonal summer service to the Azores, Portugal and seasonal winter service to Sun Valley, Idaho. OAK served over 14.4 million passengers and handled over 668,000 metric tons of air cargo in 2006. The airport is a revenue division of the Port of Oakland, an independent department of the city of Oakland. Visit oaklandairport.com for more information.
