OAK Prepares for Thanksgiving Holiday Travel

-- Park Close In; Leave on Time; Fly for Less --

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Oakland International Airport (OAK) is preparing for its busiest travel period of the year. Plenty of close-in parking is expected to be available throughout the holiday travel period. New concessions and improvements in security screening are improving the passenger experience. An estimated 250,000 passengers will travel through OAK over the eight-day travel period that begins Tuesday, November 25. About 35,000 daily passengers are expected on the peak travel days of November 25, 26, and 30.

PARK CLOSE-IN
Convenient parking will be available over the holiday period in all of OAK's lots. OAK recently relocated the Economy Lot to a more convenient location within walking distance of the terminals, and still offers the same low $15 daily rate.

OAK offers over 7,200 parking spaces in its three lots which are open 24 hours a day. Shuttle buses provide regular service between the terminals and the Daily and Economy lots. For parking availability and road conditions, travelers can call TravInfo's 511-information line, or the airport's parking assistance line at 510-563-3200, or visit oaklandairport.com.

On-airport parking rates for the Daily and Hourly lots are $22 and $32 per day, respectively. OAK's premium Valet parking serves time-pressed travelers with its convenient location on the second curb.

LEAVE ON-TIME
OAK ranks number four and number five among major U.S. airports in on-time arrivals and on-time departures, respectively, for the first eight months of 2008, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The primary reason for this is the consistently good weather in the East Bay. Visit bts.gov for more information.

TERMINAL ENHANCEMENTS/FLY FOR LESS
Bay Area residents and visitors have the choice of many airlines at OAK which offer low fares to in demand destinations. OAK's terminals have many new amenities which offer improved comfort and convenience for travelers. OAK and its concessions partner, Host, now offer passengers more choices in food, beverage and retail with the recent openings of new restaurants, stores and shops.

o A 160-seat Chili's too! serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and meals to-go in Terminal 1;
o Oakland Tribune News, featuring the latest news and freshly-made sandwiches to-go under the iconic building logo of the city's 130-year-old newspaper, is now open past security in each terminal, with a third location pre-security in Terminal 1;
o Lake Merritt News, in Terminal 1, is a quick and convenient newsstand with all the news and snack items that passengers need before boarding;
o Four Starbucks, two in each terminal, offer energizing beverages and snacks for travelers; and
o All of the East Bay's favorite teams - Raiders, Athletics, Warriors and Cal - are represented in Sports Scene Oakland, a local sports shop now offering apparel and gifts in Terminal 2.

Free Wi-Fi is now available in Terminals 1 and 2. Travelers can now keep in touch with business and personal contacts between flights, at no cost.

OAK continues to offer amenities that help speed travelers through passenger screening in both terminals. TSA's Self-Select lanes are offered for Casual and Family/Special Assistance passengers. Casual lanes cater to those who are somewhat familiar with procedures and have multiple carry-on items. Family/Special Assistance lanes are for those who need more time, such as new flyers, travelers with young children and/or those carrying medical liquids.

HOLIDAY TRAVEL TIPS
OAK and all other U.S. airports continue to maintain a high-level of security. Plan ahead before coming to the airport. Before packing, visit the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) website, tsa.gov, to get the 3-1-1 on air travel.Other travel tips include:

o Plan to arrive at OAK at least 90 minutes prior for domestic departures and three hours prior for international departures to allow for increased passenger volume at airline check-in and security screening;
o ALL passengers must have a boarding pass or airline-approved document and travelers age 18 and older must show government-issued photo identification before going through the passenger security checkpoint; and
o Leave holiday gifts unwrapped, both in carry-on and checked baggage, as they may need to be inspected.

Visit oaklandairport.com for more information.

-OAK-