OAK Prepares for Thanksgiving Holiday Travel
-- Guaranteed On-Airport Parking; All Curbsides, Traffic Lanes and Parking Lots Now Open --
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Oakland International Airport (OAK) is preparing for its busiest travel period of the year. Plenty of on-airport parking is expected to be available throughout the holiday travel period. All parking lots, curbsides and traffic lanes in front of the terminals are now open, offering improved access for motorists and pedestrians.
An estimated 330,000 passengers will travel through OAK over the eight-day travel period that begins Tuesday, November 20, representing an anticipated increase of 3 percent over the same holiday period in 2006. About 46,000 daily passengers are expected on the peak travel days of November 20, 21, 25 and 26. Based upon October 2007 statistics, OAK normally serves approximately 39,000 travelers per day.
GUARANTEED ON-AIRPORT PARKING
Parking will be available throughout the holiday period, however, the Economy Parking Lot is expected to fill by the evening of Wednesday, November 21. With OAK's Parking Upgrade Program, whenever the Economy lot fills, customers will receive a voucher at the Economy lot entrance, then they will be directed to park in the more convenient ValuPark lot where the lower Economy rate will be honored (must present voucher to cashier upon exiting). Travelers should look for roadway signs or tune to 1700AM for additional information.
OAK offers over 7,500 parking spaces in its four lots which 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 510-563-3200, or visit oaklandairport.com. On-airport parking rates per 24 hours are: $15 in the Economy lot, $19 in the ValuPark lot, $22 in the Daily lot and $32 in the Hourly lot. OAK's premium Valet lot service is available to customers who are running late and/or prefer convenience and care. Valet customers receive complimentary water and newspapers.
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 stay with their vehicle at all times. The 25-space lot is available on a first-come, first-served basis. From Airport Drive, take the second exit ramp for John Glenn Drive and follow the signs to the Park & Call entrance, on the right near the Oakland Maintenance Center.
GETTING TO THE AIRPORT
Thanksgiving travelers have many ground transportation choices at OAK. The airport and Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) jointly operate a dedicated shuttle bus that serves BART's Coliseum station and OAK every 10-15 minutes. More frequent service will be provided on Wednesday, November 21. One-way fares are $3.00 for adults and $1.00 for children (ages 11 and under), seniors and disabled with I.D., and can be paid on-board bus with exact change only. For BART/AirBART information, call 510-569-8310. Other ground transportation alternatives include AC Transit, regional shuttles, taxis and limousines. Call 1-888-IFLYOAK (435-9625) for personalized travel planning services.
HOLIDAY 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. Before packing, visit the new "SimpliFLY" travel program on the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) website, tsa.gov, and use the 3-1-1 guidelines for carry-on luggage: liquids, gels and aerosols must be in 3-ounce or smaller containers and in a one-quart, clear, plastic zip-top bag; TSA allows one bag per passenger. Other travel tips include:
-- 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.
-- 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.
-- Leave holiday gifts unwrapped, both in carry-on and checked baggage, as they may need to be inspected.
Customers will enjoy an enhanced experience as they travel through OAK's newly renovated roadways, curbsides and parking lots. Four curbsides and additional and wider traffic lanes in front of the terminals are now open allowing more waiting area for pedestrians and improved traffic flow. Parking improvements in the Hourly and Daily lots include a new consolidated exit plaza; resurfacing and new striping with improved layout; and new lighting and improved signage, allowing customers to locate their cars more easily. Entrances have been improved for all lots and new overhead canopies are installed between the Hourly lot and terminals.
These improvements are part of OAK's $300 million Terminal Improvement Program, begun in 2004, which is designed to add convenience, security and customer service for OAK's over 14 million annual passengers.
OAK has over 200 flights a day on 13 domestic and international carriers to 38 nonstop destinations. 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.
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