Oakland International Airport Awards Vacation Prizes in its What You Do With The Extra Hour Is Up To You Photo Contest

Oakland, Calif. — Sept. 30, 2010 — Oakland International Airport (OAK) announced today the winning photos in its What You Do With The Extra Hour Is Up To You photo contest. Three Bay Area residents were awarded vacation prizes for the photos they submitted which show what they do with the extra hour typically saved by flying through Oakland.

OAK’s photo contest generated a tremendous response. Bay Area residents submitted hundreds of unique photos, and cast over 500,000 votes. The winning images, including the top three and 10 runners-up, are posted to oaklandairport.com and Facebook.com/Oakland International Airport. The photos will be used in future OAK advertising campaigns to communicate Bay Area conventional wisdom: fly Oakland International Airport and save an hour.

OAK is proud to have partnered with its air carriers Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Southwest Airlines, as well as Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants and Outrigger Hotels and Resorts, on the Internet-based contest.

“We thank all our contest participants, and congratulate the three Bay Area residents who truly embraced the spirit of the contest theme, ‘What You Do With The Extra Hour Is Up To You,’ by sharing their amazing images,” said John Albrecht, Aviation Marketing Manager for the Port of Oakland, which owns and operates OAK. “Through OaklandAirport.com and our Facebook sites we received so many photos, and the voting results were so close that the contest judges also chose 10 runners-up, each of whom will receive a prize,” he continued.

The top three contest winners were awarded air and hotel packages to Hawaii, New York and San Diego, and complimentary parking in OAK’s Daily lot. Prize package details follow:

1st Prize – Roundtrip tickets for two people from OAK to Kona, Hawaii, courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines, and five nights accommodations in a Deluxe Ocean View room courtesy of the Outrigger Hotels Resorts;

2nd Prize – Roundtrip tickets for two people from OAK to New York, courtesy of JetBlue Airways, and three nights accommodations in New York City, courtesy of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants; and

3rd Prize – Roundtrip tickets for two people from OAK to San Diego, courtesy of Southwest Airlines, and three nights accommodations at the Hotel Solomar, courtesy of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants.

The 10 contest runners-up received two days of complimentary parking in OAK’s Hourly parking lot (a $64 value), and a gift of special OAK-logo merchandise.

OAK was named No. 1 for on-time arrivals among all North American airports in 2009, with 86.9 percent of flights arriving at the gate on time, according to FlightStats. Bay Area travelers choose OAK for its 140 nonstop flights to in-demand destinations such as the East Coast, Hawaii and Mexico. OAK is also known for its convenience, easy access and parking lots which are just footsteps from the terminals.

About the Port of Oakland and Oakland International Airport
The Port of Oakland oversees the Oakland seaport, Oakland International Airport and 20 miles of waterfront. The Oakland seaport is the fifth busiest container port in the U.S.; Oakland International is the second largest San Francisco Bay Area airport and fourth largest airport in California, offering over 140 daily flights; and the Port’s real estate includes commercial developments such as Jack London Square and hundreds of acres of public parks and conservation areas. The Port of Oakland was established in 1927 and is an independent department of the City of Oakland. Visit portofoakland.com and oaklandairport.com.

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