Oakland International Team Set to Offer Easy and On-Time Airport Experience for Thanksgiving Travelers

-- OAK Offers Free and Discounted Parking From Thanksgiving Day to Dec. 22 --

Oakland, Calif. (Nov. 18, 2011) — The Thanksgiving holiday travel period will be a busy one at Oakland International Airport (OAK) and passengers should expect full flights. OAK’s departing flights have increased 4.8% and seat capacity is up 2.9% over Thanksgiving 2010. Travelers can expect plenty of on-airport parking. Discounted parking is available through the holiday period, and a free parking offer begins Thanksgiving Day and continues through Dec. 22, 2011, for those traveling midweek.

An estimated 250,000 passengers will travel through OAK over the eight-day Thanksgiving holiday that begins Tuesday, Nov. 22. OAK expects that nearly all the airline seats available on the peak travel days of Wednesday and Sunday will be full. There is some last minute seat availability. Travelers should visit their airline’s website as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

“As we do every day, the airport team will welcome passengers and provide an excellent experience over the Thanksgiving holiday,” said Deborah Ale Flint, Director of Aviation for the Port of Oakland, which owns and operates OAK. “We are pleased to offer a full complement of concessions for travelers in both terminals, and a beautifully renovated and expanded welcome area in Terminal 1. What’s more, we’re offering free and discounted parking over the holiday, which is proving popular with value-conscious Bay Area residents,” she continued.

ON-AIRPORT PARKING GUARANTEED; PARK FREE
OAK is known for low fares and on-time flights. Now, Bay Area travelers can add FREE to the list of OAK attributes as the airport is picking up the parking tab for those traveling midweek from OAK to any destination between Thanksgiving Day and Dec. 22, 2011.

After easy registration to obtain a coupon, passengers departing Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday to ANY destination from OAK beginning Nov. 24 and through Dec. 22 will receive up to three days of free parking. The coupon, valued at up to $66, is for parking in OAK’s Daily lot which is located across from the terminals and is available for immediate download at oaklandairport.com. Customers can follow these steps to get the deal:

- Register at oaklandairport.com and print the parking coupon;

- Print the airline e-ticket receipt that shows a departure from OAK on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday between Nov. 24 and Dec. 22;

- Park in OAK’s Daily lot and pull a parking lot ticket when entering; and

- Present parking coupon, airline e-ticket receipt, driver license and parking lot ticket to attendant when exiting.

The “Park Free” offer provides another great reason to “Park Close and Fly on Time” at OAK, and is the airport team’s way of saying “thanks” to our customers for choosing OAK.

If traveling outside the Park Free offer dates, customers can check other discounted online parking offers. OAK offers $4 off each day in the Economy lot (long-term) and $8 off per day in the Premium, Hourly or Daily lots (short-term) over the holiday. Visit oaklandairport.com/parking for details.

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 between OAK and BART’s Coliseum station every 10-15 minutes, with extra shuttles offered the Tuesday prior until the Tuesday following Thanksgiving. Five new CNG-fueled AirBART buses are providing a more comfortable and environmentally friendly ride.

OAK recently installed fast, easy-to-use AirBART ticket vending machines, which accept all major debit and credit cards, at the shuttle stop on OAK’s third curbside. One-way fares are $3.00 for adults, and $1.00 for children (ages 11 and under) and seniors and disabled with I.D. For BART/AirBART information, call 510-569-8310.

Other ground transportation alternatives include AC Transit, regional shuttles, taxis and limousines. Visit 511.org or call the 511-information line from any Bay Area area code for personalized travel planning services.

ENHANCED TERMINAL EXPERIENCE; HEINOLDS’ AND 8 BAR
The concession program at OAK combines popular national brands with local favorites, and concessionaires are looking forward to the increased traffic over the Thanksgiving holiday. Recent openings include:

- The remodeled World Passage Duty Free and Travel Retail in Terminal 1, open to both domestic and international travelers and offering high-value, low-price gifts and personal items. OAK's new duty free is conveniently located for all passengers just beyond passenger screening.

- In Terminal 1 are Heinolds’ First and Last Chance and Pizza Hut Express next to passenger screening, and 8 Bar, also serving sushi, near gate 9.

Free Wi-Fi, upgraded to six times its original speed, allows travelers to keep in touch with business and personal contacts between flights, at no cost. In addition, there are charging stations located throughout both terminals allowing travelers to top off the battery charge of electronic devices before flying.

HOLIDAY TRAVEL TIPS
OAK recommends that travelers check their flight status before heading out to the airport, either on their airline’s website or at oaklandairport.com. Also, visit tsa.gov for updates on security procedures for the holiday travel season.

Other travel tips include:

- Plan to arrive at OAK at least 90 minutes prior for domestic departures and two hours prior for Hawaii and 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. Travelers age 18 and older must show government-issued photo identification before going through the passenger security checkpoint; and

- Leave holiday gifts unwrapped, both in carry-on and checked baggage, as they may need to be inspected.

About the Port of Oakland/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 Airport is the second largest San Francisco Bay Area airport offering over 300 daily passenger and cargo 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. Together, through Port operations and those of its tenants and users, the Port supports nearly 50,000 jobs in the region and over 800,000 jobs across the United States. The Port of Oakland was established in 1927 and is an independent department of the City of Oakland. Connect with the Port of Oakland and Oakland International Airport through Facebook, or with the Port on Twitter, YouTube, and at www.portofoakland.com.

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