San Jose Airport Shuttles

SJC Ground Transportation

SJC Airport Shuttles Get You Moving...

There are many van services which leave from San Jose airport (SJC) for about $15 per person to downtown San Jose and will take you directly to your San Jose hotel. The van services can be met in the ground transportation area near the awnings at the end of the parking garage at San Jose Mineta Airport (SJC).  The airport "chaperone" will direct you to the best shuttle to meet your needs.

 Most vans are hungry for travelers and there is a San Jose airport chaperone that directs travelers into the van.  Make sure you are comfortable with the van condition, driver, and pricing of the van service you are directed to.   You have 3 main ground transportation choices at San Jose Airport depending on your available time and budget:

• Airport Limousines - quickest, most comfortable, and highest cost.

• Van Services - Not glamorous, but lower cost and efficient with detailed pricing and service comparisons.

• Public transit / scheduled buses to limited locations - lowest cost but takes the the most time.

The Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) is located at the northern end of San Jose where Highway 101, Interstate 880, and Highway 87 meet. SJC is the smallest airport in the Bay Area despite being located in the most populous city. The small size of the airport can make for very crowded conditions during peak times but expansion plans are underway that are expected to be completed sometime in 2007.

What Terminal Do I Need?

There are two terminals in the airport. Terminal C, the original terminal built in the 60’s, houses Alaska, Continental, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Mexicana, Northwest, United, and US Airways. You’ll find that jetways (those elevated, enclosed tunnels that we are used to boarding planes with) are rare in this terminal with most airlines using mobile air stairs to get passengers on and off their planes.

Terminal A, which resembles a frying pan, was added in the 90’s and this is where you’ll find American, Hawaiian, and Southwest Airlines. The current expansion plans for the airport call for an expanded Terminal A and a new Terminal B that will replace the aging Terminal C.

International arrivals have their own little area that is attached to Terminal A and services are limited.

The San Jose Airport is quite small in comparison to modern airports and the lines for check-in and security tend to reflect this, especially during peak travel times. When queried, the airlines suggested that travelers arrive two hours ahead of flight time for domestic flights and three hours ahead for international flights. Savvy travelers might want to arrive a bit earlier than suggested times as the lines can get quite long.

Ground Transportation

San Jose International Airport offers many ways to get to and from the airport. There are public buses, shuttle services, taxis, and light-rail services available. While light-rail is an option to get to San Francisco from here it involves a complicated series of transfers to other rail systems and can soak up a huge chunk of your day (two hours? three hours? four hours? I’ve experienced even longer travel times going this route). Your best options are airport limousines (quick, comfortable, highest cost) and shuttle services (fairly reliable, lower cost, almost-comfortable).

Restaurants and Services

Both terminals have a variety of restaurants to choose from. If you’re in a hurry then Burger King might be the place for you. Want some California cuisine? Try the California Pizza Kitchen for a unique twist on an Italian classic. Have some coffee from Starbuck’s or turn it down a notch and order an “Appletini” from the Martini Monkey, a swanky hangout with music and great drinks.

Shopping is mostly limited to a series of Gift and News shops although you can find a couple of places offering DVD rentals and there’s always a shoeshine available somewhere.

Wi-Fi is available throughout the airport from two providers, T-Mobile (only available in Terminal A and only from gates 9 to 16B) and Wayport. Prices for Wi-Fi services vary but it’s definitely not provided for free. Other office services are extremely limited so make sure you send a fax before arriving at the airport.

While the San Jose International Airport size is much smaller to other airports in the Bay Area, the extensive expansion plans look to make this airport comfortable and competitive in the near future.

VAN SERVICES:

The following list is a full compilation of San Jose (SJC) airport's van services.   Reservations never hurt - but there are always vans waiting ready-to-go without reservation at the airport.    You can also reserve pick-up at any residence or business in the area.    We've researched the prices below for our sample destination, but make sure to get a firm price quote for your trip.   A tip / gratuity around 15% is standard / expected if the service courtesy and promptness meets your expectations.

None of the services listed below are specifically known for any problem (or great) customer practices.  They are listed as an updated compilation of available airport van services.  Use the advice in this article and your own judgment when dealing with airport van companies. 

Typical Shuttle Prices for Popular Destinations:

Comparative 2008 van pricing to Palo Alto area - direct, non-stop rides.  Prices include taxes and fees but not gratuity / tip for driver:

Scheduled Buses / Trains / Light Rail: