Oakland, Calif. – Nov. 22, 2019: The Thanksgiving Holiday travel period has begun at Oakland International Airport (OAK), and will extend through Monday, December 2. The Airport expects November 27th – the day before Thanksgiving – to be its busiest travel day during this holiday period, with 47,500 passengers in OAK’s terminals.
Next Sunday, December 1st, is the busiest day expected for inbound Thanksgiving travelers at OAK. On average, days during this Thanksgiving travel period will be roughly 20% busier than an average single day in November. In addition to next Wednesday and Friday, travelers at OAK should expect crowds on November 22nd, 26th, 30th, and Monday, December 2nd.
Port of Oakland Director of Aviation at Oakland International Airport, Bryant L. Francis, said, “We enter this Thanksgiving holiday season with great excitement for the transformation underway, both at the Airport and at our Port Headquarters downtown. Our Board of Commissioners recently confirmed the appointment of our new Executive Director, Mr. Danny Wan, and we’re all very pleased to enter this stage of growth with his fresh vision and leadership.”
The Airport reminds customers that good things are coming in the form of the full transformation of its food & beverage concessions program. New eateries and cafes offering a locally-focused slate of new dining options, will be introduced throughout the Airport over the course of 2020.
In addition to OAK’s Concessions makeover, customers may observe other recent enhancements:
- Security checkpoint upgrades
- Service Animal Relief Area in Terminal 2
- New seating at all Terminal 2 gates
- Updated terminal mapping
- Seasonal relocation of the airport’s park & call lot
- More curbside staff to support passenger flow to ground transportation and ridesharing
- Water Bottle Filling stations in both terminals
READY FOR TAKE-OFF
To help make your travel as worry-free as possible, OAK offers these holiday travel tips:
- Check flight status before heading to the airport. Save time at the airport and check-in online from your airline’s website. Be sure to confirm your flight times and details.
- Arrive early. More time could be needed based on weather and busy traffic times. Check with your carrier to confirm check-in availability. When possible, plan to arrive 2 hours prior to scheduled departure time for domestic flights and allow more time for international departures and flights to Hawaii as there may be increased passenger volume at airline check-in and security screening.
- Keep your boarding pass and ID handy. Passengers should be prepared to present a valid photo ID (such as a driver’s license or passport) at the checkpoints and ticket counters. (Note: Real ID is not required until October 2020)
- Do not wrap gifts. If a Transportation Security Officer (TSO) needs to inspect a wrapped gift in your checked or carry-on luggage, they may have to unwrap it. So, plan to wrap gifts after arriving at your destination—or better yet, ship them ahead.
- Pack liquids separately. Passengers who pack liquids or gels as carry-on baggage are limited to amount of 3 ounces or less. Such items should be packed in a single re-sealable quart-size plastic bag, with one per traveler.
- Visit 511.org for personalized travel planning support, using ground transportation options such as BART, AC Transit, regional shuttles, taxis and limousines, and ride-sharing services.
ABOUT OAKLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Oakland International is the most centrally-located airport in the 7.7M population Bay Area region, and closest airport to the region’s wealth of business and tourism venues. Oakland’s air service roster to over 60 nonstop destinations is offered on 12 different airline brands – four of which operate with OAK as their sole gateway into the San Francisco Bay region.
The vision of Oakland International Airport is to offer customers a world-class experience and be the airport of choice for Bay Area residents and visitors alike. OAK is operated by the Port of Oakland, which also oversees the Oakland seaport and 20 miles of waterfront. Together with its business partners, the Port supports more than 84,000 jobs in the region and over a million jobs across the United States.
For up-to-the-minute departure and arrival information, airport maps, and details on shopping, dining, transportation, and more, visit www.iflyoak.com. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
MEDIA CONTACT
Keonnis R. Taylor
510-563-6500
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