Airport location, terminals and transportation
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport is located in the city of San Jose, the state of California. It was named in honour of the United States Secretary of Transportation, congressman and mayor of San Jose in 2001. Situated 6.5 km from Downtown San Jose, the airport is the smallest one of the three airports in the San Francisco Bay Area. The history of the air terminal dates back to 1939, when the registration of a land plot for the future airfield was initiated for the first time. In 1945, the test pilot James M. Nissen leased a part of this land and founded a flight school on this site. When the city authorities began the construction of the airport, Nissen became the manager of this airfield.
The airport operates two runways and two passenger terminals. The terminals are connected by a walkway. The airport services more than 12.5 million passengers a year. In addition to regular flights, the airport serves general aviation, private and corporate aircraft.
One can get to Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport by public buses, railway, light rail, or using taxi services and the services of transport network companies. Travellers are transported from the Santa Clara Station to the airport by a free bus. One may book a taxi and a shuttle in any terminal, on the ground transportation level by contacting a dispatcher (Stops 3 and 11).
Rental offices, how to find them, where to return car
The Rental Car Center is placed in a designated multi-level garage (lot 3), which is stationed opposite Terminal B, across the road from it. A pedestrian walkway leads to this Center from the terminal. Passengers arriving at Terminal B should proceed from the baggage claim area through the exit from the terminal via the pedestrian walkway to the Rental Car Center. Passengers arriving at Terminal A should take a blue airport bus to get to the Rental Car Center.
The Rental Car Center of Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport features the following car rental companies: Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, Sixt, Thrifty, Zipcar, Alamo, Avis, and Fox. Most agencies are closed at night. Zipcar company operates round the clock. Customers should check with the selected car rental company for hours of operation in advance. After hours, one can apply for services to the check-in counters or call the helpline number, indicated on the website of the airport.
Long-term and short-term parking, hotels nearby
There are six parking lots at the airport. These are hourly parking garages (lots 2 and 3), an hourly parking lot (lot 5), daily parking lots (lots 4 and 6), and an economy parking lot (lot 1). Free shuttles take passengers to the economy parking lot. It is allowed to pick up and drop off passengers in front of the terminals, but parking is prohibited here.
Free shuttle buses depart from the Ground Transportation Center of Terminal A (Stop 8) and Terminal B (stop 10) to the hotels nestled beside Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport. The Chase Suites, the Clarion Hotel, the Country Inn and Suites, and the Courtyard Marriott are the hotels which lie near the airport and provide a free shuttle service.