Best Airport? - San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland?

[BobH]

I am planning a trip to the San Francisco area. Will probably stay 4 days at the Claremont Spa & Resort using my points and then take a side trip to Yosemite and Sequoia National Park for another 4 - 5 days. Any advice as to which airport to fly into? I don't mind the drive from San Jose to San Francisco if necessary. some of the fares from the east coast (my home) seem cheaper into San Jose. Is there any reason to avoid San Francisco or Oakland Airports? Any help would be appreciated.Thanks.

 

[pbhunt]

We have used all three, in our opinion:
First Choice, Oakland, for small size, easy access, convenience & Claremont is right next door in Berkeley
Second Choice, San Jose,small size, traffic is a little worse, access a little more difficult, but not bad.
Third Choice, San Francisco, our least favorite, this airport is large, confusing to get in or out of, and subject to frequent delays

 

[BobH]

Thank you very much for the quick reply. The information on the 3 airports is just what I was looking for.

 

[pnelson]

I live in the Bay Area and have used all three airports. I would avoid San Francisco at all costs. It's very large, confusing and traffic is horrible. Oakland is probably the easiest and quickest. It's also about right between San Jose and SFO. We have taken three trips to Disney World-one out ouf each airport. Last year, the flights out of SFO were so much cheaper. Now however, we have all said we will never do SFO again-it would have to be free!

It's a toss up between San Jose and Oakland, I think Oakland is easier because I am more used to it.

 

[caitycaity]

I agree to avoid SFO. Of the 10 times I have flown into the bay area, 2 were to SFO and both times there were massive problems due to large crowds and the volume of people they handle through there (1 time, my luggage got delayed due to fog, and although it got to the airport in 1 day b/c there were 1000's of other bags it took them 3 days to find it. We tried to go to the airport to pick it up only to find these 1000's of bags sitting around and we couldn't find it either). The second time there was a similar luggage problem.

Obviously fog may be an issue no matter what airport you fly into/out of, but I think b/c SFO is so big it's even worse. Usually I fly into OAK and I like it a lot better: less traffic, less people. Usually I have gotten cheaper flights out of OAK too.

 

[BobH]

It looks like Oakland is my best bet, the only problem I have found is getting a non-stop flight from Massachusetts to Oakland. A word of advice to all of you who have been so good to give me information on California - Don't fly into Boston unless your reason for coming east is to see Boston. Use Hartford, Ct, Manchester NH, or Providence, RI. They are small enough to keep the stress factor down and are not plagued by the insane traffic problems that Boston's tangled road system will put you in.