Which airport - SFO or OAK
 

DH and I are taking a quick trip to San Francisco. Should we fly into OAK or SFO? Fares are about the same for each...

If one offers a better flight (non-stop vs connection) or preferred airline I'd make that my criteria since fares are the same.

If fares and schedules are about the same I'd choose SFO over OAK. It's a bit closer & more convenient by public transportation.

Often SJC has the best fares

Since the question was OAK or SFO, I don't think SJC is in the hunt (and it's much more difficult to get to SF from SJC than from either OAK or SFO). All other things being equal, I'd fly to SFO, especially if you want to take BART from the airport to the city (BART goes directly to the city from SFO, whereas in Oakland you have to first take a shuttlebus to the BART station). If you're taking a taxi, no real difference.

>>If you're taking a taxi, no real difference.<<

Except the price,

Stu Dudley

Stu, I've never taken a taxi from OAK - how much is it? For that matter, how much is a taxi from SFO these days?

Arrival transportation is easier from SFO.

Departure: depends. SFO may have fog delays while OAK is clear.

No idea. OAK is a farther away, and you have the bridge toll too - so I figured it would cost more.

Stu Dudley

Definitely SFO, all other things being equal.

For a quick trip, SFO is just easier. I wouldn't even consider SJC for a quick trip.

I infinitely prefer SFO...however OAK has excellent public transportation to the city. My son and his friends use it often.

I mention SJC because many people from the east do not know fares are often 25-45% less than flying into SFO. If Oakland is an option, forgive me for offering an intelligent alternative.

I fly from Chicago to SJC for 150-200

SJC is 50 miles from downtown San Francisco, SFO is 13 miles and OAK is 19 miles. If I were a tourist, I wouldn't want to make the trek from SJC, although I certainly know people who have done so (by car and by Cal-Train). It's an "intelligent alternative" only if cost is the single most important factor.

If you're going to be in SF, then I'd fly to SFO - BART is so easy to take anwhere and its cheaper then a cab. If you fly to OAK you can call 510-574-1803 - thats a van / car service I use to go from the airport to where ever I need to go. They only do airport service though.
OAK is a great airport, but if you're going to cross the Bay Bridge and pay the tolls and sit in Traffic - because you will. Then you might as well fly to SFO and just be in the city already.
Have a great time!!!

<< Then you might as well fly to SFO and just be in the city already. >>

Well, not exactickly "in the city"...SFO is at least 20 minutes from the city, and that's when traffic is at its least congested... :-)

Last year, we flew in and out of SFO. Took BART from SFO to Union Square area. Very easy and great price. We had rental car on way back; it was tricky to find a gas station near airport for fillup. Flights were on Southwest and had a stop each trip.

This year we flew into OAK. It was non stop flight and cheaper fare than going into SFO [also on Southwest]. We took BART from OAK to Union SQ area. Again, great price.

It was a bit trickier as we had to take bus first and then get on train. But was almost as easy and quite doable.

Both times we had a roller bag each and a small carryon each.

We took a car service back to OAK and it cost $45 before tip. We had a 7 am flight and just didn't want to use BART thinking it would be a hassle at that hour. No traffic and we were there in a short time.

As others mentioned: price, non -stop vs. a stop and flight schedule would determine where I picked. OAK is a smaller airport and is easier to navigate in my opinion.

IF Southwest services your home airport, sign up for their DING service, which notifies you about special fares. Doing so saved us $$.

Deb

As others have said, SFO is more convenient for San Francisco but Oakland isn't far behind. If BART had a station right in the airport in Oakland then it would be a toss-up.

In Oakland if you take a metro, then you'd have to pay about $3 I think to get your from Colliseum metro station to the airport. There are no bus transfers, you just have to pay.