California travel Forum

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

Location: The airport is situated 15 miles (24km) southwest of Los Angeles.
Time: GMT -6 (GMT -5 from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November).
Contacts: Tel: +1 310 646 5252.
Transfer between terminals: A free shuttle bus takes passengers between the International and seven other terminals.
Getting to the city: A free shuttle bus service runs to the Metro Rail Green Line Aviation Station from the lower level of each terminal. Another shuttle connects to the Bus Center, from where city buses serve the Los Angeles area. Prime Time Shuttle and Super Shuttle are both shared-ride van services; reservations are recommended. Some hotels also offer transport. There are taxis available outside the lower level of the airport and it costs about US$30 to the city centre, about 15miles (24km) away. Car rental is available and there is a free shuttle pick-up to reach the rental car sites.
Car rental: Car rental companies include Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Hertz and Thrifty. Vehicle rental sites are located off the airport property, therefore many of these rental car companies provide phone links inside or near the baggage claim areas on the Lower/Arrival Level of the terminals; travellers can request a free shuttle pick-up to reach the rental car sites.
Airport Taxis: There are taxis available outside the lower level of the airport. Passengers receive a ticket stating the typical fare to major destinations, it costs about US$30 to the city centre which is about 15miles (24km) away. Airport authorized taxis display an official seal and passengers who use an unauthorized taxi service do so at their own risk.
Facilities: Passenger services at the airport include ATMs and currency exchange, a business centre, baggage storage, shops, restaurants and bars. Internet kiosks are located throughout the airport as well as wireless Internet and the Travel Right Cafe in Terminal 4 has laptop connections. Cell phones can be rented in Arrivals. Facilities for the disabled are excellent.
Parking: There are eight central car parks offering long and short-term parking that are connected to the terminals by the LAX shuttle bus. There is also a Cell Phone Waiting Lot.
Departure Tax: There is a passenger facility charge of $4.50.
Website: www.lawa.org
See full guide to Los Angeles International

San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

Location: The airport is situated 14 miles (23km) south of San Francisco.
Time: GMT –8 (GMT –7 from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November).
Contacts: Tel: +1 800 435 9736.
Transfer between terminals: AirTrain light rail service operates on two lines. The Red Line connects all terminals, garages and the BART Station; and the Blue Line, which also connects to the Rental Car Centre. AirTrain does not provide service to SFO's Long Term Parking Lot.
Getting to the city: The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Rapid Rail service connects the airport to the city centre, and provides a connection to the Caltrain commuter rail service at Milbrae Station, from where trains leave regularly to San Francisco downtown, costing about $2 and to San Jose. SamTrans Service, bus 292, leaves every 30 minutes for the city centre and suburbs costing US$1.75. There are also shared vans, which provide a door-to-door service and are cheaper than taxis. Reservations are sometimes needed for service after 11pm. Taxis cost about US$35 for an hour's ride to the city centre, very dependant on traffic. Airport employs are available at the taxi pick up area, outside all terminals, to help passengers.
Car rental: The AirTrain links the terminals to the rental car centre. Car rental companies include Alamo, Avis, Budget, National, Thrifty and Hertz.
Airport Taxis: A taxi to the city centre takes about half an hour and generally costs around $40. Taxi drivers will expect a tip of $3 to $5.
Facilities: There are banks, bureaux de change and ATMs available. Facilities for the disabled are very good. Other facilities include baggage storage, medical clinic, bars and restaurants, duty-free, shops, childcare and baby changing facilities, post office, wireless Internet, tourist information and hotel reservations. There is also a museum, library, art gallery and an aviation history museum within the terminal.
Parking: Rates for short-term parking start at $2 per 20 minutes and increase to $33 per 24 hours. Other daily rates available range from $20 per day in the international parking area or $15 per day in the long-term lot.
Website: www.flysfo.com
See full guide to San Francisco International

San Diego Lindbergh Field Airport (SAN)

Location: The airport is situated two miles (3km) northwest of San Diego.
Time: GMT -6 (GMT -5 from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November).
Contacts: Tel: +1 619 400 2404.
Transfer between terminals: A free Inter-Airport Red Bus operates between the three terminals.
Getting to the city: A train service connects to the city centre as well as other parts of San Diego and neighbouring cities. (Tel: 800.262.7837). Flyer Service No. 992 leaves every 10 minutes for the city centre between 5:00 a.m. and 12:50 a.m. and costs about $2.50. Public buses connect to downtown as well as commuter trains and depart every ten minutes. A host of shuttle companies are available to share rides into downtown and are available from arrivals. Taxis take about 10 minutes to downtown San Diego and cost around $10 (Tel: 619-234-6161). Shared shuttle vans offer door-to-door services and are a cheaper alternative to taxis.
Car rental: Car rental companies include Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise and Hertz.
Facilities: Lifts, bathrooms and telephones cater for the disabled. Currency exchange and ATMs are available. Other facilities include bars and restaurants, postal services, shops, several airport club rooms, tourist information and hotel reservations.
Parking: Parking rates range from $2 per half hour to daily rates of $11 to $26, depending upon which parking option you choose.
Departure Tax: None.
Website: www.san.org
See full guide to San Diego International Airport

Bob Hope Airport (BUR)

Location: The airport is situated three miles (5km) from Burbank and 12 miles (20km) north of Los Angeles.
Time: GMT –8 (GMT –7 from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November).
Contacts: Tel: +1 818 840 8840.
Getting to the city: The Metrolink and Amtrak train station is linked to the main terminal by a free shuttle service, but is only a short walk away, and serves downtown Los Angeles as well as other destinations. The airport is also on the MTA and Burbank Bus routes, which go to Burbank as well as downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood. Taxis are available in front of the airport and car hire counters are located in Terminal B. The LA city centre is about 12 miles (20km) from the airport.
Car rental: Car hire counters are available in Terminal B and include Alamo, Avis, Hertz and National.
Airport Taxis: Taxis available on the islands in front of the airport terminal include City Cab (818 848 1000), United Taxi (800 892 8294) and Yellow or Checker cabs (800 750 4400). It costs about US$70 for the 12-mile (20km) trip to the LA city centre.
Facilities: Facilities include a bank, ATMs, restaurants, wireless Internet access, shops and an information desk in Terminal A.
Parking: There are several parking options available at the airport. The parking structures are well-marked and easy to locate. Short-term parking is $3 for 30 minutes, $5 for an hour, and $13 for two hours. Long-term parking in economy lots A, B and C is $3 for one hour and $5 for two hours; with a daily maximum of $10.
Departure Tax: None.
Website: www.burbankairport.com
See full guide to Bob Hope Airport
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Oakland International Airport (OAK)

Location: The airport is situated 12 miles (19km) from Oakland.
Time: GMT –8 (GMT –7 from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November).
Contacts: Tel: +1 510 563 3300.
Getting to the city: The BART subway network links the airport to Oakland and San Francisco from the Coliseum/Oakland International Airport Station. The AirBART shuttle links the station to the airport every 10 minutes. AC Transit bus line 50 connects the airport with BART, line N connects to downtown Oakland and downtown San Francisco as well as to east Oakland, and bus line 58 connects to the Amtrak railway station at Jack London Square. From Jack London Square it is possible to link to the Alameda/Oakland ferry, which provides services to San Francisco's ferry terminal and Pier 39.
Car rental: The Rental Car Center is open 24 hours and has all rental companies in one location, including Avis, Budget, Hertz and National. A Rental Car Shuttle bus ferries passengers between the terminals and Rental Car Centre every 10 minutes.
Airport Taxis: Taxis and a shuttle service are available from outside the airport. Taxi services are provided by Friendly Cab (phone: +1 510 536 3000) and Veteran’s Cab (phone: +1 510 533 1900). The taxi fare to the city centre is about US$50.
Facilities: ATMs, restaurants and bars are available in both terminals. Duty-free shopping, a business centre and left luggage services can be found in Terminal 1. Passengers with disabilities are well catered for, but those requiring wheelchairs should contact their airline in advance.
Parking: There are four parking options at Oakland International - the Premier, Hourly, Daily and Economy lots. The Premier lots, for VIPs, are closest to the terminal and cost $3 for every half hour for the first five hours, and $36 for 5-24 hours. The Hourly lot is the next closest car park and is probably best for short-term or overnight parking. It costs $2 per half hour (up to 5 hours), or $32 for 5-24 hours. The Daily and Economy lots are furthest from the terminal, but offer the cheapest parking at $2 per half hour with a daily maximum of $22 and $16 respectively.
Website: www.oaklandairport.com
See full guide to Oakland International Airport
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Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)

Location: The airport is located two miles (3km) north of central San José.
Time: GMT –8 (GMT –7 from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November).
Contacts: Tel: +1 (408) 392 3600.
Transfer between terminals: A free shuttle connects the three terminals, running roughly every five minutes.
Getting to the city: The Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) operates a special Airport Flyer service that links the airport to the Metro Light Rail Station and the Santa Clara Caltrain Station. The Amtrak is three miles (5km) away from the airport, but there is no direct shuttle or bus service to and from the airport. Other transport options include a reliable and efficient bus service, or taxis. There are several taxi operators available at the airport at all terminals, which can cost anywhere from $20 to downtown San Jose or $90 to downtown San Francisco. There are also limousines available, and several hotels offer door-to-door shuttles for their guests.
Car rental: Car rental companies can be found at the Rental Car Centre, which is serviced by a shuttle bus that stops outside terminals. Companies represented at the airport include Alamo, Thrifty, Avis, National and Enterprise, among others.
Facilities: Facilities at the airport include several restaurants and cafés, WiFi Internet access, a gift shop, ATMs, bureaux de change, a shoeshine stand, fax and telephone facilities. Facilities for the disabled are good.
Parking: Long and short-term parking is available.
Departure Tax: None.
Website: www.sjc.org
See full guide to San José International Airport
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Sacramento International Airport (SMF)

Location: Sacramento International Airport is located 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Sacramento
Time: GMT-8 (GMT-7 from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November)
Contacts: Tel: (916) 929 5411

Email: air-market@saccounty.net
Getting to the city: Taxis can be located outside the baggage claim area at Terminal A and across from the airport hotel at Terminal B. Supershuttle.com is the official provider of on-call van and sedan service at the airport, while Suttlefare.com also provides a service here. Yolobus offers daily public bus service to the airport and connection to Regional Transit (Tel: (530) 666 2877 for schedules) while Limos.com provides limousine service to the airport.
Car rental: Car rental agencies include: Alamo, National, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Dollar and Hertz.
Facilities: Facilities include restaurants, bars, shops and free wi-fi access in all public places. Disabled facilities are also available. Travellers requiring assistance should contact their airline prior to departure.
Parking: Hourly parking in the multi-level car park costs just $2 with a daily maximum of $29. The open lot near Terminal B is $27 per day. The economy lot has a daily rate of $9.
Departure Tax: None
Website: www.sacairports.org/int
See full guide to Sacramento Airport
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Ontario International Airport (ONT)

Location: The airport is 2.3 miles (3.7km) from downtown Ontario in California.
Time: GMT - 8
Contacts: Tel: +1 (909) 937 2700.
Transfer between terminals: The terminals are all located adjacent to each other. A free shuttle runs between the terminals at regular intervals of around 5 to 20 minutes depending upon time of day.
Getting to the city: The best way to get into town from Ontario Airport is to take Omnitrans bus No. 61. It runs at 15-minute intervals and costs just $1.50.
Car rental: A free shuttle transports passengers to the Consolidated Rental Car Facility (ConRAC) from which most major rental companies, including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Thrifty, Dollar, Hertz and Advantage, operate.
Facilities: ATMs, baggage cart rental, payphones, pet relief areas, pay-as-you-go wi-fi, retail outlets and restaurants are all available at Ontario Airport.
Parking: Short-term parking is best at Daily Lots 2 and 4, which are close to the terminals. Rates start at $3 for the first hour and $2 per hour thereafter up to a daily rate of $18. Long-term parking is available in Lot 5 and costs $9 per day. It is connected to the terminal via a free shuttle service.
Departure Tax: None.
Website: www.flyontario.com
See full guide to Ontario International Airport
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Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)

Location: The airport is two miles (3km) from downtown Palm Springs.
Time: GMT - 8 (GMT - 7 from March to November)
Contacts: Tel: +1 (760) 318 3800.
Getting to the city: A shuttle bus transports passengers between the airport and the Amtrak station in town. The Morongo Basin Transit Authority (MBTA) provides a bus service to Palm Springs. Bus 12 runs during the week and bus 15 runs on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets start at just $5, but on weekends all tickets are $10 more than the weekday prices. Buses run from 7.50am until 4.50pm from Monday to Friday, 11.45am to 6pm on Saturdays, and there is only one bus on a Sunday at 5.45pm. Another option is the Coachella Valley SunBus, which costs $1 and operates between 5.15am and 10.40pm during the week. SunBus routes include Bus No's. 14, 24 and 31.
Car rental: Car rental companies offering services at the airport include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Go Rentals, Hertz, National and Thrifty. Rental desks are in the baggage claims area.
Airport Taxis: Three taxi companies operate at Palm Springs International Airport. These include Airport Taxi, American Cab and Yellow Cab of the Desert. Fares into town range from $12 to $15, but some companies charge an extra $2.50 or $3 for airport pickups.
Facilities: Palm Springs International Airport passenger facilities include a range of restaurants such as Starbucks, La Brea Bakery, and 12th Fairway Bar and Grill; as well as a selection of shopping options, Skycap services, public telephones, a travel agent, USO Service Club, kid's play area and wi-fi accessibility.
Parking: Parking rates at Palm Springs International Airport start at $1 per 20 minutes and go up to $12 per day in the short-term lots. Long-term parking also costs $1 per 20 minutes, but the daily rate is just $8. Cell phone waiting lots are also available.
Departure Tax: None.
Website: www.palmspringsairport.com
See full guide to Palm Springs International Airport
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John Wayne Orange County Airport (SNA)

Location: The airport is located in Orange County.
Parking: Parking at John Wayne Airport is accessible from 4:30am to midnight. Fees start at $2 per hour and range from $14-20 per day.
Website: www.ocair.com
See full guide to John Wayne Airport
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