San Antonio Airport: Managing High Traffic And Delays

San Antonio International Airport is the 44th busiest airport in the United States by passenger traffic, averaging 260 daily departures and arrivals at its 27 gates. The airport's two terminals serve 14 airlines flying non-stop to 45 destinations in the US and Mexico. TSA wait times are usually less than 10 minutes, with some travellers reporting times of under 3 minutes. However, it is always recommended to arrive at the airport well in advance of your flight's departure time.

TSA Pre-Check Hours

San Antonio International Airport is a relatively stress-free airport to fly from, with short TSA wait times. On average, passengers can expect to wait around three minutes at security checkpoints.

The TSA Pre-Check service is available at Terminal A and Terminal B checkpoints within the San Antonio International Airport. The specific hours for each terminal are as follows:

• Terminal A: 3:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily
• Terminal B: 3:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily

It is recommended that passengers arrive at the airport 90 minutes before their scheduled departure time for domestic travel and two hours before for international travel. During peak travel times, it is advised to arrive even earlier to account for potentially longer wait times.

For those enrolled in TSA PreCheck, the security process is more convenient, as travellers can keep their shoes, light outerwear, and belts on, and carry laptops and compliant liquids in their carry-on bags.

CLEAR Plus Hours

San Antonio International Airport is known to be a relatively chill airport with short TSA wait times. However, it is always recommended to arrive at the airport well in advance of your flight's departure time.

CLEAR Plus is an expedited security screening program that allows travellers to move faster through security checks at San Antonio International Airport. With CLEAR Plus, your eyes and fingerprints act as your ID, doing away with the need for traditional ID documents. CLEAR Plus members are also directed to the PreCheck line if enrolled in TSA PreCheck.

Terminal A Checkpoint:

• CLEAR Plus Hours: Daily, 4:00 AM to 7:00 PM
• Notes: All passengers can use this checkpoint. CLEAR Plus Members can move faster through dedicated CLEAR Lanes.

Terminal B Checkpoint:

• CLEAR Plus Hours: Sun-Fri, 4:00 AM to 7:00 PM; Sat, 4:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Notes: All passengers can use this checkpoint. CLEAR Plus Members can move faster through dedicated CLEAR Lanes.

The CLEAR Plus program offers a special promotion of 2 months free for new enrollees.

Daily Departures and Arrivals

San Antonio International Airport (SAT) is the 44th busiest airport in the United States by passenger traffic. It averages 260 daily departures and arrivals at its 27 gates, serving 14 airlines flying non-stop to 45 destinations in the US and Mexico.

The airport has two terminals, Terminal A and Terminal B, with an overall 27 jet bridge gates. Terminal A is the larger of the two, with 17 gates in total, and all international carriers operate out of this terminal. Terminal B contains ten gates, with two added in 2023 to accommodate increasing passenger numbers.

Airlines at the San Antonio International Airport recommend arriving 90 minutes before your scheduled departure time for domestic travel and 2 hours prior for international travel during peak travel times. TSA PreCheck is available at both terminals, with hours from 3:30 am to 6 pm at Terminal A and 3:30 am to 5 pm at Terminal B. CLEAR Plus is also available at both terminals and acts as an expedited security screening program.

Airport Master Plan

San Antonio International Airport is a minor hub for United Airlines, situated on a 1,200-acre site just north of the city. The airport handled 8.3 million passengers and 14,469 aircraft movements in 2013.

The airport's master plan, 'Vision 2050', was approved by the city council in March 2011. The plan includes forecasts of aviation demand, a three-phased implementation plan, cost estimates, a financial plan, and an analysis of the environmental impacts of future development. Short-term improvements include the renovation of Terminal A, a new car rental facility, and the acquisition of land for additional parking spaces. The plan also includes $815 million in funding for capital projects over 20 years, including runway expansion, terminal expansion, and the construction of a new Terminal C.

The airport currently has two terminals with 24 jet-bridge gates and three rarely-used ground-loading gates. Terminal 1, which opened in 1984, was renovated and reopened in 2014, while Terminal 2, the original terminal opened in 1953, is being demolished and replaced by Terminal C. The newly renovated Terminal A features improved baggage claim areas, new signage, an enhanced food court, and new flooring and lighting. The new Terminal B, completed in 2008, has eight gates and 204,000 square feet of space.

The airport has several parking garages, including a two-storey garage near Terminal 1 and a five-storey garage. A new five-storey parking garage was partially opened in December 2007, offering 1,200 spaces, with an additional 1,600 spaces added in July 2008.

TSA Wait Times

San Antonio International Airport (SAT) is the 44th busiest airport in the United States by passenger traffic, averaging 260 daily departures and arrivals at its 27 gates. Airlines at the airport recommend arriving 90 minutes before your scheduled domestic travel departure time and 2 hours prior during peak travel time.

TSA Pre-Check hours of operation are from 3:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. every day at Terminal A, and from 3:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day at Terminal B. All TSA checkpoints open at 3:30 a.m. TSA wait times are usually less than 5 minutes, with some travellers reporting times of under 3 minutes during the week and 10 minutes on weekends. However, it's important to note that wait times can vary due to unforeseen circumstances, and travellers are advised to arrive at the airport well in advance to account for any unexpected delays.

To speed up the check-in process, many airlines offer self-service kiosks, and some offer online check-in with the option to print your boarding pass up to 24 hours in advance. Additionally, CLEAR Plus is available at both Terminal A and Terminal B. CLEAR Plus allows travellers to use their eyes and fingerprints as identification, enabling them to move through security checkpoints faster.

Frequently asked questions