Owais Crawford
If you're flying from Oakland Airport, you might be wondering how early you need to arrive. The answer depends on a few factors, including whether you have pre-check, whether you're checking in a bag, and which airline you're flying with. For example, if you're flying Southwest, you might want to arrive earlier as the lines can get long. However, Oakland Airport is generally easy to get in and out of, and security is usually fast.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How early to arrive at Oakland Airport | 4:30-5:00am |
| Security gates open | 90 minutes before the flight |
| Security wait time | 15 minutes |
What You'll Learn
Security gates open 90 minutes before a flight
Security gates at Oakland Airport open 90 minutes before a flight. However, the airport itself opens earlier, so you can arrive before the security gates open if you want to.
If you're taking an early morning flight, it's recommended that you arrive at the airport between 4:30 and 5:00. This will give you plenty of time to get through security and to your gate, even if you're flying with Southwest, which can have long lines. If you're not checking in a bag, you may only need to arrive 20 minutes before your flight. However, if you want to be extra safe, you could arrive at 4:30, though you may be hanging around for an while.
Oakland Airport is easy to get in and out of, and security is usually fast. If you're not checking in a bag, you can be airside in 15 minutes. However, if you are checking in a bag, it's recommended that you arrive earlier, especially if you're taking a flight before 7:00, as the lines can be long.
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Southwest Airlines has a lot of flights around 6 am
It is recommended that you arrive at Oakland Airport at around 4:30-5:00 am for a 6 am flight. This is because the security gates can close and open 90 minutes before a flight, and the airport may not even be open before 4:30 am. Southwest Airlines has a lot of flights around 6 am, and the lines can get long, but they move quickly.
Southwest Airlines added a lot of flights departing before 6 am in 2018. This was because they were replacing their older, less fuel-efficient Boeing 737-300s, and their fleet was smaller than the year before. Instead of reducing their schedule, they added capacity by flying each plane longer each day. They did this by adding early morning and late-night departures, as they do not fly red-eyes.
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It's easy to get in and out of Oakland Airport
If you're taking an early morning flight, it's recommended that you arrive at the airport between 4:30 and 5:00. This will give you enough time to get through security and to your gate, even if you have to check in a bag. However, if you're flying with Southwest, you may want to arrive a little earlier as their lines can get long.
If you're not checking in a bag and you don't need the 'personal check-in experience', you can arrive as late as 5:45 and still make a 6:30 flight. However, if you want to be extra safe, arriving at 4:30 will give you plenty of time to spare.
One user recommends staying in a hotel by the airport the night before an early flight and taking a 4 am shuttle over. However, bear in mind that the security gates may not be open until 90 minutes before your flight, so you'll need to stay in the public area of the airport until then.
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You can get through security in 15 minutes
Oakland Airport is a pretty mellow airport, and things move quickly. If you don't have pre-check and you're not checking in a bag, you should arrive 20 minutes before 5 am. If you are checking in a bag, you should arrive at 4:30 am. The security gates can close, and open 90 minutes before a flight, so you should bear this in mind. If you don't need the personal check-in experience, you can get through security in 15 minutes.
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The airport opens at 5 am
If you are flying with Southwest, the lines can get long, but at that hour, you will be fine. Oakland Airport is easy to get in and out of, and at that time in the morning, you won't have to deal with a security line. If you are not checking in a bag, you can arrive 20 minutes earlier than 5 am. If you are checking in a bag, you can still get through security in 15 minutes.
If you arrive at 4:30 am, you will have time to get a sandwich. However, you will be hanging around for an hour at the gate. If you arrive at 5:45 am for a 6:30 am flight, you will still have time to check your bags, go through security, and get to your gate on time.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended that you arrive at Oakland Airport at 4:30am for a 6am flight. The security gates can close, and open 90 minutes before a flight.
It depends on the time of day and the airline you are flying with. One source says that the security line at Oakland Airport is usually fast, and it can take as little as 15 minutes to get through security. However, another source says that the lines for Southwest flights can get long.
If you are checking in a bag, it is recommended that you arrive at the airport at least 20 minutes earlier than you would if you were not checking in a bag.
If you have pre-check, you can arrive at the airport later than you would if you did not have pre-check. One source says that they arrived at the airport at 5:45am for a 6:30am flight, and were at their gate by 6am.
Yes, you can stay in the public area of the airport overnight, but security will be closed.
