Oakland International Airport (OAK)

Oakland International Airport has two terminals: Terminal 1 runs a long linear hall for most carriers and international arrivals, while Terminal 2 is the Southwest-focused concourse. Both terminals are linked airside by a post-security connector between Gates 8 and 20 and landside by a short covered walkway along the curbfront. Walking from the ticketing lobby in either terminal to the farthest gates generally takes 10–12 minutes; moving between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 takes about 5–7 minutes using the airside corridor. Elevators and escalators sit near the midpoints of each concourse, so step-free routes follow the same timing as standard walks. TSA checkpoints sit at the head of each terminal with dedicated PreCheck and CLEAR lanes; Terminal 1 has two entry points during peaks while Terminal 2 keeps one central checkpoint. Waits are often 10–20 minutes midday, but can stretch past 30 minutes for early-morning banked departures, so checking the airport’s live dashboard is helpful. International arrivals are processed in Terminal 1’s Federal Inspection Station with baggage reclaim on the lower level; re-check counters for onward flights sit just past customs for easy connections. The corridor is shared by all international carriers, so travelers should factor in occasional surges when transpacific or Mexico flights arrive together. Amenities include the Escape Lounge (US) near Gate 8, plentiful grab-and-go outlets in both terminals, and local staples like Oaklandish and Peet’s Coffee. Family rooms and nursing suites sit near Gates 1 and 25, pet-relief areas flank the terminal entrances, and tactile paving plus elevators at every junction support accessible transfers.