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SFO estimates that 2.2 million people will transit during the holiday travel season
Friday is expected to be the busiest day of the holiday travel season. And it looks like the day at SFO is living up to its promise.
OAKLAND, Calif. — With Christmas just a few days away, huge lines of people snaked out the door at Oakland International Airport on Friday morning, the busiest travel day before the long weekend holiday.
You had to wait 40 minutes in the baggage check-in line before dawn to get into the building.
The line to get past security was another wait.
Oakland airport officials said they expected at least 500,000 passengers to fly this holiday season through New Year's Day. Oakland is seeing a 3% increase in travel compared to last year, officials said.
Michonne Omo of Oakland said she didn't think the lines would be so long at 5 a.m
“I’ll take over the queues as long as I’m there before Christmas,” she said.
She said she would rather do that than fly out on Christmas Day.
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Before Christmas, airport lines in Oakland snake out the door
Airport lines snaked out the door at Oakland Airport on the Friday before Christmas.
“So that’s somewhat of an improvement,” she said.
The airport is expected to be busiest between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and again between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m
Friday was also expected to be the busiest travel day of the holiday season at San Francisco International Airport. Officials said an estimated 2.5 million people will transit during the holiday travel season from Dec. 15 to Dec. 31.
Lines at several security checkpoints were much longer than the seven minutes shown on the monitor.
“It was long and hectic,” passenger Reuben Flores said. “The lines are really long, the airport lines move slowly. It feels like they’re understaffed,” Flores said.
Packed suitcases at Oakland International Airport.
Other SFO travelers took it all in stride and remained positive.
Thomas Jackson was scheduled to fly to Tennessee this morning, but was left behind at the airport due to a problem with his flight. We asked why he seemed so cool, calm and collected.
“You just sit back and wait and be patient,” Jackson said.
Doug Yakel, a spokesman for SFO, said about 15% of flights were experiencing delays as of midday Friday.
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“We are also seeing some weather issues in some parts of the country. We are seeing some delays to Southern California and Phoenix due to rain and also to Texas and Florida due to some weather conditions there,” Yakel said.
To help lines move faster, TSA reminds travelers not to pack wrapped gifts; For safety reasons they may need to be unpacked.
Passengers wait in line at Oakland International Airport ahead of the long Christmas weekend. December 22, 2023
A TSA agent works at Oakland International Airport before the long Christmas weekend. December 22, 2023