With so many major cities in a single state, San Antonio International Airport (SAT) is far from the largest in Texas, but it’s among the most recognizable. The distinctive architecture of SAT appears in several films and shows set in culturally rich San Antonio, so you may have seen it even if you’re not one of the 10,000,000+ annual passengers who travel through. These expert tips will have you flying through SAT with ease when you arrive.
Traveling with public transportation
Getting between San Antonio International Airport and the city’s downtown area by bus is easier than in many other cities. The big red #5 VIA bus runs every day between these two spots and generally takes only about 30 minutes from point to point. It’s inexpensive and I’ve always found plenty of room for both me and my large suitcase in both directions.
I’ve been told by other riders that it’s sometimes more crowded for early morning flights (before 8 am), but have never experienced any congestion of my own. To find the bus from the airport, exit baggage claim and cross to the outer curb, then head to the far west end of Terminal B. You’ll see the bus stop with a large sign on a support column.
For less than a cup of coffee, you can buy a day pass for the VIA and VIVA bus system. VIVA lines will connect you from downtown to almost any hotel or attraction, so I always find this worth purchasing on at least my arrival day. It saves me from taking a rideshare or cab and costs almost nothing extra. Plus, I can use it the rest of the day.
Traveling by car
To take a taxi instead of a bus, just head to Terminal A instead. Just outside baggage claim, you’ll find the taxi queue at the outer commercial curbside, and do not need to reserve one in advance. This is a good option if you don’t have any rideshare apps, but it does run a bit more expensive than rideshares most times of the day, so I don’t typically choose this option.
Because the airport taxi fare generally starts at, or higher than, the total rideshare cost for most downtown destinations, I prefer rideshares from SAT. With rideshare, the cost doesn’t change once I begin the ride, while taxi fares can increase with traffic and delays. Unless there’s surge pricing from peak activity, rideshare is the more affordable way to go here. Find your driver on the outer curb outside of Terminal A.
Renting a car at SAT is easy. From Terminal B, take the elevator or escalator to the Mezzanine level and cross the sky bridge to reach the Consolidated Rental Car Facility, where you’ll find 11 popular rental agencies. In the past, rental cars were offsite and required a shuttle, but you can now ignore any advice you find about this. It’s all in the airport today.
Three rental agencies at SAT operate 24 hours (Alamo, Enterprise, and National), so you can pick up or drop off without worrying about late flights. I always book from one of these agencies just in case my flight is super delayed. Then, I’m always sure my car will still be available, and it’s one less complication from a potential delay.
Parking at SAT
SAT offers short-term and long-term garage parking, plus economy lots. The short-term garage is conveniently connected to Terminal A and a great value for visits under 30 minutes. Once you pass this mark, rates increase more than in the long-term garage. For overnight parking, use the long-term garage or you’ll pay nearly double in the short-term garage.
Economy lots are an excellent bargain at SAT and approximately 10 minutes away via free shuttle service. Still, if you’re favoring an economy lot over covered garages, I recommend taking my favorite approach and skipping airport parking entirely. Nearby services like Airport Security Express offer security-patrolled parking lots, free shuttle service, and rates even cheaper than the economy lots. You’ll also avoid terminal traffic (though this is rarely a major issue here).
Security and airport navigation at SAT
The security lines at San Antonio International Airport are exceptionally short. On a bad day, you can allegedly wait up to 15 minutes, but I’ve never waited more than 5 minutes here, and local TSA agents have confirmed that’s the norm. That’s not to say SAT doesn’t experience heavier travel during holidays, like nearly all other airports.
Interestingly, I’ve seen TSA PreCheck lines take longer than general security lines here. The good news is you don’t have to use the PreCheck lane just because you qualify, so feel free to skip it in favor of general security if it looks longer when you arrive.
It’s also worth noting that, despite the relatively small size of this airport, the two terminals are not connected airside. This means you’ll have to pass through security again if you want to visit shops or facilities in the opposite terminal. I’ve done this to join a friend in her airline’s lounge, and the short lines made clearing security twice a nonissue.
Things to do on a layover at SAT
SAT may not have a ton of gates, but it does have a plethora of food and drink options. If you’re not sure where to hunker down, I highly recommend heading for La Gloria in Terminal A from a famed hometown chef with several popular restaurants across San Antonio. La Gloria is an outpost of his flagship restaurant in the Pearl district, and a great chance to sample the chef’s specialties.
Because the airport is so close to the city and the security lines are typically so brief, San Antonio is a perfect destination for leaving the airport and exploring one or two sights in town during layovers. With even a 3-hour layover, you can easily take a car ride to downtown San Antonio for a quick tour of the Alamo or a leisurely stroll down the famous riverwalk.
I recommend heading back toward the airport at least one hour before your flight’s scheduled departure. Downtown is quick to reach from the airport, but budgeting adequate time for your return, including TSA screening, ensures you won’t miss your flight. If you’re a nervous traveler, feel free to pad this by leaving even earlier.
Lounges at SAT
Though it’s only the third busiest airline at San Antonio International Airport, United Airlines is the only airline with a lounge here. It’s a small lounge (I had to leave to use the general airport restroom across the hall, for example), but has comfortable seating, a complimentary bar and several food options. Access requires a same-day boarding pass for travel on United or a Star Alliance partner, along with a valid United Club membership, one-time pass, or eligible elite status—guest access varies by membership type.
The other lounge option here is the USO, and this is for active-duty US military members and their families only. Like many USO airport lounges, this one is in the baggage claim area of Terminal B (outside of security), so be sure to leave early enough for clearing TSA before your boarding time. But remember, security lines are typically manageable at SAT, so you don’t have to sacrifice too many minutes.
Storage and specialized services at SAT
Lockers and storage
There are no lockers at SAT airport for general passengers, but I learned a fun fact for military members when touring the USO in Terminal B here. Because it’s outside of security, this lounge is able to offer luggage storage services specifically for active-duty military members and their families.
Service animal relief areas
For passengers with service animals, there’s a fully fenced and landscaped relief area outdoors curbside outside Terminal A, but there are also designated service animal relief areas post-security in each terminal. Please note that despite sources claiming the indoor relief area in Terminal A is outside of security, including some of the airport’s own official material, it is actually within security (airside). I was thrilled to learn we did not actually have to exit for my pup to use the potty.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
