San Antonio Airport (SAT) Flights & Flight Status

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.

Short security lines 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. But this is one airport where security delays are almost never a concern, otherwise.

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. You’ll have to take your shoes off and remove your electronics from your bag, but you’ll still get through faster.

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 a terminal that doesn’t include your gate. I’ve done this while joining a friend in her airline’s lounge in the opposite terminal, and the very short lines made clearing security twice a nonissue.

Traveling to and from SAT 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 extremely inexpensive and I’ve always found there to be 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 toward the end of Terminal B. You’ll see the bus stop marked 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 to and from SAT 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 curb, and do not need to reserve one in advance. This is a good option if you don’t have any rideshare apps, but 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. Just across the sky bridge at Terminal B, nearly a dozen popular rental agencies are represented in the Consolidated Rental Car Facility inside the short-term parking garage. 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.

A great bonus of the rental car system at San Antonio International Airport is that three of the agencies are open 24 hours, so you can easily pick up or drop off without worrying about late flights.

I always try to book from one of these three agencies (Alamo, Enterprise, and National) 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

Parking at SAT airport is simple and affordable, as long as you park in the right place. 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. If you’re parking overnight, be sure to 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 just a 5–10-minute free shuttle ride away. 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).

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 from a famed hometown chef with several popular restaurants across San Antonio. La Gloria is an outpost of his flagship restaurant in the city’s 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 city’s world-famous riverwalk.

I recommend heading back toward the airport at least one hour before your flight’s scheduled departure. Downtown is just about ten minutes from the airport, so budgeting another ten minutes for TSA, this should get you past security about 40 minutes before your flight, just in time to arrive at your gate for boarding. If you’re a nervous traveler, feel free to pad this by leaving 15–30 minutes 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. Only United passengers and their guests can enter, though, and only with membership or a qualifying ticket.

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 outside of security (near baggage claim in Terminal B), so be sure to leave early enough for clearing TSA before your boarding time. But remember, security lines are typically very short at SAT, so you don’t have to sacrifice many minutes.

Lockers and storage at SAT

There are no locker or storage facilities at SAT airport for general passengers, but I learned a fun fact for military members when touring the USO in Terminal B here. Because its outside of security, this lounge is able to offer luggage storage for its active-duty military members.

Service Animal Relief Areas at SAT

For passengers with service animals, there’s a relief area outdoors at Terminal A arrivals, but there are also indoor relief areas in each terminal. Please note that despite sources claiming Terminal A’s indoor relief area 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.