Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl. Airport (SJC) is the one and only airport serving Santa Clara.

If you’re staying in the center of Santa Clara, you’ll be there within moments after landing at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl. Airport (SJC). The terminal is only 3 kilometres from downtown.

Countless travelers fly in and out of Santa Clara every day. With multiple airport terminals servicing the city, there are a number of places you might touchdown. The major ones are San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) (48 kilometres from downtown), San Jose Intl. Airport (3 kilometres from downtown) and OAK (48 kilometres from downtown).

There are a total of 46 air carriers connecting Santa Clara with 124 airports across the globe.

Typically, travelers choose to fly with Alaska Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines when going to Santa Clara. The biggest proportion of these flights arrive from Los Angeles, with Alaska Airlines operating this route the most.

Planning an exciting Santa Clara vacation is a cinch when there are 5,180 nonstop flights every week to select from.

Travelers frequently depart from Seattle, Los Angeles and Portland airports when flying to Santa Clara.

If it’s Los Angeles you’re departing, you’ll be in the sky for around 1 hour and 19 minutes before you touchdown in Santa Clara. Terminal to terminal from San Diego takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes and from Seattle, the flight time is 2 hours and 7 minutes.

We all know those lucky jet-setters who manage to pick up wonderfully cheap airfares whenever they fly. Want to know how to do it for your Santa Clara vacation? Don’t leave it until the very last minute to lock in your flight. Also, do some online research and compare your options. If your destination has more than one airport, you may be able to nab an excellent price by flying into one that’s farther away. Last of all, another simple way to save some cash is be ready to book fast. If you spot a good bargain, don’t think twice — snap it up while you’ve got the chance.

If you’re poorly prepared, air travel can be testing. But don’t hit the panic button just yet. Follow these useful tips for a pain-free start to your vacation in Santa Clara.What to pack in your hand luggage:

• Flying can be a stress-free experience if you’ve got all the right gear. Firstly, you’ll want a few basic toiletry items, such as a toothbrush and lip balm, a spare pair of socks and something to read. Secondly, leave space in your carry-on bag for your electronic devices, chargers, your important medications and maybe a neck pillow as well. Lastly, don’t forget to bring your passport, travel papers and some cash.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Make sure you don’t have a sharp object lurking in one of the compartments of your carry-on luggage. Other banned items include explosive or flammable products, such as aerosol cans and bleach, and gels and liquids in containers with a capacity of more than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters).

What to wear on a flight:

• The aisles of a plane are not the best place for a fashion parade. Don comfortable layers and don’t forget to bring a sweater as it can get quite cool inside the cabin. Flat, enclosed shoes are also a good idea.
• Unfortunately, a risk of long flights is developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clotting condition caused by prolonged inactivity. To prevent this, make the most of every opportunity to wander around the cabin. Compression socks and tights are another simple way to help reduce this risk.

Being prepared before you get to the airport can make your trip to Santa Clara a pleasure. Below you’ll find some useful tips for a speedy journey past security:

• Have your travel documents and ID handy. They’re the first things you’ll be asked to present to security.
• Next up is the X-ray machine. Remove anything metal on you that is likely to beep. This includes things like earphones or headphones, as well as heavy coats or jackets. They’ll need to be placed on the conveyor belt for screening.
• All your electronics, including your tablet and phone, are also required to be scanned.
• Don’t forget to remove gels and liquids from your hand luggage. They usually need to be sent through the X-ray machine separately. Each product should be in a container no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) and everything must fit in a single quart-size (one liter), clear zip-lock bag.
• Slip-on shoes are a sensible footwear choice as you’re less likely to have to remove them when passing through security. Hiking boots and heavier-style shoes are usually subjected to additional screening.
• Knives and other sharp items are prohibited in the cabin. They’ll be seized at security, so put them in your checked bags.