San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO) is the one and only airport in San Mateo.

If you’re staying in central San Mateo, it’s wise to work out how you’ll get into the city before you touchdown. The downtown area is about 10 kilometers from San Francisco Intl. Airport (SFO).

San Mateo is popular with travelers, and it has the airports to prove it. If you’re planning a visit to this busy city, you’ll most likely be hopping off the plane at San Francisco Airport (10 kilometers from downtown). If not, it’ll probably be San Jose Intl. Airport (40 kilometers from downtown) or OAK (19 kilometers from downtown).

There are a total of 46 air carriers connecting San Mateo to 124 airports globally.

Typically, travelers opt to fly with Alaska Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines when heading to San Mateo. The biggest proportion of these flights originate in Los Angeles, with Alaska Airlines flying this route the most frequently.

Flying to someplace new is much simpler when there aren’t any annoying stopovers. If you’re traveling to San Mateo, the good news is that there are approximately 5,180 nonstop flights operating each week.

Travelers often depart from Seattle, Los Angeles and Portland airports when heading to San Mateo.

Which airport you depart from determines how much of the in-flight entertainment you’ll get to enjoy. From Los Angeles to San Mateo, the average flight time is 1 hour and 19 minutes. From San Diego it’s roughly 1 hour and 30 minutes, and from Seattle it’s 2 hours and 7 minutes.

Don’t leave booking your flight to San Mateo until the last moment. That’s one trick frequent travelers use to get the best prices. Booking ahead means more choices and more affordable flights. Another easy way to get the most competitive fare is to shop around. If your destination has multiple airports, be sure to look into the cost of flying into a smaller terminal. And finally, don’t forget that the early bird catches the worm. Know what a typical airfare costs and have your credit card ready to snap up a ticket as soon as you spot a bargain. The best deals never last long.

Wherever you’re coming from, flying can be an enjoyable experience if you’re well organized. Check out these handy hints that will help get your San Mateo escape started on the right note.What to pack in your hand luggage:

• A plane ride can be a pleasure if you’ve got all the right gear. Firstly, you’ll need basic toiletry items, such as deodorant, toothpaste and a toothbrush, a spare change of clothes and a few magazines. Secondly, leave space in your carry-on bag for your mobile phone, a charger, your medications and perhaps a proper neck pillow as well. Lastly, and most importantly, remember to take your passport, travel docs and some money.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Put all your full-sized bottles of shampoo and conditioner in your checked baggage. Any liquids in your carry-on suitcase larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) won’t be allowed on. Sharp objects, like your precious pocket knife, and dangerous goods which are explosive or flammable, such as aerosols and gasoline, are also not allowed.

What to wear on a flight:

• Comfort should be your prime concern when selecting what to wear on board. Consider your choice of footwear carefully too, as swelling of the feet and ankles can be a side effect of flying. Slightly roomy, flat shoes are your best bet.
• Unfortunately, a risk of flying long-haul is developing DVT (deep vein thrombosis), a blood clot condition caused by extended periods of inactivity. To avoid this, make the most of every opportunity to walk around the cabin and stretch your legs. Compression socks and tights are also a great idea to help minimize this risk.

Being prepared before you get to the airport will help make your getaway to San Mateo quick and painless. Check out our useful tips and tricks for a speedy journey through security:

• Security personnel first need to establish that you have a valid passport and matching boarding pass before you can proceed any further. Have them in your hand, ready for inspection.
• Time to strip down. Well sort of. Your coat, belt, keys and other contents of your pockets, like your headphones, will be required to go through the X-ray machine. Make the whole process faster by removing them as it gets closer to your turn.
• For just a few minutes, you’ll have to unplug from technology. Your phone, tablet and any other electronic devices will also need to be sent through the scanner.
• Remember to remove liquids and gels from your hand luggage. They usually need to be sent through the X-ray separately. Each product should be no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) and everything must fit in a single quart-size (one liter), clear zip-lock bag.
• There’s a chance you’ll need to take your shoes off for scanning, so wearing lightweight sneakers is always a clever idea.
• Take all prohibited items out of your carry-on bag. If you have any sharp or pointed objects, put them in your checked suitcase. They won’t be allowed in the cabin.