Travel and ground transporation

Plan your travel as early as possible for the best fares and choice of flights. Be sure of the dates you need to travel before making your reservation; airline change fees are expensive and usually not reimbursable.

Most major airlines serve the San Jose airport, including American, Delta, Southwest and others. 

American Airlines is offering a discount of 5 percent off published fares for travel to San Jose for the General Assembly.  To receive this discount, you may book through the Travel Authority (see below) or directly with American Airlines. 

Book online and enter A2968BH in the box for “Promotion Code” on the reservation screen.   Or call (800) 433-1790 and use the discount code A2968BH.

If you use Delta Air Lines, please reference SkyBonus number US426223887 when you make your reservation online or with a Delta agent.  Though no discounts apply, the credits the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) earns for these flights assists with overall denominational travel costs.

Amtrak provides good service into San Jose.  Go to the Amtrak Web site for schedules and fares.  This may be an especially economical option for those traveling within California.  The Amtrak station is located near downtown San Jose.

Official travel agency
The Travel Authority is the official travel agency for the General Assembly.  All attendees may use the services of this agency; agents can help travelers find the best schedule and fare on any airline, including Southwest.  The agency service fee is $30.

Commissioners, advisory delegates and other official attendees whose travel expenses are paid by a GA level entity will use the Travel Authority to have the cost of their ticket and the service fee charged to the assembly or their agency. 

Contact the Travel Authority by email, be sure to provide the correct spelling of your name, your home airport and the dates/times you prefer to travel. An agent will research flights and reply.

Or call the Travel Authority at (877) 868-4023, hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern time.

Commissioners and advisory delegates
To have the cost of your ticket charged directly to the assembly, email the Travel Authority (providing the correct spelling of your name, your home airport and the dates/times you wish to travel) or call (877) 868-4023 (8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Eastern).  Be sure to tell the agent that you are a commissioner or advisory delegate.

Review the special information for commissioners and advisory delegates before you book your travel or register and reserve a room. It includes important details about the schedule for these attendees and travel and expense policies.

Airport ground transportation
The San Jose Airport is 3 miles (10 minutes or less) from downtown, the location of the San Jose Convention Center (SJCC) and six of the assembly hotels.  Complimentary assembly shuttle service will be provided from the San Jose airport to the downtown assembly hotels on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, June 19-21, and for returns from the SJCC to the airport on Saturday, June 28.

The Holiday Inn and Wyndham hotels in uptown are very close to the San Jose airport and provide complimentary airport transportation.  Guests at these properties will use the hotel’s shuttles for airport transportation.

Other airports
Those who chose to fly into San Francisco or Oakland will arrange and pay for their transportation to San Jose.  Commercial shuttles provide this service, starting at about $45 one-way from SFO to San Jose, and at about $80 one-way from Oakland.  Public transportation — using CalTrain — is available from SFO to San Jose.

More detailed information on airport transportation services will be sent to registered participants in advance.

Getting around in San Jose
Downtown San Jose is very compact and accessible. The six downtown hotels are within two blocks of the convention center.  Many restaurants and other services are nearby. Those at the uptown hotels may use the light rail for quick and easy access to downtown.  Most participants will find that an automobile is not necessary and parking charges at the downtown hotels will make it very expensive to have a rental car.

For those who do need a car, Avis is offering car rental discounts for the assembly. Reserve a car online at the Avis Web site, or call Avis at (800) 331-1600.  Use AWD #B950498 to be sure the discount is applied.