{
  "response": {
    "Key": "HOU-SJC",
    "orig": {
      "code": "HOU",
      "type": "airport",
      "city": "Houston",
      "fullCity": "Houston, Texas",
      "airport": "William P Hobby Airport"
    },
    "dest": {
      "code": "SJC",
      "type": "airport",
      "city": "San Jose",
      "fullCity": "San Jose, California",
      "airport": "Mineta Intl Airport"
    },
    "faq": {
      "q0": {
        "question": "What is the typical flight duration from Houston to San Jose?",
        "answer": "The flight from Houston (Hobby) to San Jose is about 1,620 miles and typically takes 3 hours 55 minutes nonstop on Southwest. The return flight is slightly shorter at 3 hours 45 minutes.",
        "methodology": "Flight times and distances come from our flight-schedule database, which combines published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and observed flight operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). The typical flight time is the median scheduled block time across all carriers on the route, computed the same way in both directions so the difference reflects prevailing winds rather than any change in method. Distance is the great-circle distance between the two airports, so the actual flown track is typically 2-5% longer.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "flight_schedule"
        ]
      },
      "q1": {
        "question": "Are there any direct flights from Houston to San Jose?",
        "answer": "Yes, Southwest Airlines flies nonstop from Houston Hobby to San Jose daily, with about 30 weekly flights at a typical fare around $235 one‑way. Departures are spread throughout the day from early morning through late evening, and the flight takes roughly 3 hours 55 minutes westbound (about 3 hours 45 minutes on the return). Southwest is the only airline offering nonstop service on this route.",
        "methodology": "Airlines and weekly frequencies are compiled from our flight-schedule database, which combines published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and observed flight operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We count each operating carrier's scheduled weekly departures and the days it flies; where there is no nonstop service, connecting carriers are identified by linking scheduled nonstop segments through common hub airports. Where a median fare is shown for a carrier, it reflects the real fares Priceline users found on this route in the last 72 hours. Carrier service, flight times and distances for this route come from our flight-schedule database, which draws on published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data, and observed operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We report the days of the week and the departure times each carrier operates. The typical flight time is the median scheduled block time, given both per carrier and across all carriers on the route; where a schedule does not publish an elapsed time, it is derived from the scheduled departure and arrival times converted to UTC. Outbound and return times are computed by the same method, so the difference between them is directly comparable and reflects prevailing winds rather than any change in derivation. Distance is the great-circle distance between the two specific airports named, so an actual flown track is typically 2-5% longer. Where shown, on-time departure and arrival rates and cancellation rates come from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Airline On-Time Performance dataset, which covers U.S. domestic routes only; where a typical fare is shown, it comes from the U.S. DOT Airline Origin and Destination Survey (DB1B), a quarterly 10% sample of tickets sold. Red-eye flights are identified from scheduled local departure and arrival times in our flight-schedule database — built from published airline timetables and official schedule data, including U.S. Department of Transportation records for domestic routes — flagging services that depart late at night and arrive the following morning; for connecting itineraries the red-eye is based on the timing of the overnight long-haul leg.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "route_airlines",
          "flight_schedule",
          "redeye_flights"
        ]
      },
      "q4": {
        "question": "When is the cheapest time to fly from Houston to San Jose?",
        "answer": "Average fares bottom out around $314 in late January, with February, September, and January ranking as the cheapest months overall at roughly $322–326. The most expensive stretch is late December, when average fares climb to about $433, followed by July and June as the priciest months. Early fall and late winter offer the best values on this route, while the holiday period and mid-summer carry a premium.",
        "methodology": "Seasonal fares come from Priceline's own air booking-summary archive, analysed in-house and refreshed monthly. For each day of the year we take a representative round-trip fare, a blend of the 25th-percentile and average ticket price over the route's bookings, and smooth the series into a seasonal curve; the half-month low and high and the monthly figures quoted here are averages of that curve. Thin and international routes borrow their seasonal shape from the nearest busy routes, with the price level anchored to the route's own bookings.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "seasonal_prices"
        ]
      },
      "q5": {
        "question": "How far in advance should I book tickets from Houston to San Jose?",
        "answer": "For flights from Houston to San Jose, the optimal booking window is roughly 4-6 weeks before departure, when fares average around $269. Booking about 25 days out can get you the lowest price around $264, while waiting until the last minute or booking more than four months ahead pushes fares above $350-$440. During summer and holiday periods, expect prices to run higher across all lead times, so sticking closer to that 4-6 week window becomes even more important.",
        "methodology": "Booking-window guidance comes from the same monthly in-house analysis of Priceline's own air booking-summary archive. We aggregate the route's bookings by how many days before departure they were made, from about 180 days out to the day of travel, smooth the curve, and highlight the stretch of lead times with the lowest average fare. Thin and international routes borrow the curve shape from the nearest busy routes, anchored to the route's own price level. It reflects current fares and is refreshed monthly.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "booking_timing"
        ]
      },
      "q6": {
        "question": "Are overnight (red‑eye) flights available from Houston to San Jose?",
        "answer": "No nonstop red-eye flights operate from Houston Hobby (HOU) to San Jose (SJC), but a connecting overnight itinerary is available through Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW) on American Airlines. The overnight leg departs DFW at 21:00 and arrives in San Jose at 22:32 the same evening, after a 45-minute layover in Dallas following a short hop from Houston.",
        "methodology": "Red-eye flights are identified from scheduled local departure and arrival times in our flight-schedule database — built from published airline timetables and official schedule data, including U.S. Department of Transportation records for domestic routes — flagging services that depart late at night and arrive the following morning; for connecting itineraries the red-eye is based on the timing of the overnight long-haul leg.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "redeye_flights"
        ]
      },
      "q7": {
        "question": "Which airlines usually operate this route from Houston to San Jose?",
        "answer": "Southwest Airlines flies nonstop from Houston Hobby to San Jose, with about 30 weekly flights operating daily. Typical per-carrier fares aren't listed for this route, but Southwest is the sole nonstop carrier.",
        "methodology": "Airlines and weekly frequencies come from our flight-schedule database, which combines published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and observed flight operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We count each operating carrier's scheduled weekly departures and the days it flies; where there is no nonstop service, connecting carriers are identified by linking scheduled nonstop segments through common hub airports. Where a typical fare is shown for a carrier, it is the median of the real fares Priceline users found on this route in the last 72 hours.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "route_airlines"
        ]
      },
      "q8": {
        "question": "If I need a connection, what are common layover cities between Houston and San Jose?",
        "answer": "Common layover cities between Houston and San Jose include Dallas, Phoenix, Denver and Las Vegas. These hubs offer frequent connections, short layover times and efficient domestic transfers, helping keep overall travel time competitive."
      },
      "q9": {
        "question": "How reliable are on‑time arrivals on this route from Houston to San Jose?",
        "answer": "Southwest Airlines flights from Houston Hobby to San Jose arrive on time 81.1% of the time with a cancellation rate of just 0.4%. Southwest is the most reliable carrier on this route.",
        "methodology": "On-time arrival and cancellation rates come from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Airline On-Time Performance dataset, which covers U.S. domestic routes only; a flight counts as on time when it arrives within 15 minutes of schedule. Carriers are ranked by arrival on-time rate on this route, and the carrier list itself comes from our flight-schedule database, which combines published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and observed flight operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI).",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "flight_schedule"
        ]
      },
      "q10": {
        "question": "Which months have the best weather for traveling to San Jose?",
        "answer": "May to June and September to October offer warm, sunny days and smaller crowds than summer."
      },
      "q11": {
        "question": "What documents should I bring with me to the airport when flying from Houston to San Jose?",
        "answer": "For this domestic flight, bring a Real ID-compliant driver's license or passport, a credit or debit card for baggage fees, and any vaccination certificates if required by your airline."
      },
      "q12": {
        "question": "Which airport should I use in San Jose?",
        "answer": "San Jose has one commercial airport, Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC), located about two miles northwest of downtown. It serves as a convenient gateway to Silicon Valley businesses and attractions."
      },
      "q13": {
        "question": "How do I get to William P Hobby Airport from the city center?",
        "answer": "From downtown Houston, you can reach William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) by public bus, shared shuttle, ride‑share, taxi, or driving. Ride‑share and taxis are the most popular and fastest options, getting you to the terminal in about 15–25 minutes depending on traffic. Public buses are the cheapest way, while shuttles offer a middle ground. Parking at the airport is available in several lots, with online reservations offering discounts up to 50%.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "article_lookup"
        ],
        "references": [
          {
            "url": "https://fly2houston.com/hou/ground-transportation",
            "title": "HOU Ground Transportation | Airport Shuttle, Taxi, Uber, Lyft & Rent Car Houston"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://fly2houston.com/hou",
            "title": "HOU Houston Airport | William P. Hobby",
            "time_published": "2026-06-09T05:00:00Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_P._Hobby_Airport",
            "title": "William P. Hobby Airport",
            "time_published": "2026-07-06T09:58:05Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William%20P.%20Hobby%20Airport",
            "title": "William P. Hobby Airport",
            "time_published": "2026-04-21T04:20:29Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://faa.gov/flight_deck/hef",
            "title": "Manassas Regional Airport/Harry P. Davis Field (HEF) | Federal Aviation Administration",
            "time_published": "2026-03-10T00:00:00Z"
          }
        ],
        "methodology": "Airport details are drawn from the sources listed with this answer, primarily the airport operator's official website along with airline, lounge-operator and transit-authority pages, collected by our research process and refreshed periodically. Only information found in those sources is used; where a source does not cover a topic it is left out rather than guessed."
      },
      "q14": {
        "question": "Are there hotels or sleeping facilities at San Jose airport?",
        "answer": "San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) does not have an on-site hotel or sleeping pods inside the terminals, but there are nearby hotels within a quick shuttle ride, such as the Courtyard by Marriott San Jose Airport just five minutes away. The airport is open 24 hours, and ticketed passengers with a boarding pass for a connecting flight may remain in the terminals overnight, though seating is limited and most have armrests. For uninterrupted sleep, the nearby hotels are the best option.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "article_lookup"
        ],
        "references": [
          {
            "url": "https://www.sleepinginairports.net/guides/san-jose-airport-guide-us.htm",
            "title": "San Jose Airport Guide",
            "time_published": "2025-06-05T00:00:00Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Y._Mineta_San_Jos%C3%A9_International_Airport",
            "title": "San Jose International Airport - Wikipedia",
            "time_published": "2026-03-15T19:59:16Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Jose_International_Airport",
            "title": "San Jose International Airport",
            "time_published": "2026-07-06T10:50:58Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://www.marriott.com/en-gb/hotels/sjcya-courtyard-san-jose-airport/experiences/",
            "title": "Experiences Near Courtyard by Marriott San Jose Airport | Marriott Bonvoy",
            "time_published": "2025-09-13T00:00:00Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://activities.marriott.com/north-america/costa-rica/san-jose/activities/departure_by_minivan_from_san_jose_city_to_san_jose_airport_sjo-X6ALJP",
            "title": "Departure by Minivan from San Jose City to San Jose Airport SJO",
            "time_published": "2026-02-12T00:00:00Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://www.faa.gov/sjc",
            "title": "Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) | Federal Aviation Administration",
            "favicon": "https://www.faa.gov/themes/custom/faa/favicon.png",
            "time_published": "2026-05-22T00:00:00Z"
          }
        ],
        "methodology": "Airport details are drawn from the sources listed with this answer, primarily the airport operator's official website along with airline, lounge-operator and transit-authority pages, collected by our research process and refreshed periodically. Only information found in those sources is used; where a source does not cover a topic it is left out rather than guessed."
      },
      "q17": {
        "question": "What aircraft are typically used on flights from Houston to San Jose?",
        "answer": "Nonstop flights from Houston Hobby to San Jose are operated by Southwest, and the specific aircraft type isn't publicly listed for those nonstops — it's shown as unspecified, though Southwest's fleet is all Boeing 737s. One-stop connecting itineraries most often use Boeing 737 MAX 8 or Boeing 737-800 aircraft on the longer leg, with connections through Las Vegas, San Diego, Dallas, Denver, or Phoenix on Southwest or American. Wi-Fi and seatback entertainment are widely available on these routes, though the exact aircraft can vary by day and airline.",
        "methodology": "Aircraft types are taken from the equipment each operating carrier schedules on this route, drawn from published airline timetables and airline equipment schedules in our flight-schedule database. They describe typical scheduled aircraft and can vary with seasonal or day-of-week assignments and last-minute equipment swaps.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "route_aircraft"
        ]
      },
      "q18": {
        "question": "Which airline alliances serve flights from Houston to San Jose?",
        "answer": "Only Southwest operates nonstop between Houston Hobby and San Jose, and Southwest is not a member of any major global alliance — it's an independent carrier. Other alliances like Star Alliance, SkyTeam, and oneworld may serve the route via connections, but no alliance member flies it nonstop.",
        "methodology": "Airlines and weekly frequencies are compiled from our flight-schedule database, which combines published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and observed flight operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We count each operating carrier's scheduled weekly departures and the days it flies; where there is no nonstop service, connecting carriers are identified by linking scheduled nonstop segments through common hub airports. Where a median fare is shown for a carrier, it reflects the real fares Priceline users found on this route in the last 72 hours. Carrier service, flight times and distances for this route come from our flight-schedule database, which draws on published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data, and observed operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We report the days of the week and the departure times each carrier operates. The typical flight time is the median scheduled block time, given both per carrier and across all carriers on the route; where a schedule does not publish an elapsed time, it is derived from the scheduled departure and arrival times converted to UTC. Outbound and return times are computed by the same method, so the difference between them is directly comparable and reflects prevailing winds rather than any change in derivation. Distance is the great-circle distance between the two specific airports named, so an actual flown track is typically 2-5% longer. Where shown, on-time departure and arrival rates and cancellation rates come from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Airline On-Time Performance dataset, which covers U.S. domestic routes only; where a typical fare is shown, it comes from the U.S. DOT Airline Origin and Destination Survey (DB1B), a quarterly 10% sample of tickets sold.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "route_airlines",
          "flight_schedule"
        ]
      },
      "q20": {
        "question": "What are the best airport lounge options when departing from Houston?",
        "answer": "William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) does not have any traditional airline-branded lounges, such as a Delta Sky Club or United Club. The only lounge-like option is a Priority Pass-accessible XpresSpa, located in the Central Concourse near Gate 45, which offers massages and relaxation services rather than a conventional lounge environment. Other independent lounges you might find at larger airports, like Plaza Premium, are not present at HOU.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "article_lookup"
        ],
        "references": [
          {
            "url": "https://fly2houston.com/hou/related-content/hou-tips-for-first-time-travelers",
            "title": "Navigating William P. Hobby Airport (HOU): Tips for First-Time Travelers",
            "time_published": "2026-01-23T00:00:00Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://www.prioritypass.com/pt-PT/lounges/usa/houston-tx-william-p-hobby/hou2s-xpresspa",
            "title": "XWELL HOU AIRPORT Houston TX William P. Hobby | Priority Pass",
            "time_published": "2024-11-05T00:00:00Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_P._Hobby_Airport",
            "title": "William P. Hobby Airport",
            "time_published": "2026-07-06T09:58:05Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/united-states-of-america/william-p-hobby",
            "title": "William P. Hobby Airport HOU Lounges - HOU Airport Guide and lounges.  | Priority Pass",
            "time_published": "2024-11-05T00:00:00Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://fly2houston.com/hou",
            "title": "HOU Houston Airport | William P. Hobby",
            "time_published": "2026-06-09T05:00:00Z"
          }
        ],
        "methodology": "Airport details are drawn from the sources listed with this answer, primarily the airport operator's official website along with airline, lounge-operator and transit-authority pages, collected by our research process and refreshed periodically. Only information found in those sources is used; where a source does not cover a topic it is left out rather than guessed."
      },
      "q21": {
        "question": "What is the baggage allowance on this route from Houston to San Jose?",
        "answer": "Baggage allowance on this domestic route varies by airline and fare class. Basic economy often excludes a carry-on and charges for checked bags, while standard economy typically includes a carry-on and charges for the first checked bag. Premium cabins and elite status may provide additional allowances."
      },
      "q22": {
        "question": "What cabin and seat options are typical from Houston to San Jose?",
        "answer": "This domestic route typically offers only Economy and standard recliner First class; flat-bed Business and Premium Economy are not common."
      },
      "q23": {
        "question": "Are same‑day changes or standby possible on this route?",
        "answer": "Policies vary by airline and fare; flexible and premium tickets often allow same‑day changes or standby, while basic economy typically does not."
      }
    }
  }
}