Arrive two hours early & be prepared with information
Sacramento, CA. November 17, 2017 – Sacramento International Airport is staffed and looks forward to assisting Thanksgiving travelers. Whether flying out or picking up loved ones, customers are encouraged to arrive early, anticipate delays, and be prepared with information.
The airport recommends travelers arrive at least two hours in advance of flight departure. To make traveling easier, pet therapy dogs from the Boarding Area Relaxation Corp. (BARC) will be onsite Thanksgiving week and local musicians will serenade customers from the baggage claim area of both terminals during select time slots on Nov. 22 and Nov. 23.
A parking availability map on the Sacramento International Airport website lets customers see what spaces are available. Data is refreshed every five minutes.
The Thanksgiving rush begins Friday, Nov. 17 and peaks Wednesday, Nov. 22, with a second wave of travelers on Sunday, Nov. 26. Here are some tips to prepare for this busy time.
- Parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so be aware of your options. Both the Economy Lot ($10/day) and the Daily Lot ($12/day) are projected to fill and close by Thanksgiving.
- The parking garage ($18/day) offers covered parking and is a few minutes’ walk to either Terminal A or Terminal B.
- Prefer to let someone else drive? Ground transportation options include taxicabs, SuperShuttle, offsite van and shuttle bus companies, Yolobus public transportation, and on-demand transportation companies like Uber, Lyft, and Wingz.
- The TSA is implementing new carry-on baggage screening procedures for electronic devices. For non-PreCheck passengers, all devices larger than a cellphone, such as laptops, tablets, and e-readers, must be removed and placed a separate bin at the security checkpoint.
- Parking overnight at the Hourly B lot nearest to Terminal B is not recommended, as is it designed – and priced – for short-term parking.
PICKING UP FRIENDS & FAMILY
- Parking at the curb is prohibited unless you are picking up or dropping off passengers. Save gas and avoid circling the terminal by using the free waiting area, also known as the cell phone lot. Located at Crossfield and Lindberg streets, it allows drivers to park for free until their passenger calls to say are ready to be picked up. It’s a 3-5 minute drive to either terminal.
- The doors at Terminal B are numbered and designated by airline name. Tell your passenger to pick a door to wait by. Tip: Traffic is most heavy by doors 1 and 2. Use doors 3 or 4 (close to the parking garage) to reduce traffic delays.
- Follow the airport’s Facebook page and Twitter pages for travel tips and updates.
The Sacramento County Department of Airport is responsible for planning, developing, operating and maintaining the county’s four airports: Sacramento International Airport, Executive Airport, Mather Airport and Franklin Field. Sacramento International Airport offers over 150 daily nonstop flights on 10 domestic and international carriers to more than 30 destinations. The regional economic impact of the Sacramento County airport system is more than $4 billion annually. For more information, visit http://www.smf.aero
Contact: Laurie Slothower
Communication and Media Officer
Air Service Development and Marketing
Sacramento County Department of Airports
916.874.0791 (office)
916.806.5394 (cell)
