Sacramento airport braces for 100K travelers. Will parking and construction cause delays?
Flying out of or into Sacramento for Thanksgiving?
You can expect bigger-than-usual crowds, congested parking lots and some highway traffic through the busy holiday weekend, airport officials said.
Sacramento International Airport is expected to see more than 100,000 passengers flying in and out of the airport from Tuesday through Nov. 26, said Scott Johnston, Sacramento County Department of Airports spokesman.
In contrast, a total of 540,775 passengers flew into the airport during the entire month of September, according to passenger statistics.
How early should I get to Sacramento airport?
Travelers taking domestic flights from the Sacramento airport should plan to get to the airport at least two hours before their scheduled departure times, Johnston said.
Those headed to international destinations should add an extra hour, getting to the airport at least three hours before their flights leave, he added.
According to the county Department of Airports website, peak travel times for departing flights will be between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. during the projected busiest days.
Transportation Security Administration checkpoints are open starting at 4 a.m. to accommodate morning travelers, Johnston said.
What is parking like at the airport?
If you plan to park your car at the Sacramento airport during holiday travel, be prepared for congested parking garages and lots, Johnston said.
“The parking does fill up pretty quick,” Johnston said. “We will have a place for you to park if you’re leaving your car here, but it may not be a spot that you’re used to.”
Before heading to the airport, you can check real-time availability for all five parking garages and lots through the Sacramento airport website.
The airport asks people to reserve the free waiting area located on Crossfield Drive for those who are picking up travelers.
Riseshare services are also available.
Travelers whose flights are arriving at Terminal B can meet up with rideshare drivers at Lindbergh Drive Curb, while those arriving at Terminal A can get picked up at Airport Boulevard East.
How can I get through security quicker?
Those who don’t want to risk long security lines can sign up for TSA PreCheck or CLEAR, at the Sacramento airport.
Travelers can apply for the TSA’s expedited screening service, which costs $85 and lasts for five years, at Terminal B at the southeast corner of level 1.
The application center open from 8 a.m. to noon and 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
CLEAR, a touchless security screening process that lets travelers bypass ID verification, is offered in Terminal A.
Memberships for CLEAR cost $189 per person. Family plans are also available for an additional $50 per adult, according to the company.
How will airport construction affect travel, traffic?
The Sacramento airport is partially remodeling its baggage systems in Terminal B, and construction will continue during Thanksgiving week.
The airport tweeted on Nov. 6 that the construction would temporarily change ticketing counters for some travelers.
Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue and Volaris have been shifted to a new ticketing counter, according to the Nov. 6 post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
According to Johnston, the construction at the Sacramento airport is currently happening behind the scenes, and won’t impact holiday travel.
“The only construction that would potentially slow people down to get to the airport would be out on the highway,” Johnston said, referring to roadwork on Interstate 5. “We don’t have anything here that we anticipate causing any delays.”
️Starting November 8, Terminal B at SMF is getting a mini makeover! Alaska, Hawaiian, JetBlue, + Volaris are shifting to different ticket counters. Don't worry, just follow the signs for a seamless experience. This is a temp change for a fabulous baggage system upgrade! pic.twitter.com/Sof8MwScTZ
— Sacramento International Airport (SMF) (@FlySMF) November 6, 2023
What’s happening on Interstate 5?
The California Department of Transportation is working on improvements on Interstate 5, resulting in traffic delays for those traveling to and from the Sacramento airport.
Although there will not be active workers at that I-5 construction site during the week of Thanksgiving, it remains a work zone, Caltrans spokesman Dennis Keaton told The Sacramento Bee via email.
The project is scheduled to be completed summer 2024.
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