You really learn whether an airport works when it becomes your home airport…read more I live in Folsom and have flown through Sacramento International Airport more times than I can count. At this point, I don't really judge SMF by whether it looks impressive. I judge it by a much simpler question: does it make traveling easier or harder? For the most part, SMF makes it easier. It's about a 45-50 minute drive from Folsom for me, so I wouldn't exactly call it close, but once I get there, the airport itself is usually pretty straightforward. It's big enough to offer a good range of flights without feeling like one of those enormous airports where simply finding your terminal becomes part of the journey. Southwest plays a huge role here, and as someone who flies Southwest pretty often, that makes SMF especially convenient. There are usually plenty of options and a good number of nonstop routes, which is a real advantage for people living in Sacramento and the surrounding county. I've used both Terminal A and Terminal B many times, and I definitely find Terminal A a little more convenient when arriving. You can get from the gate toward baggage claim and the parking area fairly quickly. Terminal B adds one extra step because you have to take the automated train between the concourse and the main terminal. It's not a big deal, and the ride itself is short, but when you've just gotten off a long flight and want to get home, you definitely notice the difference. Terminal B does have more personality, though. The giant red rabbit hanging over the terminal is one of those wonderfully strange pieces of airport art that you eventually start associating with coming home to Sacramento. It gives the airport some character instead of making it feel like another completely generic terminal. My biggest recurring complaint is baggage claim. I've had more than a few trips where I've waited 30 minutes or longer for my suitcase. That can get frustrating, especially late at night. At the same time, I know baggage handling involves the airlines and ground crews too, so I wouldn't necessarily blame the airport itself for every long wait. Staff-wise, my experiences have generally been good. People are usually polite, helpful, and willing to point you in the right direction when you need something. The airport is also fairly easy to understand. Signage is clear, getting between parking, the terminals, and ground transportation is pretty intuitive, and I rarely feel stressed trying to figure out where I'm supposed to go. And that may actually be SMF's biggest strength. It isn't trying to be LAX, SFO, or some massive international hub, and I don't think it needs to be. It's a practical, relatively low-stress airport that serves the Sacramento region well. You can get in, get where you need to go, and most of the time get on with your trip without the airport itself becoming the problem. I also like seeing the airport continue to grow. Sacramento has changed a lot, and SMF is clearly growing along with the region. After traveling through much larger and more complicated airports, I've come to appreciate having SMF as my home airport more than I probably used to. It's not perfect. The baggage wait can test your patience, and Terminal B takes a few extra minutes because of the train. But overall, it's convenient, easy to navigate, well connected, and much less stressful than many major-city airports I've traveled through. For a home airport, that counts for a lot.

WORST EVER BAGGAGE CLAIM No security . Thieves walk in &…read moretake bags routinely EVERY time I arrive here, they get the luggage carousel wrong Today Denver flight on United said carousel One One hour waiting no announcement Transpires all luggage from ATL! The bags were coming off carousel number three near open door where I saw someone come in & walk out with two bags while likely owners were waiting at wrong carousel !!! The staff walk around like & instead of letting people know are on their phones & when asked shrug shoulders, are rude and unprofessional Thieves walk in & grab bags routinely so beware NO Announcement Shoddy , management of airport clearly don't give a fig

Perfect little airport…read more The Stockton Metro Airport might just be the most convenient airport there is. If you drive yourself there, you will see two large parking lots where they offer paid overnight parking. There are plenty of spots available so there is no need to arrive extremely early to hunt for an open spot. There is a kiosk inside where you can conveniently pay for parking when you wait for your belongings at baggage claim. This is definitely not an airport where you have to follow the general rule of showing up two hours early. I have shown up less than 30 minutes from boarding time and made it to the gate with plenty of time to spare. If you do decide to come early and have daytime/early evening flight, you can stop by the small restaurant for a bite. Since the only flights out of STK Airport are to Phoenix and Las Vegas, the majority of travelers don't check a bag. This makes the bag check line super short and quick. The TSA line also goes by super quickly. There is only one agent to check IDs, but there is never any hold up. Even through the government shutdown, I experienced no TSA delays. For travelers with TSA Pre-Check, you'll likely be the only person in line and will get through even quicker. It only takes a few moments to get through the security clearance before you're greeted by a large waiting area and bar. The waiting area by the gates is quite spacious. Right before the flight boards, it can get quite packed but there are typically still seats available. The intercom system is awful. It sounds like static. If you pay attention or sit closer to the gate, it shouldn't be an issue though. The bar is the perfect addition, especially before Vegas flights. Many people taking that weekend night flight to Vegas uses the bar as a pre-game for their night out. Don't expect to sleep on those flights, they're super rowdy! The drinks at the airport bar are typical for airport prices. We got three drinks for $27. The bar, of course, is limited on what they can make due to their few ingredients. My margarita was made with mixer and had nothing on the rim. Despite being super busy, the bartender got the drinks out super fast. He ran that bar by himself like the military and with style. He slid the drinks across the bar top giving everyone a little show too. Because the departing flight is directly dependent on the flight coming in, there are sometimes small flight delays. They have to deboard everyone and do a quick pass through to let everyone else on which can take a while. Despite what you may think about Allegiant Airlines itself, this is a fantastic airport, especially for those wanting a weekend getaway or a connection to a larger airport.

Tiny airport, but it's clean and efficient, and it gets the job done! Currently, only Allegiant…read moreflies to SCK to/from Las Vegas and Phoenix. The airport is extremely quiet as the only people ever here are those deplaning or waiting to board the departing flight. There is no need to arrive here too early as the check-in process and TSA security process take mere minutes. Remember, the only people here are the ones on your same flight! I'd recommend bringing your own food to the airport, as there aren't many options. There's a restaurant/bar/coffee shop outside security, as well as a bar inside the gate area. There are also vending machines scattered throughout. Boarding and deplaning are done via air stairs on the tarmac, so if there is inclement weather, you will be subjected to it! We got wet because it was raining upon arrival! If you're a visitor, keep in mind that there is no car rental facility located at this airport, so you will have to go either downtown or to the Stockton Auto Mall to pick-up a rental car. The only rideshare service authorized to pick-up here is Lyft. When we arrived around 10 PM, it took a while to get a Lyft to pick us up, likely due to the low volume of drivers at night. So plan accordingly!

Overall I had a pretty nice experience here. The staff were very friendly and the place was quite…read morecool. In fact, I met a 15-year-old cat here who worked at the facility! Overall, it is a great airport.

It's was really cool to see all the airplanes and they tour was really insightful about the pilots…read moreand why they were their yesterday 5/31. There was a competition and what a fascinating sight to see the planes do their tricks in the air. We would like to see this attraction on Halloween

Adj: Acceptable, Affordable, and a bit Above Average…read more So this is a budget airlines and the expectations should really match that. We've flown Allegiant Air a number of times and on average it's been pretty good. We pack light and only bring on our backpacks so we avoid the baggage fees. There are lots of fees, but we just don't buy any of those extras, such as picking our own seats. Since our flights are usually from Stockton to Phoenix, AZ, the flights are short and therefore we can put up with sitting in less than ideal locations on the plane. They always seat parents with their children, at least 1 parent with 1 child, so no child is ever left to sit by themselves, so the whole choose your own seat thing isn't important to us as long as there's 1 parent with 1 or both of our children. In fact, when you're booking your flights, a child cannot book on their own, there must be an adult's ticket booked at the same time, that ensures safety and also that the parent on the same booking will be seated with that/those child(ren). The comfort level isn't great as the seats are quite hard, they're acceptably cushy, but bring your own donut seat cushion or whatever you need if you are looking for extra back and bottom support. We like that the planes are Airbus and not Boeing ones, but that's not the biggest thing. The most important issue of course is safety, and we've experienced very professionally piloted Allegiant flights that are safe and smooth. The flight attendants have been good to great, and the pilots very competent and professional. 1-star taken for when they do have some delays (necessary) and some of them have been quite long such as waiting to depart b/c of some technical issues (understandable) and also once we were waiting for our checked item (really discouraged us from checking any luggage ever again) for over an hour after arrival. Overall, we like Allegiant Air and plan to keep flying with them since they are Acceptable, Affordable, and a bit Above Average. =)

AWARENESS: I recently flew Allegiant Air from Stockton to…read moreLas Vegas for an event. About two weeks before my trip, I visited SCK and purchased my tickets from the counter. At the time, I also chose my seat. The isle seat in an exit row. NARRATIVE: Heading to Vegas to attend the 2025 Big Smoke cigar event, I didn't want to drive so, I decided to book a flight out of Stocktons airport on Allegiant Air. On the date of my flight, I arrive about two hours early and as luck would have it, my flight was already delayed over an hour. Even though I had already purchased my round trip tickets and seats in advance, I checked in with their agents at the counter and presented my military ID because, hidden in the fine print of their perks, military, including reserves and veterans, Allegiant offers two free checked bags, priority boarding and two carry on items at no cost. When the plane finally arrived, the boarding process was smooth and effortless. The flight to Vegas was took a little over an hour and it was uneventful. No complementary drinks or snack offered but they do offer those service at a cost. **credit cards only. No cash.** My return flight that Sunday was delayed also but not just an hour. It was delayed over three hours. SCENE: Allegiant Air operates out of the Stockton Metropolitan Airport on most days with flight to either Vegas or Arizona. The TSA process at SCK is quick and easy, especially if you have TSA Pre or Global Entry. RECOMMENDATION(S): I'd fly Allegiant Air again but, I'd give myself extra hours for their known delays.

Myself along with 9 other pilots and their families, all from various locations throughout…read moreCalifornia landed at Westover-Amador Airport (KJAQ) this past Sunday (10-27-13) for a Fly-In Pizza Lunch. Landing was a bit tricky since the the common use runway (19) has a 18 degree uphill slope. Once on the ground, I found the parking had plenty of tie down chains for aircraft. The grounds, taxiway and runway also seemed to be very well maintained and manicured. Thank you Dave Sheppard for that. The airport doesn't have a FBO per-say but, there is an indoor business center that host a flight school, clean restrooms, a sitting area and a decent soda machine. Fuel prices on Sunday were $5.30 a gallon for 100LL which was great. There's also a nice grass area with three large picnic tables just outside the business centers doors which can easily accommodate 30 persons. If your ever in the mood for some really good pizza. I recommend flying into Westover and ordering from a place called Pizza Plus which is located about two miles away in Sutter Creek (http://www.yelp.com/biz/pizza-plus-sutter-creek). They will deliver to the airport at no extra charge and the pizza is amazingly good. Thanks Noel (Pizza Plus Manager) for taking the time to accommodate our group. If you plan on visiting the airport and having pizza for lunch at Pizza Plus, I'd suggest (if you have a bluetooth headset) calling in your order about 20 NM before you land. Good pizza takes a minute but, great pizza, especially if it's delivered takes forever.

It's a great little airport, very small, but with a really fun annual community event that includes…read morefree rides for kids. My son has flown in here and in taking off and landing with him flying I did sort of question the location a bit. Unfortunately the landing strip is very near a main road and I've noticed several times coming down that road in cars when a plane is landing can be something of a harrowing experience. Aside from that, and though it has very few amenities, it has many fans here in Amador County, and I guess I'm one although I'd like to see it in a different location, not surrounded by the largest stores in the county.

Excellent event: https://fathersdayflyin.org/ Well run (in…read morethe middle of) California, Tuolumne County Columbia Airport. Short walk to historical (no cars allowed) Columbia, CA gold town. Also best breakfast, lunch in the county is just a short walk from landing at Mandy's Cafe.

Oscar 22 (Columbia) is my absolute favorite municipality airport to fly-in to. Located just 52…read morenautical miles (30 minutes) from Tracy, it's a fast day trip to make. The airports runway and grounds are well kept and the staff at both the FBO and restaurant have been friendly and helpful each time I've gone. Once you're on the ground, a short walk on a nature trail will lead you to the historical gold rush mining town at Columbia State Park. There, you will find places to eat and shop and if you bring young children (or maybe old ones), they'll have a blast panning for gold. Make sure you try the home-made ice cream and the town's home brewed root beer. Before you depart the airport, make sure to check your weights & balances and the weather. The density altitude leaving could be hazardous to your health.

A friend of mine needed me to fly a plane from here to Stockton. So, on July 8, 2013, my buddy…read moreflew me into Calaveras. He dropped me off and I checked out and flew the plane out of here and into Stockton. Before departing, I ran into their FBO to check things out (I had to go potty). Calaveras is a neat little airport with the basic amenities that every pilot needs and looks for when on the stop and go. A clean restroom(s). Accessible fuel pumps that take either credit or debit cards, a snack machine that accepts dollar bills and coins and a well maintained airport and runway. I's a cool little spot to stop and have either breakfast or lunch before heading up and over the Sierra's or back home to the bay area.

I flew into Modesto this past Saturday to take advantage of the $6 dollar breakfast put on by the…read moreCommemorative Air Force. After being handed off by NORCAL and switching to Modesto's Control Tower, I thought I was in the wrong place. The air traffic communications were nasty with noise and chatter from pilots in seek of their $6 breakfast and who were looking to land at Modesto. If I hadn't know any better, I would have thought I was flying into a Class "Charlie" Airport. After getting clearance to land, taxi and park. I secured my plane and enjoyed the always delicious breakfast put on by the folks at the CAF. When I was ready to depart, I had to hold short for approximately 15 minutes so ATC could clear out all the other aircraft who were looking to land and depart. While waiting, I couldn't help but think how great the controllers at Modesto were doing with all the air traffic communications bombarding them. Without missing a beat, they were keeping up with in-bound, out-bound, taxi and hold-shorts like the pro's at bigger airports do. If no one else tells them, the guys working ATC at Modesto's Tower on Saturday, January 12, 2013 Rocked!

The The Central California Valley Squadron (CCVS), puts on a breakfast every 2nd Saturday of the…read moremonth. The$7.00 they charge is well worth it. You get your choice of eggs...over easy, scrambled or scrambled with ham and peppers. (My favorite) choice of 2 pancakes...plane ( get it? Ha ha) , pecan or chocolate chip. Bacon, biscuit with gravy, campfire beans and a fruit cup. They have regular and sugar free syrup on hand and coffee, water and o.j. for your choice to drink. Check out the planes, the museum and chat with new friends. A awsome way to start a Saturday if you ask me. Check out the website https://www.cafvalleysquadron.org for more information. I found out about this from a friend and have been every month since. Everyone is welcome and this is a great place to make new friends. Super welcoming!