“We’re very excited to welcome back all of our customers,” said Cindy Nichol, Director of Airports Sacramento County Airport System. “Passenger numbers are increasing daily and for those who haven’t visited us in a while, things may look a little different here at SMF. But through it all, we continue to put the health and safety of our passengers and staff first.”
SMF has enhanced its health and safety measures over the last year and passengers will notice some changes, but they’re all designed to make your time in the airport as safe and comfortable as possible.
Here are a few tips that will help make your trip seamless:
General
Passengers will notice counter sneeze guards, social distancing signage, many hand sanitizer stations and employees in face masks. Passengers should minimize touchpoints and are encouraged to use touchless options, like online check-in, mobile boarding passes, prepayment of bag fees, etc.
Federal law requires that passengers wear face masks at all times in the airport to prevent the spread of infection. Without one, passengers may be removed and denied re-entry to the airport.
Parking & Ground Transportation
Cash is no longer accepted at parking lot cashier booths in all parking lots at SMF. Customers who want to pay with cash will need to pay prior to returning to their car at specifically designated pay-on-foot self-service kiosks in the parking garage and outside Door 1 at Terminal B.
The airport has installed social distancing signage in areas where passengers wait for pick-up, taxis, rental car shuttles and ride hailing apps.
Security Checkpoints
In an effort to be as contactless as possible, passengers will scan their own boarding passes and not hand them over to TSA employees.
Liquids still must be in 3.4 ounce or smaller containers with the exception of hand sanitizer, which can be in a 12-ounce container. It must be removed from baggage before it goes through the X-ray and will be screened separately. If passengers bring their own meal or snacks for their flight, they should be placed in a clear plastic bag, in a separate tray from their luggage, for scanning.
TSA recommends that all personal items (keys, phones, wallets, etc.) should be placed in carry-on bags instead of directly in the bins, to avoid contamination. Travelers can
visit the TSA website for more information.
Arrive Early
The airport is also encouraging travelers to arrive at least two hours before their scheduled departure time to accommodate for any unforeseen delays before boarding.
Dining and Shopping
Some retail shops and restaurants at the airport have reduced their seating capacity, limited their hours or closed until further notice. For an updated list of operating hours,
please visit our website.
International Travel
The CDC issued an order requiring all air passengers arriving to the United States from a foreign country to get tested no more than three days before their flight departs and to provide proof of the negative result or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 to the airline before boarding the flight. For more information,
visit the CDC website.
COVID-19 Testing
SMF has also made it easier for travelers to get free COVID-19 testing through a partnership with CityHealth Urgent Care. Testing takes place daily at one of the airport’s parking lots and meets Hawaii’s more restrictive travel requirements. For more information on safe travel during the COVID-19 pandemic,
visit sacramento.aero.
