You're not the only one surprised; the authority has been trying to get more airlines to use the newer B (WN was pretty much forced to move there). One more change since Mr. Acree left, it appears.

I'm looking at possibly booking a flight with a connection at SMF. Now that AA has moved to term A, what is the best way to get over to term B for an AS flight? I assume from the OP with the central part of term B being landside that you'd have to clear security again. Unless maybe the people mover connects the two airside? Thanks.

There is an interterminal shuttle bus that will take you between the two terminals. Since the shuttle is landside you will have to reclear security.

I'm not an AA flyer so maybe they have a shuttle bus (highly unlikely)? Regardless I've done what you're describing during IRROPs (was put on AS by UA).

The fastest transit land-side is done by walking through the parking garage (shuttle bus only runs every ~20 minutes). All-told you're looking at ~1500 feet of walking from the exit of A security to the land-side APM station. The APM itself is a 5~10 minute wait/ride depending on time of day and without precheck security can be significant (again, time of day dependent).

No airside interterminal connections at all at SMF, all landslide.

Two options: the shuttle bus, or during decent weather and without more than a rollaboard, it's a walkto and through the parking garage.

If on time 75 mins is sufficient for inter terminal connections. No checked bags and with PRE, and 60 is very doable.

Agreed!

This might be a "just me" problem, but has anyone else had issues with the self-pay booths when exiting the daily parking garage? Almost every time, my parking ticket cannot be read and I have to back up (sorry everyone!) and drive up to a manned booth. The machine the attendant uses inside the booth seems to read the ticket just fine.

Yes, I do insert the ticket in the correct direction/orientation (:p) and when traveling, I am super-careful to store it in a slot all by itself in my travel bag, no credit cards, hotel room keys, or cell phones even close by to de-magnetize the strip. Thanks for any insights!

There are a couple of them that are definitely temperamental. I want to say the 4th one from the left has given me repeated problems. I leave my ticket in my car, away from magnets, but yes, I do have intermittent problems too.

Also, one of the ticket printing machines was spitting out tickets very aggressively a few weeks ago, but it seems to have been fixed on my last trip there.

Never taken a ticket... I use the credit card on entry/exit thing. I know there's a risk I'm going to lose it, but I'm figuring at that rate I'll have bigger problems than needing to talk to someone (between the extensive APNRing and the record of my entry they'll know when I showed up).

The one time I parked for a trip where I was worried about a high risk of loss I used a backup card I keep in the car, but usually my longer/international trips involve getting a ride.

one time, about a year ago in the economy long term lot, the machine at the entry gate ate my credit card. i had to use the call button, it took them 20 minutes to show up and extract my card from the machine, and i very nearly missed my flight. since then i've been using the tickets...

Ugh, sounds like one of my travel nightmares, glad you made your flight! Looks like I'll be sticking to the ticket+manned kiosk process, then. Wish they'd get the machines fixed, or at least have a pay before you leave the terminal machine like at other airports and parking garages. :rolleyes:

Any recommendations (or warnings) on hotels to stay at near SMF? Nice, clean, quiet, close to the airport all preferred. We have Hilton or Starwood points we could use, but we're not attached to those brands if something else is better. I've found many by searching, but skeptical on how nice they are... (Doesn't need to be luxury, but needs to be very clean, and reasonably quiet at least).

Sheraton Four Points Natomas is one of the best IMHO. Avoid the hotels in Woodland.

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Hilton Garden Inn Natomas and the Marriott right there are solid bets. I agree, avoid Woodland.