Arrival.info
When should I leave to pick someone up at SMF?
SMF separates the waiting phase from the loading phase. Stay in the Free Waiting Area while the traveler exits Terminal A or Terminal B and gathers luggage, then enter the correct terminal loop only after the passenger confirms an exterior position.
SMF route identity
This page is for Sacramento International (SMF). Airport identity and coverage come from the published Arrival airport catalog.
What the reviewed guidance says
- SMF provides a waiting area with direct access to both terminals.
- Terminal curbs cannot be used while a passenger remains inside.
- The terminal letter determines which airport loop the driver follows.
Mistakes to avoid
- Driving in when an arrival appears on the status board.
- Entering an airport loop without a terminal letter.
- Stopping while the passenger is still at baggage claim.
SMF pickup questions
When should I leave SMF’s Free Waiting Area?
Leave after the arriving traveler confirms the terminal letter and an outside loading point.
Why ask for Terminal A or B?
The two terminals have separate roadway loops, so the wrong letter can require another airport circuit.
Can the driver wait a few minutes at the curb?
No. Federal rules and airport policy reserve the curb for active loading and unloading.
Related SMF pickup guidance
SMF pickup zones
Connect the pickup_timing draft to the related pickup_zones guide.
SMF waiting areas
Connect the pickup_timing draft to the related waiting_areas guide.
Check a flight and plan the pickup
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Agent and direct-client curb estimate
How Arrival.info exposes a safe flight-to-curb estimate
Review the deterministic, read-only contract, freshness rules, explicit uncertainty, and no-mutation boundary.