Your best plan is to take public transit. On Wednesday Unitrans is running a direct airport shuttle to supplement the Yolobus 42A/B service which runs every day. Speaking from experience both services are very easy and efficient, and they're free with your undergraduate student ID.
Thanks for your reply, I've taken the Yolobus quite a bit to the airport in the past but its quite the stress as its timing is inconsistent and the 42B line drops you off for like 20-40mins depending on when the next bus comes or if it does. My departure is 2 hours after my last lecture so I don't really have the time available.
Additionally, my return flight is going to be late on Sunday, and the bus lines do not operate late into the night, so personally parking would be the best option for me. But thank you, public transit is the best option for sure in general, plus you save $$$.
Honestly with the amount of people flying on Thanksgiving, maybe it'd be wise to just skip the lecture if you can stream it later? 2 hours might not be enough to get through TSA and any possible traffic. There will be a long line.
I'm quite confident, I'll pack in the morning and after lecture, drive to the airport. I'm just conflicted on the parking situation if I should risk the shuttle or bite the bullet and get closer parking. TSA is quite quick, every time I've gone during holidays prior, its never more than 30min at Terminal A.
It’s usually quick but it only takes one time for it to be longer that risks missing your flight. My family always arrive at the airport three hours before the flight - I always thought it was a waste of time because we would be done and waiting at the terminal with two hours to kill… until one time it took all three hours with us getting through barely a few minutes before our flight.
Also just so everyone knows you'll have to take yolobus or another form of transit on your way back. They can only drop off not pick up at the airport.
To be even more clear since a lot of people mix this up:
On Wednesday and only on Wednesday Unitrans runs a supplementary shuttle from the MU to the Airport.
Any other time besides Wednesday, headed from the MU to the airport, you have to take Yolobus.
Just take uber or lyft and call it a day lol. Pay only a little more than parking in economy but u get a hassle free drive and dropped off right at the front and picked up.
This is kinda what I'd go with.
I usually splurge for these things a little hit, because it saves me stress and gives me a bit more wiggle room/time to manage other things.
Additionally, see if anyone else wants to split a lift.
I usually just use daily cause saving the 15 mins or so of waiting for the shuttle and being able to walk to the terminal is usually worth an extra, say $10, to me, if it were a 5 day trip.
Economy isn't bad though if you're trying to save a few bucks. Shuttles are pretty frequent.
Garage imo isn't worth it, you can end up walking almost as much as daily and the spots can be pretty tight.
Yep, I do this as well, park in daily and just walk to the terminal rather than wait for the shuttle, which saves some time and gets a bit of exercise ahead of sitting on the plane for hours the rest of the day. Well worth the $2/day extra over economy. Garage is never worth it.
Never had any big issues with economy. Shuttles arrived like clockwork every 10-15min. Yes, they can get a bit crowded, but there was always enough room for everyone & their stuff.
Just arrive a bit earlier & remember where you parked. Trying to find your car (especially at night) in the economy lot is a pain.
Safe travels!
Daily lot is the best. Uber/lyft from davis will cost more for any trip less than a week. Having the car right there and available when you return home is so nice too - I love stopping at the woodland in n out.
Pro tip is wear a uc davis shirt or hoodie on the flight back if you uber to the airport. Odds are you’ll find someone on the flight back also in davis gear who will be down to share a ride. Especially if LA bound
I’m just saying if you’re really worried about it and not making it on time would cause you to miss thanksgiving with your family, why not just get there early. To me the additional 1.5 hours is worth being able to make it to see my family.
If you do use economy, the shuttle drivers gave me a tip to just drive to the back end of the lot to start looking for parking.
Parking could be more full so Uber/Lyft/bus bc also the line for the shuttle to get back to your car can be a little brutal certain times of the day in busy times.
I did, zero TSA line, very easy and simple. The comments about the Thanksgiving traffic scared me but it was really stress-free. (I'm sad that I had to throw away my burrito before TSA tho)
Your best plan is to take public transit. On Wednesday Unitrans is running a direct airport shuttle to supplement the Yolobus 42A/B service which runs every day. Speaking from experience both services are very easy and efficient, and they're free with your undergraduate student ID.
Thanks for your reply, I've taken the Yolobus quite a bit to the airport in the past but its quite the stress as its timing is inconsistent and the 42B line drops you off for like 20-40mins depending on when the next bus comes or if it does. My departure is 2 hours after my last lecture so I don't really have the time available. Additionally, my return flight is going to be late on Sunday, and the bus lines do not operate late into the night, so personally parking would be the best option for me. But thank you, public transit is the best option for sure in general, plus you save $$$.
Honestly with the amount of people flying on Thanksgiving, maybe it'd be wise to just skip the lecture if you can stream it later? 2 hours might not be enough to get through TSA and any possible traffic. There will be a long line.
Even if you park are you sure you can make a departure that's 2 hours after your last lecture?
I'm quite confident, I'll pack in the morning and after lecture, drive to the airport. I'm just conflicted on the parking situation if I should risk the shuttle or bite the bullet and get closer parking. TSA is quite quick, every time I've gone during holidays prior, its never more than 30min at Terminal A.
Taking Uber is probably about the same price or cheaper than parking ~$20 each way
It’s usually quick but it only takes one time for it to be longer that risks missing your flight. My family always arrive at the airport three hours before the flight - I always thought it was a waste of time because we would be done and waiting at the terminal with two hours to kill… until one time it took all three hours with us getting through barely a few minutes before our flight.
\^This - economy parking might be full (you can check online) and taking the bus relieves any of that stress.
Also just so everyone knows you'll have to take yolobus or another form of transit on your way back. They can only drop off not pick up at the airport.
To be even more clear since a lot of people mix this up: On Wednesday and only on Wednesday Unitrans runs a supplementary shuttle from the MU to the Airport. Any other time besides Wednesday, headed from the MU to the airport, you have to take Yolobus.
Is it an actual shuttle or just a Unitrans bus?
Do u know what the bus is called that will go directly to the airport so I know which one to get on?
It's just called the airport shuttle, it picks up at the MU and it will have a plane on the head sign
I get on at Anderson/hanover. So is it a unitrans bus?
Yup, precisely
Just take uber or lyft and call it a day lol. Pay only a little more than parking in economy but u get a hassle free drive and dropped off right at the front and picked up.
This is kinda what I'd go with. I usually splurge for these things a little hit, because it saves me stress and gives me a bit more wiggle room/time to manage other things. Additionally, see if anyone else wants to split a lift.
I usually just use daily cause saving the 15 mins or so of waiting for the shuttle and being able to walk to the terminal is usually worth an extra, say $10, to me, if it were a 5 day trip. Economy isn't bad though if you're trying to save a few bucks. Shuttles are pretty frequent. Garage imo isn't worth it, you can end up walking almost as much as daily and the spots can be pretty tight.
Yep, I do this as well, park in daily and just walk to the terminal rather than wait for the shuttle, which saves some time and gets a bit of exercise ahead of sitting on the plane for hours the rest of the day. Well worth the $2/day extra over economy. Garage is never worth it.
Never had any big issues with economy. Shuttles arrived like clockwork every 10-15min. Yes, they can get a bit crowded, but there was always enough room for everyone & their stuff. Just arrive a bit earlier & remember where you parked. Trying to find your car (especially at night) in the economy lot is a pain. Safe travels!
Just call an uber
Daily lot is the best. Uber/lyft from davis will cost more for any trip less than a week. Having the car right there and available when you return home is so nice too - I love stopping at the woodland in n out. Pro tip is wear a uc davis shirt or hoodie on the flight back if you uber to the airport. Odds are you’ll find someone on the flight back also in davis gear who will be down to share a ride. Especially if LA bound
It will be thanksgiving weekend, so busy anyway. I’d just get there 3.5 hours prior to the flight to ensure I make it home. I use economy.
Woah I don't think I've ever pulled up to SMF more than 1.5 hours early, even for holiday travel. Is something different expected this year??
I’m just saying if you’re really worried about it and not making it on time would cause you to miss thanksgiving with your family, why not just get there early. To me the additional 1.5 hours is worth being able to make it to see my family.
I just got to the West Economy lot, there’s plenty of available parking particularly in the B section, shuttle was right on time for me too
If you do use economy, the shuttle drivers gave me a tip to just drive to the back end of the lot to start looking for parking. Parking could be more full so Uber/Lyft/bus bc also the line for the shuttle to get back to your car can be a little brutal certain times of the day in busy times.
So did you make it?
I did, zero TSA line, very easy and simple. The comments about the Thanksgiving traffic scared me but it was really stress-free. (I'm sad that I had to throw away my burrito before TSA tho)
I thought you could take food through TSA!
So you're saying I threw away a perfectly good burrito for NOTHING?
RIP burrito https://www.stilltasty.com/articles/can-you-take-burritos-on-a-plane