SLO County Airport — Local services in San Luis Obispo

I fly out of this airport very regularly over 50% of the year and have been doing so for over 30 years. The change to the new facility has been horrifically bad. Airport security doesn't accommodate TSA pre check, lines are very slow for a small-town airport, bags are searched frequently at security. My bag is searched very often for reasons of which I cannot figure out. I am sad to say my hometown SLO airport is the worst airport I have ever experienced, just seems to get worse and worse. We are a United Family Member through our United credit card program with the company which seems to mean nothing to the company. United Airlines company culture needs severe revamping. Service is almost non existent. So much so that customers appear to be a nuisance to them. United's company culture is appalling and that is an understatement. We were kicked off of a flight for having a carry on bag by company employee Anthony Sharp. He felt the need to embrace us in front of other passengers by shouting at us and closing the gate early by slamming the door for the whole airport to hear. After agreeing to combine our two bags into one we were subsequently kicked off the flight because we had nowhere to place our empty leftover suitcase even after we suggested placing in the trash or the lost and found. We lost $1000 in airfare and missed our best friends graduation in Montana as a result.. Money cannot replace what we have lost (a once in a lifetime experience was lost). I stayed awake all night that night due to the disappointment.. We will for sure take this situation up with United as well as a lawyer. This is an absolute embarrassment for United Airlines. If United employee Anthony Sharp worked for me he would be fired on the spot. He is an embarrassment to the service industry as well as the company he works for. I sill cannot no believe this all transpired. I am...

I had the same issue as A few reviewers. I arrived at SLO airport at 5:55 for a 6:20 flight. I had an email with the words "this e-mail can be used as an e-ticket". I had this, my photo id, and an itinerary but the four TSA agents standing around the podium couldn't help me. There was no one else in line or checking baggage. A drowsy TSA agent who looked utterly apathetic and potentially hungover refused to explain the process, basically saying I didn't have time to catch the flight.

Eventually, I tortured the information out of his meager brain and discovered I needed to come a half hour early to print my boarding pass. I know this is proper airport etiquette but it's a little ridiculous they can't have a single employee at the check in counter. The only two other people in the entire airport who needed help had also shown up about 25 minutes early and missed their flight.

If SLO airport had warned me to show up early in a confirmation email , (I checked and all they have to inform you of the half hour policy is a sign at the actual airport- which is fairly pointless since the people who would use it aren't there in time to read it) this review would be higher. If their TSA agents were even moderately helpful, competent, or at least kind this review would be higher. I would say that it's great there is no long security line. However, I no longer see he advantage of that if you still have to show up early and can't get any help a half hour...

It's definitely small but as far as regional airports go, it's hard to complain. This is a new terminal so while still small, it feels modern and theres an outdoor courtyard section for those who want to chill outside.

There is a very pricy snack bar with beer on tap, mixed drinks, coffee, pre-packaged stuff, etc. I've never known people to change planes at SBP though I suppose it happens from time to time. If you have a significant layover, my advice is to exit the airport and go grab a meal at Spirit of San Luis (a restaurant right around the corner that sits right on the runway). Security is as modern as any larger airport I've been to but I've never waited longer than 5 minutes to get through it. That makes it easy to get to the airport much closer to boarding times than I ever would in a larger city.

Planes always board quickly and it's almost like taking a private jet to a larger airport where you're already on the gate side of security.

For as small a town as SLO is you're pretty much 1 stop away from most major cities in the world and nonstop to DFW, DEN, PHX, LAX, SFO, SAN, SEATAC and PDX. I've started and ended international trips many times from SBP with zero regrets.

Of course it is more expensive to fly out of SBP but weighed against driving to a larger airport and dealing with the time/fuel/parking/stress you'll likely encounter, it may be worth the...