Redding Municipal Airport

Redding Municipal Airport: Newly Remodeled with Same Shortcomings: Not Ready for Prime Time: For years using the Redding Airport (RDD) has been an exercise in frustration. Much of the frustration stems its primary sub-par 'I don't care' airline (United) and pathetic staffing levels. Here's the truth. Redding Airport is treated like an inconvenient afterthought as connecting airports regularly delay inbound planes not once but at least twice. You have a 4.00 pm flight, no worries, count on departing around 4.45pm. You had better hope your connections are not too close lest you miss them. The new remodel has helped speed up what typically was a 30-45 minute wait for checked bags for the one and only plane that has landed at the airport. Now you wait about 20 minutes for arriving guests to get their luggage. Want something to eat while waiting? Need to speak to a gate agent? Looking for professional and knowledgeable advise? Look elsewhere. The lone restaurant (Chu's Too) is rarely open to attract customers to the bar while waiting for a plane. Ticketing is a ghost town until 1.5 hours prior to flight so you better have your phone app at the ready and have your carry on bag packed like Bear Grylls with snacks and other necessities if you need assistance. Need a car rental to escape the lack of services in Redding to drive to San Francisco in hopes of catching your connecting flight? Not in Redding, rental agencies are consistent in their underwhelming inventory, no one-way rental availability and exorbitant rates to rent a roller skate. Redding airport is great if you have lots of time built into your itinerary for frustration, delays and intentional understaffing and lack of assistance, otherwise make the drive to Sacramento Airport (SMF).

This airport is too small and outdated for a region serving 3/4 million people in ten different counties. It is definitely worth the drive to Sacramento or San Francisco to get better flights and many people around here don't want to make that long cumbersome drive. The terminal hasn't been updated since 1998 but all that was remodeled restrooms and new seats and carpeting. We desperately need a larger airport with more flights and parking options.