Holiday travel delays have been a common occurrence for many families, and the Sacramento International Airport is no exception. On Friday evening, the airport was bustling with families, and the arrivals board was colored red with delayed flights. The terminal was adorned with holiday decor, and the atmosphere was filled with excitement and anticipation.
One family, the Handys, had just arrived after a long trip from Houston. 5-year-old Will Handy exclaimed, "We made it!! Woohoo!!" as he made it to the baggage claim. The airport was filled with children playing and having fun, turning it into their playground. Parents said their creative spirit was especially helpful when facing inevitable holiday delays.
One family, the Nashes, had just arrived after a long delay in their flight out of Denver. 6-year-old Nash said, "Mom said it was six hours that we had to wait. Yeah, it was literally six hours." His 4-year-old sister Presley added, "Basically, when I got to the airport it was the morning. We tried to get on the flight, and it got deleted because something was wrong with the engine or something." Despite the waiting, the moments of reunion with family members made the travel worthwhile.
Travelers are advised to arrive two hours early for domestic flights and three hours early for international flights. Parents we spoke with said they recommend bringing plenty of snacks and activities to keep children entertained during travel time. The airport expects a steady increase in passengers each year, with approximately 20,000 people passing through daily for the rest of the year.
