DONNER SUMMIT IF YOU CAN AVOID IT. WELL, CHRISTMAS EVE IS ONE OF THE BUSIEST TIMES FOR AIRPORTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. PHOTOJOURNALIST JACK NEWTON CAUGHT UP WITH A FEW FAMILIES TODAY AT SACRAMENTO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. WE COME TO SACRAMENTO ALMOST EVERY YEAR FOR CHRISTMAS. JUST DEPENDS ON IF IT’S CHRISTMAS OR A FEW DAYS AFTER. I’M REALLY LAST MINUTE. SO OUR FLIGHT LEFT ORANGE COUNTY AT TEN. WE WOKE UP AT SEVEN AND HADN’T PACKED OR DONE ANYTHING YET, SO HOPEFULLY I DIDN’T FORGET ANYTHING. IT’S A SUPER BIG PRIVILEGE AND SOMETHING THAT I DON’T TAKE FOR GRANTED. TO BE ABLE TO COME IN ON CHRISTMAS DAY OR CHRISTMAS EVE AND HAVE EVERYONE HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE FROM THE WORKERS. TSA PRECHECK FLIGHT ATTENDANTS, AND IT JUST MAKES THE DAY SO MUCH EASIER. IT’S JUST A GREAT TIME FOR FAMILY TO GET TOGETHER AND AND SEE EACH OTHER, AND HAVING PEOPLE REALLY SPREAD OUT THESE DAYS, IT’S NICE TO ALL JUST COME TOGETHER AND AND VISIT. WHERE ARE WE TRAVELING FROM TODAY? AND WE HAVE A FANTASTIC. YEP. AND WE CAME HERE TO VISIT GRANDPARENTS. RIGHT. YEAH. FOR CHRISTMAS. YEAH. GETTING TO SEE FAMILY THAT WE DON’T ALWAYS GET TO SPEND TIME WITH. IT’S WORTH TRAVELING IN THE HOLIDAY CRAZINESS SO WE CAN ALL BE TOGETHER AND WE’RE JUST ALL TOGETHER, WHICH IS REALLY SPECIAL.
Families reunite at Sacramento International Airport for Christmas
Updated: 4:53 AM PST Dec 25, 2025
Christmas Eve brought families together at Sacramento International Airport, where travelers shared their experiences and the joy of reuniting with loved ones.Aly Anderson, who frequently visits Sacramento for Christmas, shared her last-minute travel experience. “I’m really last minute. So our flight left Orange County at ten. We woke up at seven and hadn’t packed or done anything yet. So hopefully I didn’t forget anything.”Lilei Ghdoughty expressed gratitude for the positive atmosphere at the airport. “It’s a super big privilege and something that I don’t take for granted to be able to come in on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve and have everyone, have a good attitude from the workers, TSA PreCheck flight attendants. It just makes the day so much easier,” she said. Annie and Ryan Markle, who traveled to visit grandparents, emphasized the value of spending time with family. “Getting to see family that we don’t always get to spend time with, it’s worth traveling in the holiday craziness so we can all be together,” they said. “We’re just all together, which is really special. Merry Christmas everybody.”See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
Christmas Eve brought families together at Sacramento International Airport, where travelers shared their experiences and the joy of reuniting with loved ones.
Aly Anderson, who frequently visits Sacramento for Christmas, shared her last-minute travel experience. “I’m really last minute. So our flight left Orange County at ten. We woke up at seven and hadn’t packed or done anything yet. So hopefully I didn’t forget anything.”
Lilei Ghdoughty expressed gratitude for the positive atmosphere at the airport.
“It’s a super big privilege and something that I don’t take for granted to be able to come in on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve and have everyone, have a good attitude from the workers, TSA PreCheck flight attendants. It just makes the day so much easier,” she said.
Annie and Ryan Markle, who traveled to visit grandparents, emphasized the value of spending time with family.
“Getting to see family that we don’t always get to spend time with, it’s worth traveling in the holiday craziness so we can all be together,” they said. “We’re just all together, which is really special. Merry Christmas everybody.”
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel