Families reunite at Salt Lake International Airport for Christmas
Dec 25, 2024, 10:05 PM | Updated: 10:36 pm
SALT LAKE CITY — For Tom Barlow, Christmas night at Salt Lake City International Airport wasn’t about travel. It was about making a lasting impression.
“We were just standing here awkwardly, so we decided to sing for everybody coming out of the terminals,” Barlow said with a laugh.
Barlow and his family don’t normally spend their holidays at the airport, but this year was different.
His daughter’s boyfriend was flying in from Tahiti to meet the family for the first time. Knowing that you never get a second chance to make a first impression, they decided to sing Christmas carols to welcome him.
“In this family, we like to sing. This is the first time he is meeting everybody and he does not like singing, but he wants to join the family,” Barlow said. “Yeah, no pressure.”
The Barlow family waiting for one of their daughter’s boyfriends outside of the security checkpoint at the Salt Lake International Airport. (Mark Less, KSL TV)
The airport seemed to be a little less busy than usual on Christmas night. Many families wearing Santa hats or Christmas pajamas waited for their loved ones to come in.
When Lisa Brook saw her daughter and 1-year-old granddaughter come through security, she broke into a sort of skip-hop-run to greet them.
“It doesn’t matter that it is Christmas night,” Brook said while holding her granddaughter, Dylan. “We don’t all get to be together very often, so it is good to have everyone here. It is special. This is what Christmas is all about.”
Lisa Brook holding her granddaughter Dylan at the Salt Lake International Airport on Christmas Day. (Mark Less, KSL TV)
With Christmas falling on a Wednesday this year, the typical holiday crowds were spread out over a few days.
However, the next couple of days are expected to be among the busiest of the year, with seemingly everybody returning home all at once.
Nancy Volmer, the communications director for Salt Lake City International Airport, is asking those picking up family and friends to wait at the park and ride instead of gathering at the curb to wait for their arrival.
“If you are coming to pick up someone at the airport, we are just asking that you wait in the park and wait lot until your passenger has their luggage and is curbside just to prevent some congestion on the curbs,” said Volmer. “We are expecting the days after Christmas and New Year’s to be very busy.”
The baggage claim carousel looking a bit light on Christmas Day, but expected to be full on Thursday. (Mark Less, KSL TV
The Barlow family doesn’t have to worry about the post-Christmas airport rush, though. Their new guest will join them at their American Fork home for at least a week.
He might even get used to singing.
“Yes. For better or worse,” Barlow said. “He is probably like, ‘What in the world is going on?’”
