Well, I had heard rumors...but I finally flew with the guy I'll call "Mr. Pillows."

This is a very frequent international flyer, whom the 'Carnation People' have determined can have whatever he wants, however he wants it, and that, he does:

On each and every flight, he is guaranteed the very same first class seat, no matter what.
He is provided with an entire bag--by that, I mean a four foot by two foot by four foot plastic bag---full of pillows strictly for his own use onboard the flight, none of which are to be distributed (under any circumstances, at ANY point during the flight) to any other passengers. A minimum of twenty United pillows for his own use, guaranteed, on any flight.

The explanation?

"Mr. Pillows is an extremely important customer. He pays us millions extra for his pillows. He always flies full fare!"

Okay, then there are the specific newspapers, just for him.

And did I mention the blankets?
You got it--one bag of ten LARGE blankets--exclusively for Mir. Pillows.

Explanation?

"He likes to 'nest'; it's the least we can do, for such a great customer. He flies with us nearly every week of the year. No one else is to touch these pillows or blankets. We just leave them in frtont of his seat; he'll do the rest. He'll get his own, during the flight, if he needs them. We leave them by the seat, and Mr. Pillows stows them wherever he likes, so do not move them from this (isolated, of course) first class seat. Let him do it."

(Needless to say, Mr. Pillows immediately clogs up the boarding process by standing in the aisle at door 1L, carefully stowing all of it in the front closet, and leaving absolutely no space for anything or anyone else.)

Oh...did I mention the big bag of milk?

Yup. Mr. Pillows's milk--bought and boarded by United--must be separately stowed in a chilled carrier onboard the first class galley. If you don't recognize the milk, don't ask. It's not our usual 2% milk; it's a special whole milk. We get it overseas for him, deadhead it here, and then use it as he returns to his native land.

"Oh...need I mention this? No one--not crew, not cockpit, or other passengers, are to be served any of the milk out of this bag of milk."

And there--sure enough-- were the quirky, sexy plastic 'bottles' of milk for Mr. Pillows.

Each item was hand delivered to the airplane, in advance of the boarding process, by a separate United employee. Two 'Carnation People' followed up, with visits to ensure Mr. Pillows' happiness, prior to departure.