Pilot "Wings" for kids
Jul 28, 2008, 11:50 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,245
Pilot "Wings" for kids
I can't even remember the last time I saw UA hand these out, so I thought I'd post.
My wife, daughter, and I were travelling ORD-RDU a few days ago in Y. About 20 mins prior to landing, one of the FAs comes up and gives my daughter 2 of the plastic "pilot" wings. Of course my daughter was very excited as she's never received them before. It was probably a few years ago that I saw these and they had the adhesive backings. The wings we got actually had the pins in them.
Maybe UA found a couple of cases of them in the back of a warehouse.
My wife, daughter, and I were travelling ORD-RDU a few days ago in Y. About 20 mins prior to landing, one of the FAs comes up and gives my daughter 2 of the plastic "pilot" wings. Of course my daughter was very excited as she's never received them before. It was probably a few years ago that I saw these and they had the adhesive backings. The wings we got actually had the pins in them.
Maybe UA found a couple of cases of them in the back of a warehouse.
Jul 28, 2008, 11:56 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: YYC
Posts: 1,876
My daughter received them in February of this year as we were flying on her birthday and that was UA's gift to her.
Jul 28, 2008, 11:57 am
#3
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SEA/YYZ
Posts: 1,561
^ UA!
I remember a FA gave me a few "wings" a few years back, and I just found them in my closet yesterday!
I remember a FA gave me a few "wings" a few years back, and I just found them in my closet yesterday!
Jul 28, 2008, 11:58 am
#4
Suspended
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: Count Your Blessings
Posts: 1,548
Of all the discretionary and even frivolous expenses UAL sheds, the budget for these little wings is more than worth its weight in gold.
Bring back the kiddie activity packs!
Bring back the kiddie activity packs!
Jul 28, 2008, 12:01 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 326
Well if you can't get pilot wings maybe you can get a "Junior TSA" badge.
I snapped this at DEN last week:
I snapped this at DEN last week:
Jul 28, 2008, 12:01 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: ORD MDW
Programs: AA, UA, DL , IHG Plat, Bonvoy Gold - 2009 FT Fantasy Football Champion
Posts: 6,854
My son wanted a captains hat, but I set his sights lower on the wings. He was disapointed at the lack of any. I think they add to the magic of flying for the kids, just like liquor adds to the 'magic' for adults.
Jul 28, 2008, 12:03 pm
#7
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,638
Well if you can't get pilot wings maybe you can get a "Junior TSA" badge.
I snapped this at DEN last week:
I snapped this at DEN last week:
Most kids actually respect pilots. Most kids I know don't respect TSA checkpoint monkeys. Some, like my sister, already despise them.
Jul 28, 2008, 12:04 pm
#8
Original Member, Moderator: Hotel Deals and MilesBuzz
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 14,257
I'm still a kid at heart. I'm quite proud of my wings collection from the 1970's. Back when they were made out of metal and had a real pin backing... I have Eastern, Pan Am, National, Ozark, Wien Air Alaska just to name a few.
Jul 28, 2008, 12:05 pm
#9
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 326
If you're going to give out little TSA badges for kids might as well give them “Junior Telemarketer” and “Future Repo-Man” stickers too 
Jul 28, 2008, 12:36 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2003
Programs: UA 1K, AA Plat.
Posts: 493
The wings are available only to the pilots in their Flight-Ops department. Some of the "good guys" will grab stacks of them and give them to the FAs, to pass out, but others are less proactive. If you're traveling with your kids its always worth asking the FA to ask the pilot if they have any "kiddy-wings."
Jul 28, 2008, 12:41 pm
#11
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: CO One Pass
Posts: 65
I have a set of plastic wings from Eastern Airlines ^^^
Jul 28, 2008, 1:42 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Plat, AS MVP, HH Gold, MR Gold
Posts: 1,848
Master PVDProf has some from a flight in March. They're pinned to the outer flap of his navy carry on (diaper bag) and look quite sharp. Advertisement for UA wherever he goes.
Jul 28, 2008, 1:44 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BUF
Programs: UA-1K, CO-Elite, SPG-Platinum, Hertz 5*
Posts: 250
On a recent flight to Orlando, the FO came back to my 6yr old son and gave him the wings, telling him that just in case they may need a "super secret backup pilot" and he'd call him if he needed him. Then he also invited him up to the cabin.
Pretty cool I thought as I haven't seen this a whole lately either and he was very excited.
Pretty cool I thought as I haven't seen this a whole lately either and he was very excited.
Jul 28, 2008, 4:07 pm
#14
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: EWR / PHL
Programs: UA 1P MM, HH G, Marriott G
Posts: 802
And then you have those pilots who subscribe to this train of thought:
https://crewroom.alpa.org/ualunity/D...609&Tabid=3213
https://crewroom.alpa.org/ualunity/D...609&Tabid=3213
Jul 28, 2008, 4:17 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: MRY/SFO/SJC
Programs: AS MVP, Hilton Diamond, IHG Gold
Posts: 7,784
I got a pair of wings while DEQM-running in May/June. Don't know what I've done with it, but I'm almost positive it has an adhesive backing.