United's "Operation North Pole/Fantasy" Flights
#91
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,123
AD
#92
In memoriam
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Danville, CA
Programs: AA EXP - UA *G MM - HH Diamond - Hertz PC
Posts: 3,242
Hats off to UAL and the LAX employees who made this special event happen.
Last edited by danville 1K; Dec 6, 2009 at 10:16 pm
#93
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: AA Plat, IHG Plat, HH Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Hertz Gold
Posts: 1,933
I saw this at SFO yesterday and was wondering what it was about. I guessed that it was something for needy or sick children, and I'm glad to have my guess confirmed.
#94
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,690
At LAX yesterday (December 5th) they flew out over Bakersfield and back in a 747. Here's the story from today's LA Times. The passengers were foster kids and disabled adults.
Hats off to UAL and the LAX employees who made this special event happen.
Hats off to UAL and the LAX employees who made this special event happen.
#95
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 旧金山/Old Gold Hill/SFO
Programs: UA 1P, Marriott Platium, SPG
Posts: 1,001
At LAX yesterday (December 5th) they flew out over Bakersfield and back in a 747. Here's the story from today's LA Times. The passengers were foster kids and disabled adults.
Hats off to UAL and the LAX employees who made this special event happen.
Hats off to UAL and the LAX employees who made this special event happen.
This is pretty awesome, and on a 747 no less.
#96
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Bay Area
Programs: Mileage Plus, Gold Points
Posts: 22
We did fly!
Out of SFO, we had a 747 and did actually take off. Our route took us down to Big Sur and back and forth up the coast for about a 1:30 flight time. Cruising altitude was between 5000 to 8000. Santa and Ms. Claus even made an appearance on the flight.
It was a great experience and emotionally uplifting. Thanks to all the volunteers as well as great sponsors like Chevron for making the flying possible.
It was a great experience and emotionally uplifting. Thanks to all the volunteers as well as great sponsors like Chevron for making the flying possible.
#97
Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: AA EXP, UA GS/1K MM, Delta Plat, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 163
Very classy. ^^^
Thanks to all the UAL folks who make these happen.
Thanks to all the UAL folks who make these happen.
#99
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 15,180
I did a quick trip from SF to LA to have lunch with a friend yesterday and saw something very touching I did not know about: the United Airlines Fantasy Flights. With the help of employee volunteers and sponsors, United organizes a holiday flight for needy/sick children every year and transforms parts of airports across the country into mock "North Poles." This event was held across the country yesterday on 12/5/09.
At SFO gate 82 was used: the destination sign was changed to read North Pole. Decorations and balloons were everywhere as well as UA volunteers. They even had balloon arches at the beginnings and ends of the movings walkways which really made Terminal 7 quite festive.
At LAX, the rotunda at the end of Terminal 7 was used. Same North Pole destination sign, with lots of decorations and balloons and UA volunteers. More info from the LA Times here. And yes, UA employees and TSA agents did sing-alongs with the kids!
Additionally, here are some Google News links from various cities across the country yesterday although I am surprised by the relative lack of coverage.
I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone at United that made this possible. You have done many things that have moved me these past few months but this really touched my heart.
At SFO gate 82 was used: the destination sign was changed to read North Pole. Decorations and balloons were everywhere as well as UA volunteers. They even had balloon arches at the beginnings and ends of the movings walkways which really made Terminal 7 quite festive.
At LAX, the rotunda at the end of Terminal 7 was used. Same North Pole destination sign, with lots of decorations and balloons and UA volunteers. More info from the LA Times here. And yes, UA employees and TSA agents did sing-alongs with the kids!
Additionally, here are some Google News links from various cities across the country yesterday although I am surprised by the relative lack of coverage.
I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone at United that made this possible. You have done many things that have moved me these past few months but this really touched my heart.
Class act, UA. ^^
Also noticed in the link that CO was doing something similar. Good on CO too! ^
Last edited by Superguy; Dec 7, 2009 at 11:34 pm
#100
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: A3 *G, BA silver, LH, UA
Posts: 518
Nice article in the Washington Post today about United's fantasy flight from IAD to the "north pole" for kids with serious illnesses to meet Santa:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...121301940.html
They got to ride in a 777.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...121301940.html
They got to ride in a 777.
If so, when is the open skies agreement going to be signed?
Will Santa be allowed to be a holder of a US-based airline?
#101
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 834
Glad to hear they still have the Santa Flights! I saw one last year at ORD and thought it was great! Thanks for the info!
#102
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: HNL
Programs: UA 1K, HH Diamond, SPG Gold, NH, AA, HA
Posts: 68
Wow!
Reading this, I could feel my eyes welling. Mahalo nui loa to UA and especially to the staff who participated.
Mele Kalikimaka!
Mele Kalikimaka!
#103
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Denver,CO (Duh)
Programs: UA, AA, CO
Posts: 1,172
Yeah, the whole thing is a nice gesture, but a bit more realism would go a long way!
#104
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1
It was!
I was a volunteer face painter through the Make a Wish Foundation and went on the flight from SFO. The kids and their families were seated in economy and business. After we began our return to SFO, the flight attendants announced that due to the fog, the Pilot was having a hard time finding the North Pole and so Santa had landed his sleigh on the top of the plane and come on board so he could still see the kids. Santa and Ms. Claus then came down stairs from first class and walked all around the plane. When we arrived back at gate 86, the whole gate area was decorated like the North Pole. It was truly a heart warming event! United couldn't have organized it better. Thank you fellow volunteers!
#105
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: EWR / PHL
Programs: UA 1P MM, HH G, Marriott G
Posts: 800
Snowball Express
Noticed an AA flight from SMF-LAX this morning from the area of the UA flights at SMF... turns out to be a charter for kids who had lost a loved one in the military. Flight was going SMF-LAX-SAN-PHX-DFW to being the kids to Dallas for a few days of fun, sounds like a couple of amusement parks and a visit to Cowboys stadium. All the trimmings were out at SMF including Santa, refreshments for the kids (at 5am no less), letter from Gov Arnold, etc.