United's "Operation North Pole/Fantasy" Flights
Dec 8, 2007, 7:36 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Seattle WA, USA
Programs: UA MP 1K 2MM
Posts: 527
United's "Operation North Pole/Fantasy" Flights
Curious to know where such flights from the US go to. From Britain there are equivalents at this time of year which typically do a day return trip to Rovaniemi in Northern Finland right on the Arctic Circle, the stereotypical home of Santa Claus. British Airways has done them for years.
I can't speak to the ORD practice, but last year in DEN UA closed the East RCC and did a lot of decorations, had clowns, elves, and, I think, musicians. The project is paid for I think by DEN employees. The visitors proceeded from the RCC to a plane which, I believe, only taxied around DIA; but when the kids left they all had presents and big smiles and a lot of UA employee volunteers were shepherding them through the terminal. It was, I thought, a great gesture on the part of the UA staff in DEN.
Flyer 420
in Boulder
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Dec 1, 2010 at 8:58 pm Reason: split from other thread
Dec 8, 2007, 7:48 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Out and about..
Posts: 1,102
Drifting off the thread, but in response to the Operation North Pole query:
I can't speak to the ORD practice, but last year in DEN UA closed the East RCC and did a lot of decorations, had clowns, elves, and, I think, musicians. The project is paid for I think by DEN employees. The visitors proceeded from the RCC to a plane which, I believe, only taxied around DIA; but when the kids left they all had presents and big smiles and a lot of UA employee volunteers were shepherding them through the terminal. It was, I thought, a great gesture on the part of the UA staff in DEN.
Flyer 420
in Boulder
I can't speak to the ORD practice, but last year in DEN UA closed the East RCC and did a lot of decorations, had clowns, elves, and, I think, musicians. The project is paid for I think by DEN employees. The visitors proceeded from the RCC to a plane which, I believe, only taxied around DIA; but when the kids left they all had presents and big smiles and a lot of UA employee volunteers were shepherding them through the terminal. It was, I thought, a great gesture on the part of the UA staff in DEN.
Flyer 420
in Boulder
Dec 8, 2007, 7:49 pm
#3
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SFO
Posts: 390
Curious to know where such flights from the US go to. From Britain there are equivalents at this time of year which typically do a day return trip to Rovaniemi in Northern Finland right on the Arctic Circle, the stereotypical home of Santa Claus. British Airways has done them for years.
Dec 8, 2007, 8:11 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Los Angeles, USA
Programs: UA Plat-2MM, Marriott Life Titanium, Hyatt something
Posts: 1,888
Operation North Pole
From the IAD event press release. Other stations are similar.
United Airlines Dulles Employees Make the Holidays Bright for Children and
Adults with Annual Fantasy Flight
WHAT: United employees from Washington Dulles International Airport
are creating the "North Pole" for children from Children's
Hospice International. The children will check in and be
escorted to gate D7 where they will board a Boeing 747
aircraft and taxi around the airport. They will return to the
North Pole at Gate C3, fully decorated like the North Pole,
and including Santa Claus, who will be distributing presents
to the kids.
WHEN: Saturday, December 8, 2007
Media check in around 8:00 am in order to clear security
prior to the flight
United check in area, Additional Services
Fantasy Flight departs at 9:00 am
WHERE: Washington Dulles International Airport
Dulles, Virginia
*Media gate passes for those who rsvp will be available in
front of Security Checkpoint Lanes 1, 2, & 3 on the far
right end of the lobby.
Adults with Annual Fantasy Flight
WHAT: United employees from Washington Dulles International Airport
are creating the "North Pole" for children from Children's
Hospice International. The children will check in and be
escorted to gate D7 where they will board a Boeing 747
aircraft and taxi around the airport. They will return to the
North Pole at Gate C3, fully decorated like the North Pole,
and including Santa Claus, who will be distributing presents
to the kids.
WHEN: Saturday, December 8, 2007
Media check in around 8:00 am in order to clear security
prior to the flight
United check in area, Additional Services
Fantasy Flight departs at 9:00 am
WHERE: Washington Dulles International Airport
Dulles, Virginia
*Media gate passes for those who rsvp will be available in
front of Security Checkpoint Lanes 1, 2, & 3 on the far
right end of the lobby.
Dec 8, 2007, 8:51 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: MBS/FNT/LAN
Programs: UA 1K, HH Gold, Mariott Gold
Posts: 9,630
Dec 8, 2007, 8:57 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: UA 1K 1.45MM, Marriott+SPG Plat, Clear, Nexus, Global Entry and MEX Viajero Confiable
Posts: 1,777
Drifting off the thread, but in response to the Operation North Pole query:
I can't speak to the ORD practice, but last year in DEN UA closed the East RCC and did a lot of decorations, had clowns, elves, and, I think, musicians. The project is paid for I think by DEN employees. The visitors proceeded from the RCC to a plane which, I believe, only taxied around DIA; but when the kids left they all had presents and big smiles and a lot of UA employee volunteers were shepherding them through the terminal. It was, I thought, a great gesture on the part of the UA staff in DEN.
Flyer 420
in Boulder
I can't speak to the ORD practice, but last year in DEN UA closed the East RCC and did a lot of decorations, had clowns, elves, and, I think, musicians. The project is paid for I think by DEN employees. The visitors proceeded from the RCC to a plane which, I believe, only taxied around DIA; but when the kids left they all had presents and big smiles and a lot of UA employee volunteers were shepherding them through the terminal. It was, I thought, a great gesture on the part of the UA staff in DEN.
Flyer 420
in Boulder
Well done to all the UA staff across all stations that made this event happen in your respective cities! ^^
Dec 8, 2007, 9:00 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 4,771
Curious to know where such flights from the US go to. From Britain there are equivalents at this time of year which typically do a day return trip to Rovaniemi in Northern Finland right on the Arctic Circle, the stereotypical home of Santa Claus. British Airways has done them for years.
Dec 8, 2007, 11:14 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Denver
Programs: UA 1K in training
Posts: 2,107
That said, LHR still isn't a very good place for a connection. Better than losing a whole day and spending the night at ORD, though.
Dec 9, 2007, 10:19 am
#9
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN, SQ Gold
Posts: 479
I'd like to believe you right away, but have seen to much crap in LHR regarding carry-ons...
Dec 9, 2007, 10:58 am
#10
formerly OliverS
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 405
Is there any indication on how many people "brutally oversold" means?
I am on the VDB list for my later IAD-MUC flight which is oversold by 20 right now. Is this normal (as in IAD expects connections to fail and people (government travel) to not show up all the time) or does it actually look good?
Unfortunately (well, not really) I am on a Y ticket upgraded to C by means of a SWU - I am really curious on how this is going to go..
I am on the VDB list for my later IAD-MUC flight which is oversold by 20 right now. Is this normal (as in IAD expects connections to fail and people (government travel) to not show up all the time) or does it actually look good?
Unfortunately (well, not really) I am on a Y ticket upgraded to C by means of a SWU - I am really curious on how this is going to go..
Dec 9, 2007, 12:45 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Denver
Programs: UA 1K in training
Posts: 2,107
Some general discussion
There are lots of other posts about it in various threads in the U.K. & Ireland forum. From what I've read, it sounds like bringing a second bag through the FCC is generally ok, but if you decide to go landside to connect between terminals, you're likely to face the 1-bag rule.
Dec 9, 2007, 12:55 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: 15 A
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 144
this may be looking what you are for
http://www.lse.co.uk/politicsNews.as...an_2008_UPDATE
geordieflyer
http://www.lse.co.uk/politicsNews.as...an_2008_UPDATE
geordieflyer
Dec 9, 2007, 1:03 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Denver
Programs: UA 1K in training
Posts: 2,107
There was a move earlier this year to make life a little easier for connecting pax, which led to more relaxed rules for the FCC as opposed to LHR departures.
Dec 9, 2007, 3:46 pm
#15
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,130
No-one has reported a problem recently taking more than one bag through FCC at LHR, but this only applies to FCC (I've seen some people manage to get more than one bag through from landside recently, but I've also seen people told to go back to check-in). It is technically possible that this will be relaxed in January, but it remains to be seen precisely when this will happen for which UK airport.