For years, United Airlines has traditionally offered “Fantasy Flights” to the “North Pole” for children in need in December. This year, United had to improvise due to the pandemic and and Team SFO really thought outside the box.
United Airlines Fantasy Flights In The Midst Of Pandemic
As United describes it:
Around this time of year, hundreds of employees and retiree volunteers gear up for what are some of the most exciting events of the year – Fantasy Flights. 16 of our airport locations across the globe will bring holiday cheer to children in need by taking them on a very special trip to the “North Pole.”
The children, many of them terminally ill or suffering from serious medical conditions, are treated to a day filled with joy, gifts food, entertainment and most importantly a lot of love.
But 2020 was different. Due to COVID-19, United’s traditional Fantasy Flights were cancelled. Nevertheless, stations across the network improvised, with may finding ways to still touch the hearts of young people in need.
One United employee at SFO shared with Live and Let’s Fly some pictures from the San Francisco event.
Instead of boarding a flight bound for the North Pole, about 50 children and their families arrived for a “Fantasy Flight” drive-through parade. These children were from four local hospitals. The “drive-through magical winter wonderland” featured visits from Santa’s Elves, the fire department, and Santa and Mrs. Clause themselves. The children and their families remained inside their vehicles, which were escorted by a “Safety Elf” (a United flight attendant) with Santa loading gifts that had been donated by employees into their trunks at the end of the parade.
CONCLUSION
What a beautiful gesture. Kudos to the United employees at SFO for finding a way to continue a lovely tradition even in the midst of a pandemic.
So nice. Great that nobody said “Christmas won’t be spoiled, I’m going to ____ (insert event that is risky for Covid-19)”
Twice, I’ve enjoyed United’s SFO Family Day, a barbeque party on the tarmac along side of United aircraft. Once by asking Oscar when he was CEO, an, before that, once by being gifted a wristband by a nice United SFO employee.
The time I asked Oscar was purely by chance and I promised to fly on a paid United ticket to get to SFO. I summarized how loyal I was as a United customer. He did what General Musharraf did as President of Pakistan.
An American businessman had been honorary consul for Pakistan for many years, paying expenses from his own pocket including using his office as the Honorary Consulate. He finally met the General while there was a state visit to the US. He humbly summarized his service to Pakistan and asked if he could be promoted to Honorary Consul General. The general turned to an aide and simply said “do it”. A few days later, an official letter was received naming the guy as Honorary Consul General. Do it!
While United has been bashed for a lot of incidents in recent years, it’s great to give their employees kudos for going out of their way to brighten up the lives of kids who need it most.
World Class, way to go United Employees