The children’s faces were pure excitement on Saturday as they stepped off a United Airlines flight after landing at the North Pole.
Well, not the real North Pole, but don’t tell the children that.
United partnered with five charitable organizations in the Denver, Colorado, area to ferry more than 100 children on a 45-minute flight to a hangar outside Denver international airport that had been transformed into the North Pole by United employees and volunteers.
During the flight, personnel paraded up and down the aisles with bubble machines as kids squealed: “Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles!” Streamers, paper snowflakes and tufts of cotton resembling feathery snow dotted the plane and seats. Holiday songs played in the background and there were apple snacks and juice for all.
Before landing, the children were asked to close their window shades as they were told they were flying over Canada en route to Santa’s workshop. When they arrived, children were met by the sight of a waiting Santa and Mrs Claus and a host of elves. An ice cream truck was on hand and all the children received gifts.
Bryce Bosley, six, was tickled to see Santa and all the North Pole had to offer.
“The North Pole is fun because there’s games, food, and all the activities are really fun,” he said.
United Capt Bob Zimmermann, the holiday flight’s pilot, was struck by the joy and wonder of the youngsters.
“Throughout the year I’ll think of the fantasy flight,” he said. “When life seems to get tough or I want to complain about something, I remember these kids and the joy and the love and what this feels like, and it just keeps my life in perspective.”
More than 200 United employees volunteered for the event, the Denver Gazette reported, helping the holiday spirit take over the gate, plane and hangar. The volunteering employees also each “adopted” a child, buying gifts for them as a secret Santa.
United partnered with Make-A-Wish Colorado, Girls Inc, Children’s Hospital Colorado and Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Association to invite Denver-area kids ages three to 10 years on the flight.
For more than 30 years, United has staged its annual Fantasy Flights to fictional North Poles at airports around the world to bring holiday cheer to children and their families.
The program “is life-changing for wish kids and their families”, said Leslie Motter, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish America. “We are deeply grateful for United’s ongoing partnership and dedication to making a lasting impact in the lives of children with critical illnesses.”
This year the Fantasy Flights took place in 13 cities, starting on 5 December in Honolulu and then in Washington, Houston, Los Angeles, London, Chicago, San Francisco, Tokyo, Cleveland and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and on the island of Guam. Newark, New Jersey, also had a flight on Saturday.
Jonna McGrath, United’s vice-president for operations at its Denver hub, has participated in 29 flights and said it is one of her favorite days of the year.
“It gives them a day where they are away from some of the challenges they face in their day-to-day life,” said McGrath, who was dressed as an elf. “Bringing a little magic and some gifts to their holiday season is something they’ll never forget.”
Rusti Rhodes, a flight attendant with United for 27 years who was speaking to the Denver Gazette, has only been able to participate in the Fantasy Flight program twice because spots fill up immediately. “It’s very coveted,” she said.
“You really got to watch out for your mascara. It gets emotional,” said Rhodes. “Everyone’s position can get stale once in a while. But with the way these kids’ faces light up, they make you think you have the absolute best job in the world.”
Employees could be seen dancing, singing and smiling ear-to-ear at the flight gate.
“It truly is such an amazing experience. You really just try to get it every year,” Rhodes said. “We all do hundreds of flights every year. This one takes the top.”