United Airlines’ U.K. Fantasy Flight Supports Children from Honeypot to meet Santa at the ‘North Pole’

United Airlines partners with The Honeypot Children’s Charity for a visit to Santa’s hometown.

Throughout December, United is creating magic with 13 Fantasy Flight routes to the North Pole from cities across the globe.

Children and young people supported by The Honeypot Children’s Charity in London enjoyed a special onboard experience this weekend at Heathrow Airport and met Santa at the ‘North Pole’, courtesy of United Airlines. The children, many of whom had never been on a plane before, were brought together by the charity through the services it operates across the UK. This year’s United UK Fantasy Flight is one of 13 departures around the globe.

Employees from United Airlines at Heathrow Airport, including customer service staff and flight attendants, worked together to organise the day of adventure at the airport. The United team, with support from the charity, collaborated to ensure a magical day for all of the children involved. Thirty children took part in the adventure, boarding a United Airlines Boeing 767-300 aircraft to enjoy festive entertainment and refreshments.

After fun and games on board, the excited young adventurers were whisked away and had little idea what to expect when they arrived at the Renaissance Hotel. Father Christmas and his elves welcomed the children to Santa’s Grotto for an afternoon of festive fun, which included Christmas lunch, music and unwrapping presents.

“We are delighted to have this opportunity to once again support the invaluable work of The Honeypot Children’s Charity here in the U.K. and create joy-filled festive memories for so many children,” said Karolien De Hertogh, Director Sales UK and Ireland, United Airlines. “I am just so proud of our London Heathrow employees who volunteered their time to make this special Fantasy Flight a reality.”

“This Fantasy Flight will be many of the children’s first experience at an airport or on an aeroplane,” said Simmi Woodwal, CEO, The Honeypot Children’s Charity. “We are sincerely thankful for the opportunity to partner with United Airlines again and feel truly privileged to be the chosen charity for the second year, creating magical memories for these young carers!”

Santa and his elves, led by United team members, volunteer every year to build and staff Fantasy Flights across United’s global network, partnering with local nonprofits and hospitals in each city to create these special memories for kids and their families.

The Fantasy Flights programme is the story of how Good Leads The Way SM for children in need. The latest instalment in United’s award-winning Good Leads The Way brand campaign tells stories in a uniquely United way about how the world’s biggest airline creates all kinds of good, for all kinds of people, every single day. This chapter emphasizes that United’s network is designed around our passengers to give them the greatest flexibility and options for travel worldwide.