This airline is offering Christmas season fantasy flights to the North Pole

United Airlines will begin Fantasy Flights for children and their families

By Mark Reif Published December 6, 2024

United Airlines North Pole flights — United Airlines

To celebrate Christmas and help dreams come true, United Airlines is launching a seasonal route to the North Pole (JOY). Beginning December 5 and continuing through December 14, the airline will fly deserving kids and their families to the North Pole via “Fantasy Flights” from 13 global cities.

United’s JOY flights fly direct to a winter wonderland

United Airlines airplane — Arkin Si via Unsplash

The Fantasy Flights are local, curated experiences that take children and their families to a Christmas-themed hideaway. After a quick trip via air or ground, guests arrive at an airport gate or hangar transformed by employees and volunteers into the North Pole, where Santa, elves, sparkling lights, and trees await.

Recommended Videos

This year, United’s JOY flights embark from the following cities:

Honolulu (HNL) December 5
Washington-Dulles (IAD) December 7
Houston Bush (IAH) December 7
Los Angeles (LAX) December 7
London (LHR) December 7
Chicago-O’Hare (ORD) December 7
San Francisco (SFO) December 7
Tokyo (NRT) December 8
Cleveland (CLE) December 10
Fort Lauderdale (FLL) December 10
Guam (GUM) December 13
Denver (DEN) December 14
Newark (EWR) December 14

United’s Executive Vice President of Human Resources and Labor Relations, Kate Gebo said: “The team made a list, I checked it twice and the answer was clear – with so many deserving children on the nice list this year, it only made sense to launch a seasonal hub in the North Pole. We’ve stocked up on de-icing fluid to fly from even more cities. United is honored to uplift children and their families through the joy of the holiday season. Making the North Pole closer than ever is one of the many ways we can show support for the communities where we live, work and fly.”

Mark Reif is a writer from Stowe, Vermont. During the winter, he works as a snowboard coach and rides more than 100 days. The…

Travel

Today’s US winter storm caused over 1,000 flight cancellations — what to know

Winter storm causes cancelled flights across the U.S.

Washington, D.C. snow

A powerful winter storm covered the East Coast Monday, leading to thousands of cancelled flights and hectic airport terminals. The weather originated in the Rocky Mountains before travelling eastward, leaving ice and snow in its path. An Accuweather map shows nearly the entire eastern half of the U.S. affected by the storm.

Monday saw the storm’s arrival in the East, with affected states including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Ohio. That led to more than 1,800 flights being cancelled in the U.S. as of Monday afternoon, as reported by Flighttracker. That followed Sunday’s 1,800 cancelled flights. Here’s how Mid-Atlantic travelers were affected and how to stay current with changing schedules.
The Mid-Atlantic region had the most cancellations
Accuweather storm map Accuweather

Travel

Air India begins A350 flights from Newark to Delhi

Air India begins direct flights from Newark to Delhi

Air India A350-900

Last week, Air India began flying its long-anticipated route between Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in Delhi. The direct flight is aboard a state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 and follows the recent introduction of a similar route from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
A direct flight from the New York region to India's capital
Delhi, India Anuj Yadav via Unsplash

Air India’s A350-900 aircraft feature all-new interiors, free inflight Wi-Fi, an award-winning Inflight Entertainment (IFE) system, new service ware, and upgraded catering. With the new route, Air India flies between the New York region and Delhi exclusively on A350-900s. It’s the only airline offering private suites in Business Class and also provides a luxurious Premium Economy cabin.

Travel

JetBlue receives hefty fine for delayed flights

DOT fines JetBlue $2 million for delayed flights

jetblue dot fine blueprint special livery

In an airline industry first, the Department of Transportation (DOT) fined JetBlue for canceled and delayed flights. Not long ago, the airline was placed under investigation for flights that were “chronically delayed” at least 145 times from June 2022 to November 2023. The financial penalty is in the millions and will be split among interested parties.
The fine follows repeated warnings from the DOT

During the DOT’s investigation, JetBlue ran four chronically delayed flights at least 145 times between June 2022 and November 2023. Every flight experienced delays for five months in a row, and in some cases, longer. As the DOT warned JetBlue about its chronically delayed flight between John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Raleigh-Durham, N.C, the carrier kept scheduling three other chronically delayed flights, consisting of Fort Lauderdale to Orlando and JFK airport, and from Fort Lauderdale to Windsor Locks, CT.