Fantasy flight
Encyclopedia
Fantasy flights are charity flights operated by a host airline for locally disadvantaged and terminally ill children to fly to a fictitious destination.
The destination is often the North Pole
, the home of Santa Claus
' workshop. Employees and locals often including firemen
and police officer
s generally donate their own time and labor to decorate either a gate area
or a dedicated terminal
area. Employees often don costume
s including magicians and Santa's helpers known as elves
to entertain the children. Various gifts and take-away bags often accompany the Christmas and holiday seasons' theme. Often, local companies and charitable organization
s are sponsors. Host airlines donate venue
s (gate area
s), aircraft
, fuel
, and fellow sponsors. The cost is virtually always free.
Fantasy flights differ from angel flight
s in that fantasy flights
operators are sorted by airlines' names' alphabetical order.
Air Labrador
operated a fantasy flight with a Santa visit on board to the plane on the tarmac while taxiing
.
Alaska Airlines
is the official airline of the non-profit charity Spokane Fantasy Flight which organizes an annual fantasy flight at Spokane International Airport
, its 12th being in 2009.
American Airlines
is a primary sponsor and official airline of Snowball Express, a non-profit charity for the children of fallen military service members. American Airlines provides the pilots, flight crews, aircraft, and fuel coordination. In its 2006 inaugural year, the experience flew children to Los Angeles International Airport for 4 days of an all-expenses paid experience in Southern California. In 2008, 6 chartered aircraft made 20 stops across the United States with celebrations at each . In 2009, the experience was in Dallas, Texas with hosts the Mesquite Championship Rodeo
, Gary Sinise
and the Lt. Dan Band
, the Sheraton Dallas Hotel
, Southfork Ranch
, the Dallas Cowboys
, Cowboys Stadium, the Dallas Convention Center
, American Airlines Center
, and the Dallas Mavericks
.. In 2010, Dallas will again host Snowball Express adding hosts Terry Fator
and Six Flags Over Texas
.
British Airways
operates a special day return trip for kids with life-threatening illnesses from Glasgow Prestwick Airport
to Rovaniemi Airport
, Finland, located near the Arctic Circle, to ride snowmobiles, take husky dog sled
rides and meet Santa and his reindeer.
Continental Airlines
operated Operation Santa Claus to airlift children's toys to those in need and an annual North Pole Fantasy Flight which has operated at its Technical Operations hangar at Orlando International Airport
, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
, San Antonio International Airport
, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
annually for 22 years,
the New England Air Museum
in Windsor Locks, Connecticut with Connecticut Children's Medical Center.
Southwest Airlines
operated its fantasy flights at Baltimore Thurgood Marshall Airport with the Johns Hopkins Children's Center for years.
Sun Country Airlines
operated fantasy flights at Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport.
United Airlines
operated fantasy flights at Washington Dulles Airport on 2002-12-07, 2003-12-06, 2006-12-02, and 2008-12-16; Phoenix International Airport
with the Thomas J. Pappas School
; Dulles International Airport; Chicago O'Hare International Airport; Miami International Airport
; LaGuardia Airport
; Las Vegas International Airport; San Francisco International Airport
; Los Angeles International Airport
; Ministro Pistarini International Airport
; Sydney Airport
; and for the first time in 2006, Denver International Airport
, where its East Red Carpet Club was decorated and hosted the attendees with clowns, elves, and musicians. Airport employees funded the operation which includes a plane taxiing around the airport and presents. United did so again in 2009. United Airlines is the former official airline of Spokane Fantasy Flight. United held its last Fantasy Flight in Phoenix on 2009-12-04 albeit through a non-profit organization
's organizing
and funding
. United also promotes the program officially as a part of its United Employee Volunteer Program.
US Airways
operated its fantasy flights at LaGuardia Airport with Shriners Hospitals for Children
for over 12 years and at Phoenix International Airport.
Winnipeg International Airport
, Skyservice Airlines, and sponsors operate "north pole express", annual fantasy flights for children from (a) chosen local public school(s) with a takeoff
, flight
, pilot
's announcement of a Santa sighting, and an onboard visit from Santa. This event won the Airports Council International
2009 award for special events.
Helicopter
operators such as the San Jose Police Department
Air Support Unit also operate fantasy flights, namely by landing with Santa on board.
, the Steam Railroading Institute
, Branson Scenic Railway
(in a one-time promotion for the film The Polar Express
), and Newport Dinner Train
operate fantasy rides.
The destination is often the North Pole
North Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
, the home of Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
' workshop. Employees and locals often including firemen
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
and police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
s generally donate their own time and labor to decorate either a gate area
Gate (airport)
A gate in aviation is a long, movable, "bridge" that allows passengers to embark and disembark their aircraft.* Jetway bridges* Air stairs, either built into the aircraft or from a mobile vehicle* Mobile lounges...
or a dedicated terminal
Airport terminal
An airport terminal is a building at an airport where passengers transfer between ground transportation and the facilities that allow them to board and disembark from aircraft....
area. Employees often don costume
Costume
The term costume can refer to wardrobe and dress in general, or to the distinctive style of dress of a particular people, class, or period. Costume may also refer to the artistic arrangement of accessories in a picture, statue, poem, or play, appropriate to the time, place, or other circumstances...
s including magicians and Santa's helpers known as elves
Elf
An elf is a being of Germanic mythology. The elves were originally thought of as a race of divine beings endowed with magical powers, which they use both for the benefit and the injury of mankind...
to entertain the children. Various gifts and take-away bags often accompany the Christmas and holiday seasons' theme. Often, local companies and charitable organization
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
s are sponsors. Host airlines donate venue
Venue
- Locations :* Venue , the place a case is heard* Change of venue, moving a trial to a new place* Music venue, place used for a concert or musical performance* Sport venue, place used for a sporting event...
s (gate area
Gate (airport)
A gate in aviation is a long, movable, "bridge" that allows passengers to embark and disembark their aircraft.* Jetway bridges* Air stairs, either built into the aircraft or from a mobile vehicle* Mobile lounges...
s), aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
, fuel
Fuel
Fuel is any material that stores energy that can later be extracted to perform mechanical work in a controlled manner. Most fuels used by humans undergo combustion, a redox reaction in which a combustible substance releases energy after it ignites and reacts with the oxygen in the air...
, and fellow sponsors. The cost is virtually always free.
Fantasy flights differ from angel flight
Angel Flight
Angel Flight is the name used by a number of groups whose members provide free transportation for needy patients and perform other missions of community service...
s in that fantasy flights
- are not to reach a practical or far away destination,
- generally have no compelling practical need (i.e. specialized medical treatment) for transportation,
- are initiated by the parents' outreach to the sponsoring organizations instead of by a referring health professional,
- and may include those without medical conditions due to the customary lack of pressurization and duration
Commercial Aviation
The following commercial aviationCommercial aviation
Commercial aviation is the part of civil aviation that involves operating aircraft for hire to transport passengers or cargo...
operators are sorted by airlines' names' alphabetical order.
Air Labrador
Air Labrador
Labrador Airways Limited, operating as Air Labrador, is a regional airline based in Goose Bay , Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It operates scheduled daily passenger and freight services throughout Labrador and Quebec, as well as charter operations with the options of landing in remote and off...
operated a fantasy flight with a Santa visit on board to the plane on the tarmac while taxiing
Taxiing
Taxiing refers to the movement of an aircraft on the ground, under its own power, in contrast to towing or push-back where the aircraft is moved by a tug...
.
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines is an airline based in the Seattle suburb of SeaTac, Washington in the United States. The airline originated in 1932 as McGee Airways. After many mergers with and acquisitions of other airlines, including Star Air Service, it became known as Alaska Airlines in 1944...
is the official airline of the non-profit charity Spokane Fantasy Flight which organizes an annual fantasy flight at Spokane International Airport
Spokane International Airport
Spokane International Airport is a commercial airport located about west of downtown Spokane in Spokane County, Washington. It is the primary airport for Spokane, eastern Washington, Coeur d'Alene, and northern Idaho...
, its 12th being in 2009.
American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
is a primary sponsor and official airline of Snowball Express, a non-profit charity for the children of fallen military service members. American Airlines provides the pilots, flight crews, aircraft, and fuel coordination. In its 2006 inaugural year, the experience flew children to Los Angeles International Airport for 4 days of an all-expenses paid experience in Southern California. In 2008, 6 chartered aircraft made 20 stops across the United States with celebrations at each . In 2009, the experience was in Dallas, Texas with hosts the Mesquite Championship Rodeo
Mesquite Championship Rodeo
The Mesquite Championship Rodeo is a rodeo located in Mesquite, Texas that operates during rodeo season .Founded in 1958 by Neal Gay as a permanent rodeo , the rodeo struggled in the early years, but grew as the city of Mesquite grew...
, Gary Sinise
Gary Sinise
Gary Alan Sinise is an American actor, film director and musician. During his career, Sinise has won various awards including an Emmy and a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for an Academy Award. In 1992, Sinise directed, and played the role of George Milton in the successful film adaptation of...
and the Lt. Dan Band
Lt. Dan Band
The Lt. Dan Band is a cover band founded by Kimo Williams and Gary Sinise who have worked together since a Steppenwolf production of A Streetcar Named Desire. The band is named after the character Lieutenant Dan Taylor, whom Sinise portrayed in the film Forrest Gump...
, the Sheraton Dallas Hotel
Sheraton Dallas Hotel
The Sheraton Dallas Hotel, formerly the Adam's Mark Hotel and originally the Southland Center, is a complex of international style skyscrapers located in the City Center District of downtown Dallas, Texas. The hotel is the tallest and largest hotel in Dallas and Texas with 1,840 guest rooms and ...
, Southfork Ranch
Southfork Ranch
Southfork Ranch is a conference and event center located near Plano, Texas; it contains the Ewing Mansion, which was the setting for the 1978 - 1991 television series Dallas. The ranch is located at 3700 Hogge Drive in Parker, Texas.-History:...
, the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, Cowboys Stadium, the Dallas Convention Center
Dallas Convention Center
The Dallas Convention Center, originally the Dallas Memorial Auditorium, is a meeting hall, event/convention center and civic center in the Convention Center District of downtown Dallas, Texas...
, American Airlines Center
American Airlines Center
The American Airlines Center is a multi-purpose arena, located in the Victory Park neighborhood, near downtown Dallas, Texas.It is home to the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA, and the Dallas Stars of the NHL....
, and the Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
.. In 2010, Dallas will again host Snowball Express adding hosts Terry Fator
Terry Fator
Terry Wayne Fator is a ventriloquist, impressionist, comedian, and singer from Dallas, Texas. Fator is capable of doing over 100 ventriloquial impersonations, and uses 16 different puppets in his act. He was the winner of Season 2 of America's Got Talent, and received the million dollar prize...
and Six Flags Over Texas
Six Flags Over Texas
Six Flags Over Texas is a major amusement park located in Arlington, Texas , east of Fort Worth and about west of Dallas. It is the oldest park of the Six Flags chain. The park opened on August 5, 1961 following just a year of construction and an initial investment of US$10 million by real estate...
.
British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
operates a special day return trip for kids with life-threatening illnesses from Glasgow Prestwick Airport
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
to Rovaniemi Airport
Rovaniemi Airport
Rovaniemi Airport is the fifth biggest airport in Finland by annual number of passengers, located in Rovaniemi, Finland, about north of Rovaniemi city centre. The Arctic Circle crosses the runway closer to its northern end.- History :...
, Finland, located near the Arctic Circle, to ride snowmobiles, take husky dog sled
Dog sled
A dog sled is a sled pulled by one or more sled dogs used to travel over ice and through snow. Numerous types of sleds are used, depending on their function. They can be used for dog sled racing.-History:...
rides and meet Santa and his reindeer.
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
operated Operation Santa Claus to airlift children's toys to those in need and an annual North Pole Fantasy Flight which has operated at its Technical Operations hangar at Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport is a major international airport located southeast of the central business district of Orlando. It is the second busiest airport in Florida, after Miami International Airport...
, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is a mixed-use commercial airport located southeast of the central business district of Austin, Texas, United States. It covers and has two runways and three helipads.The airport began passenger service on May 23, 1999...
, San Antonio International Airport
San Antonio International Airport
San Antonio International Airport is a commercial airport in San Antonio, Texas, USA. The airport has three runways and covers . Its elevation is above sea level. SAT is a Class C airport.- Overview :...
, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is a public airport located nine miles southwest of the central business district of Cleveland, a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The airport lies just within the city limits of Cleveland...
annually for 22 years,
the New England Air Museum
New England Air Museum
The New England Air Museum is located at Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks, Connecticut, USA. The museum is housed in three large display buildings consisting of more than of exhibit space...
in Windsor Locks, Connecticut with Connecticut Children's Medical Center.
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines Co. is an American low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas. Southwest is the largest airline in the United States, based upon domestic passengers carried,...
operated its fantasy flights at Baltimore Thurgood Marshall Airport with the Johns Hopkins Children's Center for years.
Sun Country Airlines
Sun Country Airlines
MN Airlines, LLC, operating as Sun Country Airlines, is an American low-cost airline headquartered in the Minneapolis-St. Paul suburb of Mendota Heights, Minnesota...
operated fantasy flights at Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport.
United Airlines
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
operated fantasy flights at Washington Dulles Airport on 2002-12-07, 2003-12-06, 2006-12-02, and 2008-12-16; Phoenix International Airport
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located southeast of the central business district of the city of Phoenix, in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States...
with the Thomas J. Pappas School
Thomas J. Pappas School
The Thomas J. Pappas Schools were a series of related alternative schools located in the Phoenix, Arizona area. A part of the Maricopa County Regional School District, the Thomas J. Pappas schools provided primary and secondary education to homeless children in the area. They were named for...
; Dulles International Airport; Chicago O'Hare International Airport; Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport , also known as MIA and historically Wilcox Field, is the primary airport serving the South Florida area...
; LaGuardia Airport
LaGuardia Airport
LaGuardia Airport is an airport located in the northern part of Queens County on Long Island in the City of New York. The airport is located on the waterfront of Flushing Bay and Bowery Bay, and borders the neighborhoods of Astoria, Jackson Heights and East Elmhurst. The airport was originally...
; Las Vegas International Airport; San Francisco International Airport
San Francisco International Airport
San Francisco International Airport is a major international airport located south of downtown San Francisco, California, United States, near the cities of Millbrae and San Bruno in unincorporated San Mateo County. It is often referred to as SFO...
; Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually...
; Ministro Pistarini International Airport
Ministro Pistarini International Airport
Ministro Pistarini International Airport , more commonly known as Ezeiza International Airport owing to its location within the Ezeiza Partido in the Greater Buenos Aires, is an international airport located south-southwest of Buenos Aires, the capital city of Argentina...
; Sydney Airport
Sydney Airport
Sydney Airport may refer to:* Sydney Airport, also known as Kingsford Smith International Airport, in Sydney, Australia* Sydney/J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport, in Nova Scotia, Canada...
; and for the first time in 2006, Denver International Airport
Denver International Airport
Denver International Airport , often referred to as DIA, is an airport in Denver, Colorado. By land size, at , it is the largest international airport in the United States, and the third largest international airport in the world after King Fahd International Airport and Montréal-Mirabel...
, where its East Red Carpet Club was decorated and hosted the attendees with clowns, elves, and musicians. Airport employees funded the operation which includes a plane taxiing around the airport and presents. United did so again in 2009. United Airlines is the former official airline of Spokane Fantasy Flight. United held its last Fantasy Flight in Phoenix on 2009-12-04 albeit through a non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
's organizing
Organizing
Organizing is the act of rearranging elements following one or more rules.Anything is commonly considered organized when it looks like everything has a correct order or placement. But it's only ultimately organized if any element has no difference on time taken to find it...
and funding
Funding
Funding is the act of providing resources, usually in form of money , or other values such as effort or time , for a project, a person, a business or any other private or public institutions...
. United also promotes the program officially as a part of its United Employee Volunteer Program.
US Airways
US Airways
US Airways, Inc. is a major airline based in the U.S. city of Tempe, Arizona. The airline is an operating unit of US Airways Group and is the sixth largest airline by traffic and eighth largest by market value in the country....
operated its fantasy flights at LaGuardia Airport with Shriners Hospitals for Children
Shriners Hospitals for Children
Shriners Hospitals for Children is a network of 22 non-profit hospitals across North America. Children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate are eligible for care and receive all services in a family-centered environment, regardless of the patients’...
for over 12 years and at Phoenix International Airport.
Winnipeg International Airport
Winnipeg International Airport
Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, more commonly known as Winnipeg International Airport is an international airport in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It is the eighth busiest airport in Canada by passenger traffic, serving just over 3.3 million passengers, and the 12th...
, Skyservice Airlines, and sponsors operate "north pole express", annual fantasy flights for children from (a) chosen local public school(s) with a takeoff
Takeoff
Takeoff is the phase of flight in which an aerospace vehicle goes from the ground to flying in the air.For horizontal takeoff aircraft this usually involves starting with a transition from moving along the ground on a runway. For balloons, helicopters and some specialized fixed-wing aircraft , no...
, flight
Flight
Flight is the process by which an object moves either through an atmosphere or beyond it by generating lift or propulsive thrust, or aerostatically using buoyancy, or by simple ballistic movement....
, pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
's announcement of a Santa sighting, and an onboard visit from Santa. This event won the Airports Council International
Airports Council International
Airports Council International is the association of the world’s airports. It is a non profit organization, whose prime purpose is to advance the interests of airports and to promote professional excellence in airport management and operations...
2009 award for special events.
Helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
operators such as the San Jose Police Department
San Jose Police Department (California)
The San Jose Police Department protects the streets of San Jose, California, and keeps San Jose one of the safest large cities in the United States...
Air Support Unit also operate fantasy flights, namely by landing with Santa on board.
Railway
Railways including the Valley Railroad CompanyValley Railroad Company
The Valley Railroad is a heritage railroad based in Connecticut originally founded in 1868. It is best known for operating the Essex Steam Train and the Essex Clipper Dinner Train.-Essex Steam Train and Riverboat:...
, the Steam Railroading Institute
Steam Railroading Institute
The Steam Railroading Institute is located at 405 South Washington Street, Owosso, Michigan.The Steam Railroading Institute is an organization dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and operation of historical railroad equipment and items. It operates a heritage railroad which offers...
, Branson Scenic Railway
Branson Scenic Railway
The Branson Scenic Railway is a heritage railroad in Branson, Missouri.It operates tourist trains in the scenic Ozark Mountains between Branson north to Galena, Missouri, or between Branson south to the Barren Fork Trestle in Arkansas...
(in a one-time promotion for the film The Polar Express
The Polar Express (film)
The Polar Express is a 2004 motion capture computer-animated film based on the children's book of the same title by Chris Van Allsburg. Written, produced, and directed by Robert Zemeckis, the human characters in the film were animated using live action performance capture technique, with the...
), and Newport Dinner Train
Newport Dinner Train
The Newport Dinner Train is a heritage railroad operating in Newport, Rhode Island in conjunction with the Old Colony and Newport Scenic Railway....
operate fantasy rides.