United Airlines Flies Kids in Need to Unbelievable Holiday Destination

CHICAGO, Dec. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines flew more than 800 deserving children on Fantasy Flights to the "North Pole" this month. The kids boarded aircraft bound for Santa's hometown for a special holiday experience. After a quick flight, they arrived at magical winter wonderlands – airport gates employees had completely transformed with lights, Christmas trees and other spectacular holiday decorations.

Click below for Fantasy Flight photos and more:

• Social media posts and photos from all #fantasyflights at united.com/fantasyflights
• Additional, downloadable images on United's Newsroom

The kids, many of whom suffer from serious illnesses or are in recovery, and their families received an extra special holiday. To help lift their spirits, United employees volunteered their time and raised money to create these one-of-a-kind experiences and memories for families in their communities.

Volunteers infused holiday cheer into every detail of the experience, including flight attendants and pilots dressed in festive attire; employees on the tarmac donned elf hats; and tinsel, ornaments and lights covered the airports. Flight attendants even added a unique twist to the onboard safety demonstration, announcing it in the style of "Twas the Night Before Christmas."

At the North Pole, Santa and Mrs. Claus handed out presents and the kids joined in festive activities and games to finish off their unique and well-deserved journeys.

For more than 25 years employees have volunteered to staff, fund and build these Fantasy Flight events across United's global network.

2014 Fantasy Flights by the numbers:

• 12 airports (Boise, Chicago-O'Hare, Cleveland, Denver, Houston Bush, Guam,
  Los Angeles, Newark, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Francisco, Washington-Dulles)
• More than 800 children and their families
• 1,400 employee volunteers
• More than 2,500 presents
• Thousands of feet of Christmas lights
• 300 employees in costume
• More than 100 Christmas trees

About United

United Airlines and United Express operate an average of 5,100 flights a day to 374 airports across six continents. In 2013, United and United Express operated nearly two million flights carrying 139 million customers. With U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates more than 700 mainline aircraft. This year, the airline is taking delivery of 35 new Boeing aircraft, including the 787-9 as the North American launch customer, and is welcoming 32 new Embraer 175 aircraft to United Express. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 192 countries via 27 member airlines. More than 85,000 United employees reside in every U.S. state and in countries around the world. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL.

Video - http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/PRNA/ENR/FF_Cut_14A_1.mp4
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141218/165286
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141218/165287
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130404/MM89155LOGO 

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SOURCE United Airlines