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

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.

United Airlines has been serving the U.K. for over 30 years. The airline is offering up to 20 daily flights from London Heathrow to its hubs at Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington/Dulles. United also offers year-round service from Edinburgh to New York/Newark and seasonal service from Edinburgh to Chicago and Washington/Dulles.
All flights are conveniently timed to connect at United’s U.S hubs with an extensive network of services to destinations throughout the Americas. Customers can book by visiting united.com or calling 0845 607 6760, or their travel agent.

At United, Good Leads The Way. With U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates the most comprehensive global route network among North American carriers and is now the largest airline in the world as measured by available seat miles.
For more about how to join the United team, please visitwww.united.com/careers and more information about the company is at www.united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., the parent company of United Airlines, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol “UAL”.

Founded in 1996, The Honeypot Children’s Charity supports young carers and vulnerable children aged 5-12 years, with an early intervention programme designed to alleviate social isolation, reduce stress and anxiety, turn around poor confidence and low self-esteem, and reverse educational underperformance. We operate three residential respite houses in Powys (Wales), Hampshire (England) and Ayrshire (Scotland). At the houses, we provide Respite Breaks during weekends and school holidays for young carers and in term-time SEAL Breaks for vulnerable children (England and Wales only at present). We also provide Memory Making Days where children can reconnect with friends they have made on breaks and Wellbeing Grants to families experiencing hardship. Some young carers will benefit from all our services and experience wrap-around support.

Our services give children a break from demanding and stressful responsibilities at home and give them a safe, nurturing environment where they can develop their full potential. We aim to give children their one chance at childhood and to set them on the path to bright futures.

Find out more at https://www.honeypot.org.uk/