Stories about really good flight experiences you have had...

My wife is having mobility issues, and we're traveling with a folding electric mobility scooter. She rides it to the door of the airplane, and they "gate check" it to the next stop. It's supposed to be delivered back to the door of the airplane on the Jetway.

We flew from Berlin to Amsterdam on British Airways in October, and they delivered the scooter about 100 yards up the Jetway. The head flight attendant ran all the way to her scooter, and picked up one end and rolled it down to the airplane. And the pilot also came out to verify that we'd got the scooter too.

That made up for the dismal food we got on BA coming out of Atlanta flying to Amsterdam originally. Their drink service was just about shut down too because the flight attendants were limiting contact with the passengers.

Our American Airways flight back into Atlanta (from Amsterdam) was a fine tuned machine. We drank so many sodas that we were about floating our way home. And the food was great.

We boarded an American Airlines nonstop flight to London at Dallas/Ft. Worth. My wife's seat back screen wouldn't work despite repeated efforts to reboot it. We told them it was no big deal since i prefer to read rather than watch videos on those long overnight flights and reading seems to make me sleepy. The attendants were apparently used to cantankerous passengers and several praised us for being so understanding. One said you must be from Texas or Oklahoma. Close, we told them we were from Kansas. Our special dinner arrived from the first class section no less, along with complementary bottles of wine. They asked several times if we wanted complementary cocktails and gave us really pleasant service. Being nice to often overworked flight crews is almost always worthwhile.

I told this story once before here but it's worth repeating. I think it was a United flight. A blind man with a very large seeing eye dog boarded, sitting across the aisle from me. The dog curled itself up as tightly as it could at the man's feet. After the flight finished boarding, a flight attendant tapped the man on the shoulder and said: "Sir, I think your dog would be more comfortable in first class" and moved both of them to the front. It was so graciously done.

Any flight where there's an empty seat next to me is a great flight. One of the best was on BA from London to Seattle late in 2019, a last-minute switch due to a strike at Lufthansa that killed my original itinerary. I was in premium economy but resigned to a middle seat because of the late switch, then surprised to find very few passengers in that section, and a whole mid-plane row to myself. Plenty of legroom and empty seats on both sides, I couldn't have asked for more.

Another high point was on American from Miami to Dallas in 2017. For some reason (not my fare) I was in business class with a lie-flat seat and just a few other passengers. I kept adjusting the seat to lie down and get up, like a kid with a new toy. Sadly, it was a short daytime flight so sleep wasn't involved. My neighbor was an experienced AA pilot deadheading to his next flight, and we had a very interesting (to me anyway) talk about that life. The attendants were bringing him snacks and he asked them to bring me some too (otherwise no food service on the flight). So I spent a couple of happy hours basking in his glory and wishing it were a longer flight, preferably overnight so I could enjoy the full potential of my seat.

I was on American flying coast to coast with three little boys under five. A bottle of wine and snacks came my way for some reason I couldn’t figure out, as my kids were behaving. They gave me enough snacks so I shared them with other children on the flight that were in front of me. It turns out the flight attendant in first class was an ex neighbor.
I was in economy class. The wine went unopened and found it’s way home with me.

on one flight a few years ago I was flying to England on a Boing 707 with my mother and little brother. I was about 8. A stewardess (no flight attendants then) who I think was the purser came down the aisle to me after we had left Idlewild and asked if I would like to go forward and meet the Captain and the crew. My mother agreed and I jumped at it. I was up there what seemed like an hour, but was probably 5 or 10 minutes. I met the First Officer too, and the Navigator who showed me his charts.

When I got back to my seat I was given a little silver coloured wings pin and a booklet. I've lost both of the souvenirs but remember the experience like it was yesterday (it wasn't).

The aspect in the OP's story where an uninvolved fellow passenger was sternly ordered out of the seat he booked so that the OP might have her preference is highly distasteful to me. I think I would nearly need to be hospitalized before I would allow someone who had booked and purchased their seat to be rudely booted out of it for me. Maybe I'm misreading in some way ....

I do love the story about the blind passenger with the seeing eye dog being bumped into first class so that the dog didn't have to crowd into the little space at his feet. Gold star class move there!

"I was on American flying coast to coast with three little boys under five. A bottle of wine and snacks came my way for some reason I couldn’t figure out, as my kids were behaving. They gave me enough snacks so I shared them with other children on the flight that were in front of me. It turns out the flight attendant in first class was an ex neighbor.
I was in economy class. The wine went unopened and found it’s way home with me."

Maybe that wine was meant for the kids ;)

I didn't ask him, or anyone else, to move, she did.
I have never in all my years of travel asked a single soul to change seats.
I didn't have any seat preference in advance, I only asked if there were any free aisle seats on the off chance that there might be.
He could have said no.
I did thank him and shared all the snacks with him.

I'm just telling you what occurred.

I don't mean to be poking at you SJ. The information that the man was fine with the switch, and that you shared the extra stuff the airline gifted you with him is very helpful in seeing this as a happy airline story :)

I have two stories of re-arranged seating and one of a missed connection recovery:

-I was living in Barcelona 20 years ago when my father died—it was sudden but not necessarily a surprise. I was on a plane less than 24 hours after getting the news. This was before the more recent tourism explosion there, and in the winter Delta didn't have non-stops to the US—my flight stopped in Madrid to collect more passengers before crossing to JFK. To say I was in an emotional state would be an understatement—I was a hot mess! I sat solo in a seat pair from Barcelona to Madrid, where a man claimed his seat next to me. After boarding was complete a flight attendant approached my seatmate and suggest he might be more comfortable in another seat, saving him from sitting next to a sobbing puddle for 8 hours (and giving me some peace and space to sob for 8 hours.) It might have been more about the other passenger, but it felt like a generous act of compassion for me.

-On an eastbound red-eye transatlantic in Business in Air France, back when biz was angle-flat 2-3-2 seating. I was seated next to a couple in the center section of three. Again, after boarding finished, a flight attendant, on her own accord, asked a gentleman seated solo in a widow-side seat pair if he'd mind switching with the couple. He and I shared the empty middle between us, and the couple got the privacy of the seat pair. I also have a memory of waking up and this same FA offering the most sincere-seeming "I hope you slept well"—remarkable enough to remember it some 20 years later.

-Lastly... During that same era, I was flying from Europe to California via JFK. The transatlantic was quite delayed, and I missed my connection to San Diego. When the aircraft door opened a "Business Class Concierge" (that was a thing then) came on the plane, found me, told me I was re-routed, and to find him at baggage claim, after immigration. At baggage claim, he explained that we were in a rush, as they were holding the flight to Salt Lake city for me. with my bag in his hands, he took me through customs and to the counter to re-check it and get new boarding passes, pulling an agent off the line she was working to prioritize me. He then brought me to the front of the security line (pre 9-11), back into the concourse, and personally onto the plane and to my seat. Then he asked if, while he left the plane, he could have the FA's bring me a drink! "A gin and tonic would be delightful. Thank you so very much!"

A1) September last year I was flying Turkish Air from Houston to Budapest (lay over in Istanbul); I got to the airport early and was number one when the desk opened and presented my passport but no COVID test as it hadn't showed up in my email yet (past due).
A2) I told the agent I knew I wouldn't be able to get on the Budapest leg without it but it should show up before I landed in Istanbul; no go, had to have the test because Budapest was on the same ticket as Istanbul and I would either need to change the ticket to two tickets ($$$$) or wait till the test showed up on my phone.
A3) I went to the back of the now extremely long line and began calling the lab, within minutes I had my test so I looked up and caught the eye of the agent and gave him a thumbs up while I held my phone in the air.
A4) The agent spoke to two other agents and in seconds, two agents were walking to the end of the line to escort me to the counter.
A5) At the counter the agent noticed the test wasn't time stamped; he smiled and asked when I got the test, I told him, he said go to your gate (at the gate I called the lab again and got a time stamp in case i needed it in Istanbul --- I didn't).
A6) In April this year I took the same Turkish Air flight and the flight attendant apparently recognized me from the previous trip and shortly after take-off walked up to my seat aisle, faced the people in the seats across the aisle from me and with one hand passed back a small plastic bag with a cup and two bottles of sleep inducement (red of course).

Scudder the bereavement flight story tugged at the heartstrings. Though it was the distant past, condolences

My favourite flight was an Air Canada flight from London to Calgary about 12 years ago. My wife had been attending a sientic conference in Banff, and I was flying out to join her for 10 days holiday. The flight was only about a 3rd full, I had the whole centre row of seats to myself.

This being my first trip to Canada, I had spent an hour or so looking through guide books, writing notes etc. A flight attendant came past and asked me where I was going - then sat down next to me for about 10 minutes making recommendations for hikes/sightseeing etc. It was great.

First special experience. Was on a Wardair night flight from Hawaii to Vancouver. Back then ( the 80s) the Capt. invited any kids who wanted, to come to the cockpit for a visit. The FA would bring one or two at a time for a short visit. I commented to the FA "sure wish I were a kid". When all the kids were done she spoke to the pilot and I got to make a visit. I was truly impressed with the 747 cockpit and was struck by how BLACK it was out the window. Gave me an appreciation for how disorienting total blackness can be.

Second experience was early 90s on way from Florida to Seattle with a change in Chicago. I was puzzled by what looked to be two flights, both UAL, leaving for Seattle 5 minutes apart. One was the one we were scheduled on. The gate agent confirmed I was not mis-reading the info board and there really were two flight just minutes apart. He then asked if I was on one of them. Yes, I replied. Would you mind taking a later flight he asked. Both of those flights are overbooked. I will give you vouchers to eat at the airport, a voucher for each of the 4 us traveling to buy a future ticket. Oh,, I the only seats left on the later flight are Row 1.
Our 2 grade school age kids loved have the center section ( DC-10) to themselves and being able to get all the soft drinks and treats they wanted. The vouchers made possible taking my Mom to Hawaii the next summer. ( The kids stayed with the other grandparents during that trip!)

Any international flight with Air New Zealand travelling home.

There's nothing like hearing the crazy vowels of an NZ accent when you've been away a while welcoming you aboard Enzed Won (NZ1 which used to be the LHR-AKL flight via LAX).

Somehow the crew seem more genial, and the warmth more genuine than any other airline. I don't think the 'offer' is superior, the prices certainly aren't, and the seats aren't any more comfortable, but the overall vibe is just seems better somehow.

Also, NZ is the land of 2 degrees of separation, so you can pretty much guarantee to know (or know of) at least one of the pilot/crew/flight attendants or some passengers.

I flew Korean air to SE Asia the longest flight I'd ever taken. Even in cattle class the cabin crew was meticulous - in dress and manner - and always seemingly busy keeping things organized. Nearly each time someone used restroom they went in to tidy and fold down the corners of the toilet paper - seriously! Anyway, as food service came through they offered passengers a choice, including a Korean option. I'll never forget the double take from the flight attendant when I asked for Korean (including hot sauce) - she gave me that "oh really?" look and when I said yes, she (with a smile) handed me some pretty tasty bibimbap. And she remembered me at breakfast service and gave me the Korean version without asking. It was a great way to kick off an adventure (though I imagine first class would have been even more amazing).

After 2 long years of waiting, WestJet’s nonstop Calgary to Rome debuted this week, with parties and speeches at both ends. My friends caught the first return flight, Rome to Calgary. The crew were cheered as they arrived for the flight, customers were all offered Prosecco and treats, and of course the speeches ran long. They said the seats and service were great in Premium Economy and the flight was smooth. Right up to the point where they got 5 cm of snow shortly after their return home. I told them I’d pick them up at the Rome airport if they just turned around and came back!

Apparently the outbound party at YYC included cannoli. I think they should have served beaver tails at the FCO party ;) But I’m so glad this flight is now available to bring my friends to see me!

Long ago, 1989. Continental - New England via EWR to HNL. At EWR, our flight to LAX was overbooked - and it was stopping 2x in Houston on the way. They offered a bumping, which my mother and i took - the new flight was direct to LAX (and we would make our connection to HNL, but only because THAT flight got delayed), and they put us in BUSINESS CLASS! Very exciting, real glasswear, and we got served before pushback!

Being an airline employee since 1979 (except for quite a few years in the early 2000's), I've had a lot of good experiences ... and, conversely, some bad ones ... these 2 came to mind immediately:

1) My very first flight as an employee (all of 24 yrs old) was myself and 2 other guys going from NY to Tulsa over a weekend in September to get set up with housing, etc... as we were part of the corporate relocation ... leaving Friday afternoon, we arrived at LGA with some time to spare so had a few drinks in the bar ... on the first leg from LGA to STL, we struck up a conversation with the flight attendants about us being brand new employees and the reason for our trip (and it didn't hurt that one of the other guys had the kind of looks and big brown puppy-dog eyes that made the girls swoon) and they made sure our glasses were never empty ... since our flight was direct, we didn't need to change planes in STL and we had about an hour wait until departure for Tulsa, so we got off and went to the bar ... upon re-boarding, the other 2 guys were in front of me as I stopped to peek inside the 727 cockpit ... the First Officer was the only one there and he invited me in and said I could sit in the Captain's chair if I wanted ... we chatted for a few minutes before the Captain and Flight Engineer came in, which meant I had to get out of the pilot seat ... after they were seated, the Captain asked me why I was going to Tulsa, so I told him I was a new employee and going to find a place to live when I moved there in about a month ... after a few more minutes of chatting, they got the call from the tower it was time to go, so I said I guess it's time for me to go back to my seat ... the Captain looked at the First Officer and said 'I'm okay with it', the First Officer said he was also, then the Flight Engineer also said okay ... the Captain turned to me and asked if I would like to fly to Tulsa up here with them ... since I was, let's just say, a little tipsy, my reply can't be typed here ... he called the lead flight attendant in and said I would be joining them and could she get me situated ... no doubt, that was the greatest flight I have ever been on ... upon deplaning, I was standing at the cockpit door next to the Captain thanking the deplaning passengers for flying with us today (kind of like the old SNL skit with David Spade as a flight attendant saying buh-bye) ... my 2 friends saw me and their jaws dropped, they thought I missed the flight ... the rest, as they say, is history

2) This one is indirectly about my experience, more about my daughters ... was going to San Diego in the mid 90's with my wife and 2 young daughters (around 9 and 7) to visit my parents when the only seats remaining were 2 together in first class and 2 in coach, both middle seats with one around the center and the other in the back ... it was departure time and right after we got on they closed the door, so no time to have someone swap seats so one of us could sit next to one of the kids in coach ... the flight attendants said the 2 kids could sit together in first and they would take good care of them ... this was in the days when, in first class, you got a good dinner ... and the big vanilla ice cream sundae for dessert ... when we finally made our way up front to exit, the flight attendants said they had the best time with my daughters and of course both of them couldn't wait to tell us of the HUGE sundaes they had with the mountain of whipped cream on top ... I'm not sure to this day who had the better time.

On shower flight from Charlotte to DC on United, there was a man, perhaps in his 70s, a few rows ahead of me. He’d never flown before and was clearly nervous and even scared. The flight attendant kept him occupied for much of the flight and engaged in conversation. It was very sweet to watch.

When I was 19 or 20, I took my first solo trip to far away New Zealand. Had only been on a plane once before. Never international. It was a very long flight from Vancouver to Auckland.

A male FA took me under his wing (so to speak). There was lots of down time for the flight crew, and instead of sleeping, he chose to tell me about and tour me through the plane. I think it was a DC 10. He took me on an elevator down to the kitchen in the basement where they were preparing scrambled eggs for what looked like a thousand servings. He took me to the flight deck to meet the Captain, and showed me all the nooks and crannies on the plane.

I had no idea where I would be staying when I landed…it was 1978. Who did reservations? He recommended a budget motel, and took me out for dinner on my first night. Never saw him again, but always appreciated his kindness.

We checked in for our flight to London on Virgin Atlantic. The woman at the desk said that she saw it was “our virgin flight on Virgin” and she offered us an upgrade to First Class which included a pair of pjs, food, drinks, massages, the works. That was a nice surprise!

In the early 1990s I accompanied my husband on a business trip to Geneva, Switzerland. While there I was notified my Dad had been taken to the hospital and was to have heart bypass surgery. As it turned out his surgery was scheduled for the day I returned to the States. I was traveling by myself. My husband was flying another airline. It so happened my husband was scheduled for surgery the day after we returned home. (These days we would never schedule a surgery the day after returning from anywhere. But back then we were younger and flights were mostly more reliable.) I had a connecting flight from Heathrow to (likely) JFK. Something went wrong with the flight out of London. I explained the reasons I really needed to get home that day. I was bumped up to business class which was a real treat. A small girl was sitting next to me, a real chatterbox. In retrospect, sitting next to her took my mind off (a bit) of my Dad's surgery. My father ended up with a quadruple bypass. He lived until 2013. My husband's surgery went well too. I still gratefully remember the kindness shown to me that day.

In 2003, my family of 8 took a cheap 10-day package deal trip to Paris, Venice, Florence and Rome. Cost about $800 per person including airfare. Our flight from Rome to LAX had a long connection in Paris. One of our group lost their ticket for the connecting flight, so we had to go to the main desk to get a replacement. We were the first to check in for the flight, which we found out was over booked. They asked us if we’d like to stay an extra night in Paris and fly home the next day. We really just wanted to get home, but they kept trying to sweeten the deal. We ended up getting $650 cash each, vouchers for meals in the airport, a night at a hotel, and flew home in first class the next day. So that trip ended up costing us each $150. And first class spoiled us, even before the lay-flat seats!