Flight to Survival: How an Alaska Airlines Attendant Saved Rare Flamingo Eggs Mid-Air

An Alaska Airlines flight attendant rescued rare flamingo eggs on a flight from Atlanta to Seattle.

The 10-year veteran crewmember answered a passenger call button and was met with an unusual request: could she “help keep some eggs warm.” The incubator being used to care for rare Chilean flamingo eggs had quit functioning. And without assistance, they wouldn’t make it from the Atlanta Zoo to the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle.

Thinking quickly, Amber went to the galley, found some rubber gloves and filled them with warm water. She brought them to the zoo official who quickly wrapped them around the eggs, making a cozy nest. Guests seated nearby offered their coats and scarves for extra insulation.


Credit: Alaska Airlines


Credit: Alaska Airlines

This happened back in August. Several months later, the flight attendant was asked by the zoo if she’d come meet the flamingos that she saved? All six chicks hatched. She brought her baby granddaughter to see the gray birds (they don’t become pink until adulthoods). They named one after the flight attendant’s granddaughter.

These were some lucky birds, since often times on the airlines I fly I can’t even get a cup of water

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  1. You’d get all the water you need on Alaska Airlines. Very caring, hardworking flight attendants.
    Love this story. Thank you.

  2. Actually, the birds age or state of maturity has nothing to do with the color of their plumage. The pink color comes from from eating algae that contains carotenoid pigments. The same applies to shrimp. Great story about often abused FA.

  3. What a heartwarming circumstance with a good outcome. With how much negativity we hear about in air-travel it’s great to see the crew and passengers coming together.

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