Over the summer a woman noticed the guy seated in front of her and ‘took her shot’ writing her number on a Southwest Airlines napkin and passing it to him, suggesting he text her if he is single and interested.
@nataliebonbon Also did this towards the end of the flight so it wasn’t awkward for a long time just incase #datingtok #catchingflights #singletok #flightsandfeelings #summer23 ♬ Bops Goin Brazy – Tyga
She followed up on social media to let everyone know how it worked out. They turned out to both be from San Diego, just 20 minutes away from each other. He texted and asked her out,
I’m free tomorrow and Monday night. Down for a date night? There’s a couple fun places I’ve been wanting to check out.
@nataliebonbon Replying to @Becky Reynolds ♬ Bops Goin Brazy – Tyga
He offered to pick her up, but she decided to meet him since they’d only just met on the flight. They went out for Korean barbecue (good choice, very social). He taught her how to use chopsticks, which could be adorable or condescending (it seemed to work). Then they went for ice cream. He walked her back to her car, and opened her door. And he… said he’d “text her later in the week.” Womp, womp. That.. didn’t happen.
She offered commentary on taking her shot, on the date they went on and on how it ended.
Five years ago two passengers finding love inflight was live-tweeted and became an international sensation. The CEO of T-Mobile tried to get in on the action, offering free service credits to the person posting the story because of the bandwidth sharing it with the world had taken.
Around the same time I witnessed what may have been a world record hookup in the air, introduction-to-couple on a 140 mile Austin – Houston United flight.
World record inflight hookup: 2B helps 2A her stow her bag in Austin. She tells him about her kids and shows him her Priority Pass and Amex Platinum. They held hands for descent into Houston. A new couple is @United. #love #upintheair
— gary leff (@garyleff) May 6, 2018
I didn’t live tweet the hookup or take photos of the happy couple. And 30 minutes in the air doesn’t allow for enough inflight internet time to develop a story arc. However these inflight couplings happen more often than you’d think.
For instance earlier in the year two American Airlines passengers met, got drunk inflight, and explored love at their seats. The man started massaging the woman’s feet.
Another guy used his robot suitcase to ask a girl out at the airport. Meanwhile, here’s how to get a flight attendant’s number on your flight.
(HT: Paul H)
The most interesting interaction I’ve had with a fellow passenger was discussing the event I’d just come from (supporting autism), and then talking about her autistic son who was obsessed with airplanes and then the aviation industry. He went on to develop an interest in aviation safety as well. So then the conversation turned to talking about some pilots I watch on YouTube, who break down and analyze aviation disasters and emergencies.
Then we got to (quietly) talk about them. SO I GOT TO HAVE AN IN-FLIGHT CONVERSATION ABOUT PLANE CRASHES!!! (It lasted the entire 2 hours flight too. It was awesome!)
If I found out someone was live on Tik tok in a first date; there wouldn’t be a second one either
Good for her for shooting her shot. Good for the guy for realizing a live streamed social media relationship never works.
Gary…
This is a story that I have kept quiet for over 30 years. In 1990 I actually proposed to my future Bride in the cockpit of a widebody between SEA and HNL.
1. I was able to prearrange this with the airline’s executive management.
2. I talked to the scheduled Captain, who already knew about the plan, a few days prior to the flight. We agreed he would find us in the gate area.
3. He did find us about an hour prior to departure. I introduced him to my future Bride and quietly slipped him the engagement ring.
4. We had a full airplane and about 2 hours after t/o he came back into the cabin to see how we were doing. The cabin was dark as they had started to show the movie and he asked my future Bride if she would like to see the cockpit. Her eyes went wide and she said absolutely. We quietly went forward and into the cockpit where they asked her to sit at the engineer’s panel. I sat in the first j/s.
5. After a brief tour of the cockpit they asked her to open the drawer at the engineers desk. She kept begging off because she believed a trick was coming and something would jump out at her. Finally she agreed to open it and braced herself for what she thought was coming?
6. When she opened the drawer there was the engagement ring! She looked up at me and I said “Honey I want to know…in front of two official witnesses and the aircraft commander will you marry me”?
7. As she said YES the F/O was marking the exact spot we were at (on his Pacific charts) when she said YES! He made a big X on the spot and included the longs/lats. 8. We had all 3 pilots sign the chart and we framed it and it still hangs in our house.
9. There were approximately 400 passengers/crew on the flight and only 5 people on the plane ever knew what happened.
You have always heard that the X marks the spot. Well we can actually show you the X!
Thank you for your good stories.
Picard
Gary
The preview of my comment showed that it did not format correctly. If the formatting can’t be fixed on your end please do not publish it
Thank you
Picard
And here I used to enjoy picking seats on Shuttle flights out of DCA to engage in casual …… discussions of geopolitical situations with former SACEURs and such.
I met my partner of, what, 24 years now? On a flight from SFO to JFK. I had moved to the back of the plane because it was empty back there and I got a row to myself. She was waiting in line for the bathroom, and we started talking. When she came out, we talked some more, and she sat down next to me for the rest of the flight. Here we are today. Pretty nice story!
I was sitting next to a cute girl on a Midwest express flight from MKE-DCA in about 1999. Our flight had to divert to CLE for a medical emergency. By the time we landed in DCA the metro was closed. For whatever reason, we took a cab back to my place because o had a car and she didn’t want to spend money on a cab. I drove her home, got her number, called her, and never heard back from her. How bout that you effin millennials and your tik tok!
During my single years…the airport/lounge/plane resulted in many a “hook-up”. (Note: And it was done old school…we didn’t have the phone or Social Media as a crutch).
Only a couple of these developed into anything more than one-off’s…but so what? Some of these “hook-ups” were quite adventurous (no more details on that!).
So, my advice for the singles out there? Follow the old sales ABC code. Always-Be-Closing!
Since I’ve seen articles recycled here, I’ll follow suit with this comment.
October 14, 2023 at 12:24 am
Should you think about dating a stewardess it is imperative that you read the book The Predatory Female. It is authored by Rev Laurence Shannon former AA captain. I know his real name but I won’t disclose it. Anyone out their “fishing” for a bride would benefit. I used to carry copies and give to my FO’s if they were single. Married, too late.
Not interested in reading his humous book look up the Hot and Crazy Matrix.