JetBlue Takes Sick Children on 'Dream Flight' for the Holidays

Image: Photo courtesy of JetBlue (JetBlue Airways)
Image: Photo courtesy of JetBlue (JetBlue Airways)
Patrick Clarke
by Patrick Clarke
Last updated: 12:30 PM ET, Fri December 9, 2016

JetBlue is in the giving spirit this holiday season.

Working with Burlington International Airport, Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, the Ronald McDonald House and the University of Vermont Children's Hospital, the New York-based carrier flew more than three dozen children over Vermont Tuesday, WCAX News reported.

The once-in-a-lifetime experience, known as the "Dream Flight," featured Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus and a winter wonderland inside of the airport.

The 39 children who participated are battling various illnesses, including cancer.

"I was really excited because I thought I was going to a doctor's appointment,"s 9-year-old and two-time cancer survivor Rowan Dodge told WCAX. "I'm hoping to see Santa because my mom told me we were going to see Santa, but she already tricked me once today, so I don't know if we're actually going to see Santa Claus."

Each of the children, who were accompanied by their families, were greeted by Frosty at the gate, received a teddy bear upon boarding and met Santa Claus after deplaning.

[READMORE] READ MORE: The New Retro JetBlue Jet Is Simply Gorgeous [/READMORE]

While in the sky, the kids were treated to exceptional views of New Hampshire's Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast U.S.

The brainchild behind the special concept, JetBlue Steve Shover said he started to cry at takeoff.

"It was happy tears, though, to do something really special for kids who may not ever have another opportunity in their entire lives to actually go on a plane," Shover told WCAX.

It's unclear whether the Dream Flight will take place again in 2017, but we can only hope it does, or, better yet, that it expands to more destinations.


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Patrick Clarke

Patrick Clarke

Senior Editor

A Maryland native and wanderer who has lived across the U.S. from North Carolina to SoCal, Patrick Clarke graduated from Towson University with a B.S. in journalism. He previously worked for Bleacher

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