First-Class Passenger Gave Up Seat to Mom with Sick Baby

Image: PHOTO: American Airlines First Class. (photo via Flickr/Sarah Ackerman)
Image: PHOTO: American Airlines First Class. (photo via Flickr/Sarah Ackerman)
Alex Temblador
by Alex Temblador
Last updated: 3:25 PM ET, Mon December 10, 2018

There are kind people in this world and one in particular from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.

Jason Kunselman, 46, was flying in first class from Orlando to Philadelphia last week on American Airlines flight 588 when he saw Kelsey Zwick with her 11-month-old baby, Lucy, waiting to board the plane.

"She had an oxygen machine for her daughter. It couldn't be put over her head and she had to have it with her the whole time. It was so touching seeing the little girl with her oxygen. I was tearing up as I saw her," Kunselman told DailyMail.com.

"Kelsey was pre-boarding and I saw the young mother traveling with a child that needed oxygen. She was so tiny," he added.

Zwick was taking Lucy to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia because she suffers from a severe chronic lung disease caused by a complication during pregnancy.

"I expected to see her in the front since she had the oxygen machine with her but when I boarded she was in the back. So I asked the flight attendant if she thought the young lady with the baby would be more comfortable in my seat," Kunselman said.

Kelsey accepted his offer and the pair switched seats, both tearing up in the process.

"I just hoped that she had a better flight with more room," he said.

After the flight, several passengers thanked Kunselman for his gesture that had him sitting at the back of the plane.

He didn't think beyond his good deed until recently when he heard that Zwick had shared her experience on Facebook.

"To the man in 2D. Today you were traveling from Orlando to Philly. I don't know you, but I imagine you saw us somewhere. I was pushing a stroller, had a diaper bag on my arm."

"We had smiles on our faces as we were headed to see her 'friends' at CHOP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia)."

"We pre-boarded the plane, got cozy in our window seat and made jokes to those around us about having to sit by my yelling-but-happy baby. The flight attendant came over and told me you were waiting to switch seats. You were giving up your comfortable, first class seat to us."

"Not able to hold back tears, I cried my way up the aisle while my daughter Lucy laughed!"

"She felt it in her bones too... real, pure, goodness. I smiled and thanked you as we switched but didn't get to thank you properly. Sooo... thank you. Not just for the seat itself but for noticing," she wrote.

"For seeing us and realizing that maybe things are not always easy. For deciding you wanted to show a random act of kindness to US. It reminded me how much good there is in this world. I can't wait to tell Lucy someday. In the meantime, we will pay it forward. AA 588 passenger in seat 2D, we truly feel inspired by your generosity."

Zwick's post went viral and Kunselman's wife, Kristy, saw the story spreading across the Internet. American Airlines connected the two passengers.

American Airlines responded to the story: "We truly appreciate the kindness of the gentleman in 2D. We were able to connect the two of them together, and our team is reaching out to him as well to extend our thanks for the kind gesture. In the words of Kelsey, we also want to pay it forward with our thanks and appreciation."

"Thank you doesn't cover it," Kelsey wrote to Kunselman in a private message. "The world clearly needed your kindness."


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