Over the past few years – the travel stories we’ve heard are shocking – and all too common.
From the flight attendant who refused to help a disabled women get to the bathroom – forcing her to slide down the aisle on her bottom – to rude passengers who’ve resorted to assaulting flight attendants – it seems as if the world has gone mad.
But then we hear stories like the ones below that remind us that good-natured humans still exist.
Giving Up Business Class
On a Qantas flight – an off-duty pilot was seen offering up his business class seat to a young girl with a mobility aid so she could have more legroom.
While the girl declined the offer, the kind gesture toucher her heart – and a viral video on TikTok highlighted the good deed, sharing that “good people exist.”
So many people are focused on their own personal comfort and needs when traveling – so for this man to care enough about making sure another person was comfortable speaks volumes to his character.
Congratulating a Breast Cancer Survivor
Another viral video involved a Southwest pilot making an announcement over the speaker congratulating a breast cancer survivor who was headed to Hawaii to celebrate with her loved ones.
And when breast cancer survivor Jyrl Oldham heard the pilot’s touching remarks – she was literally brought to tears.
USA Today reported:
“I would like to add a special welcome to a special guest on today’s flight. We have a passenger who’s headed to Hawaii with us today to celebrate her victory over late-stage breast cancer.”
The captain continues: “She fought valiantly and is now cancer-free. Please join me in giving her, Jyrl Oldham, a round of applause.”
Oldham’s husband wrote an email to Southwest Airlines ahead of the flight and then printed a letter for the flight attendant.”
How beautiful!
The pilot could have denied the request, or ignored the email request, but instead, he took a moment to publicly congratulate her on her hard-earned battle to defeat cancer.
Comforting A Crying Baby
Traveling with little ones can be stressful – not only for the mom but also for other passengers.
Most of us have been on a flight with a crying baby – and while we have empathy for the struggling mom – it can make the flight experience unpleasant – especially if you’re trying to take a nap.
Rebekka Garvison shared that when she boarded her flight with a 4-month-old baby who began to cry – some passengers gave her “the look.”
The exhausted mom was desperately trying to comfort her little one, Rylee – when out of nowhere, her seatmate, Nyfesha Miller, demonstrated a random act of kindness.
Miller offered to hold the baby to see if she could help – and Rebekka agreed – and was amazed her little one looked out the window and peacefully slept the entire duration of the flight.
Rebekka wrote a Facebook post about the event, profusely thanking Miller for her incredible thoughtfulness.
The Daily Telegraph reported:
“Nyfesha Miller, you will never understand how happy this act of kindness has made my family. You could’ve just rolled your eyes and been irritated like everyone else, but you took her and held her the entire flight and let me get some rest and peace of mind.
“It brought tears to my eyes while I sat there and watched you and Rylee sleeping next to me. I just couldn’t believe how that ended up working out and how caring you were to us. Thank you SO much!!
With so many horror stories of flight attendants being rude to passengers, terrorizing families, and humiliating travelers with special needs…
… coupled with out-of-control drunk passengers making travel miserable for everyone – it’s refreshing to read stories like these.
As crazy as the world is – it’s comforting to know not everyone is a jerk – and there are still decent people left in this world.
Have you ever experienced a random act of kindness while traveling?
What is a way you can show kindness to a stranger on your next trip?
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