It’s ideal to spend this time of year with relatives. It’s the one day of the year when everyone puts their disagreements and feuds aside to celebrate with wonderful food and gift-opening in a joyous atmosphere. Certain professions don’t give a damn about Christmas customs. It’s rare to spend Christmas with your family as a flight attendant. Because his daughter is constantly slated to work over Christmas, one parent has been traveling with her every year. He desires that her not spend Christmas alone. She finally receives the day off to actually spend with her family on December 25th, having flown together for years.
Dedication is family
Hal Vaughan has a very close bond with his daughter, Pierce. She works as a flight attendant for Delta Airlines, but that meant she had some crazy long hours that often pulled her away from family gatherings. For the past few years, she has been scheduled to work on the 25th of December. That meant she would be alone on Christmas.
So, in 2018 Pierce broke the news at a Christmas party that she was to work on Christmas, and spend the day in a layover in Connecticut. In an interview with USA Today, Hal said, “Thinking of her being in that hotel room all by herself on Christmas Day really bugged her mother and I.”
Hal quickly got to work thinking of a plan to spend the day with her. The only option he had was to board the flight and fly with her. He did, for almost five years in a row, he would book a flight. So long as it was the one his daughter was hostessing on. All so she wouldn’t have to spend the day alone on Christmas.
Their story went viral
Hal’s actions caught the attention of another passenger traveling on the same flight as he and his flight attendant’s daughter. They got into a conversation, where their relationship was revealed, and Mike Levy was so amazed he posted about the father who would stop at nothing to prevent his daughter from being alone of Christmas. His followers lapped it up and it was soon a viral sensation.
Mike Levy captioned the Facebook post saying, “I had the pleasure of sitting next to Hal on my flight back home. His daughter Pierce was our flight attendant who had to work over Christmas ☹️. Hal decided he would spend the holiday with her. So, he is flying on each of her flights today and tomorrow around the country to spend time with his daughter for Christmas. 😊. What a fantastic father! Wish you both a very Merry Christmas!”
This year Pierce will not be alone on Christmas
After almost five years of working over Christmas and flying across the country, Pierce has finally been rewarded for her dedication. Her manager has permitted her to get the day off. Which means she can finally spend the time with her family properly. “I am still a flight attendant but I’m actually (for the first time!) off for Christmas. I’m so very grateful to have the chance to spend quality time with both of my parents in south Mississippi this month!”
Pierce did not forget to mention her fellow crew members, ensuring the public knows they are efficient at their job. “A special thanks to all of the patients, wonderful gate agents around the country, and my perfect crew.”
Keep Reading: ‘I’m a Solo, Childless Flyer, and No, I Don’t Want to Switch Plane Seats with You’
Sources
- “Flight Attendant Joined By Dad On Every Christmas Flight So She Wouldn’t Be Alone Gets The Day Off ‘For The First Time’. Your Tango. NyRee Ausler. December 12, 2022.
- “Viral flight attendant story: Father opens up about his epic Christmas trip.” USA Today. Dawn Gilbertson. December 28, 2018.