Really, the 125 pre-selected travelers — typically families that have children with cancer or who are grieving the loss of someone who died in active duty, per USA Today — were aboard a short flight that soared past Maui only to loop back around and land right where they started.

The Polar Express is a train that gets you to the North Pole but United Airlines is taking to the skies with its holiday tradition, sending kids and their families on a flight to Santa’s workshop. The airline hosted its annual Holiday Fantasy Flight for children in local hospitals on

United Airlines announced Wednesday a new seasonal hub — the "North Pole" — for children and their families to visit Santa Claus' hometown. The "fantasy flights" from Houston and other cities are for kids granted wishes through the Make-A-Wish organization,

United Airlines organized a special 'Fantasy Flight' to the 'North Pole' for over 100 children, including those with serious health issues, in Denver. The event featured festive decorations, holiday songs,

United Airlines is launching 13 Fantasy Flights to the North Pole this December in partnership with Make-A-Wish, offering deserving children and their families a holiday experience at various airports.

Santa had some help making it all happen, so we want to give a special shoutout to United Airlines and the Alexandria nonprofit Children's Hospice International for helping to create beautiful, lasting memories for these kids and their loved ones.

It was a day full of magic and holiday cheer as United Airlines gave more than 65 kids and their families a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the “North Pole" on Saturday.

The event was part of United Airlines' annual holiday-season ‘fantasy flights’ at airports around the world to bring cheer to children and their families

A United Airlines gate at Denver International Airport, draped in holiday décor and colossal Christmas inflatables, acted as a portal to Santa's workshop for over 100 local children Saturday morning.