'I was deeply moved': 86-year-old passenger sends handwritten letter to airline praising staff's care

A handwritten letter from an 86-year-old passenger praising the attentive care she received on a flight from the United States to Incheon International Airport has drawn wide attention after the airline made it public.

Air Premia shared the letter Monday on its official social media channels, saying "a handwritten letter has arrived at Air Premia." The letter was written by a passenger, identified only as A, who flew from Washington Dulles International Airport to Incheon in May.

Addressing Air Premia CEO Yoo Myeong-seop, the writer introduced herself as "an 86-year-old grandmother" and said she had been deeply anxious about the long-haul flight. "I have severe sciatica on top of my age, and I was very worried about sitting in a narrow seat for such a long time," she wrote.

She said a check-in staff member had noticed her situation and gone beyond routine duties to genuinely understand her discomfort. "Thanks to that employee's discretion and kind assistance, I was assigned seat 10A, and fortunately the seats next to me were empty, so I was able to use all three and complete the long flight without any trouble," she wrote.

"What I was most grateful for was not just the seat assignment," A said. "The warm words during check-in, the thoughtful consideration for an elderly passenger, and the sincere effort to ease my discomfort were a great comfort to me."

She also praised the cabin crew, saying their kindness and courtesy made the entire flight comfortable. "The service and conduct of your staff that day were particularly memorable — the best I have experienced among all the airlines I have used," she said.

A said that having employees with such warmth and sense of responsibility was "a great asset" to the airline, and said she sincerely hoped her gratitude would be passed on to the staff directly.

She closed the letter by expressing deep thanks for "the warm service that looked after one elderly passenger with such care," and went on to say she hoped the airline would grow into a carrier that earns the trust and admiration of many more passengers.

Air Premia, in sharing the letter, said it was natural to feel apprehensive before a long flight. "We understand that our 86-year-old customer also found the prospect of a long journey daunting before departure. Thanks to the crew's attentive guidance and warm care, that long flight became a comfortable and lasting travel memory," the airline said.

The company added that it would continue to look after every passenger's journey with the same care, "so that travel can be a little more comfortable for everyone."