Grieving woman asked flight staff to seat her with her boyfriend after her dad died — what they did next left her sobbing for an unexpected reason
Grieving a loved one when you're away from home is challenging. One content creator, Karoline Kinjorski, said the sudden passing of her dad caused her to fly home while she was still trying to comprehend the news. Her family was in Michigan, while she was living in Seattle, forcing her to make immediate arrangements through shock and tears. During the stressful trip, she asked airline staff to try to get her a seat beside her boyfriend. What happened after her request brought her to tears for a reason she never expected. She later shared her experience through her Instagram account @bykarolinek on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
Karoline and her boyfriend had booked their flight that morning, so they didn't get seats together. She then asked a gate agent if she could sit beside her partner because she did not want to spend the trip crying next to a stranger. The staff member was understanding and upgraded both of them to first class. Once onboard, the woman was still struggling to stay composed when a flight attendant asked whether she needed anything. She requested chamomile tea, but there was none on the plane. Instead of simply saying no, the cabin crew member went above and beyond. She asked everyone around if anyone had chamomile tea. She eventually found a tea bag and brought it to the grieving traveler.
The gesture may have seemed small, but it carried deep meaning for someone whose life had suddenly turned upside down. The woman explained that when grief leaves someone frozen, even a stranger's simple effort can provide comfort. The attendant also left her a handwritten note. A year later, Karoline took a solo trip through Europe as she tried to learn how to live after losing her father. During another Delta flight from Detroit to Edinburgh, she carried letters and gift cards for airline workers, and shared how she received help when she needed it most. She said the staff member's small effort "stayed with me," showing how a brief moment can become part of someone's memory for years.
Karoline now hopes to find the flight attendant and personally thank her. Since that experience, she has chosen Delta for every flight. Just a little bit of humanity and thoughtfulness can work wonders for someone having a rough day. In another similar incident, a man had to rush home after his father-in-law died while he was away for work. During the trip, airline staff treated him with unusual care, from the first phone call to his arrival at the airport. One worker even cried while listening to him explain the loss. After he was upgraded, he found a note saying, "Your Delta family is very sorry for your loss." Another crew member offered support before the journey ended. He later said, "You softened this long awful flight."
For more heartwarming stories, follow @bykarolinek on Instagram.