Just about 25 years ago, a man named Kyle Friedel proposed to his girlfriend Staci with the help of fellow passengers on a Southwest Airlines flight. I remember the story well. After landing, Kyle handed out roses, instructed the other passengers to give them his unsuspecting girlfriend waiting gateside (you could do that then), and then walked off the plane himself and popped the question. She said yes, of course.
This month, in fact, the couple celebrated their 25th anniversary. And so Kyle decided to re-create that memorable day in 1995. As told by Yahoo:
“Right before the couple’s 25th anniversary on February 11, Kyle decided to recreate his marriage proposal before him and Staci flew Southwest to visit her sister in Austin. According to Kyle, his wife never suspected a thing. ‘We started the day by arguing over making the bed, which is kind of funny and misleading because I was kinda laughing to myself thinking “oh man, this is great, she’s not gonna suspect a thing,”‘ he recalled.
“Kyle told Staci that he was running late and would meet her at the airport later than planned. While she was going through security, Southwest arranged for Kyle to meet an incoming flight on the jet bridge. There, Kyle handed flowers to arriving passengers to hand to Staci, who was waiting at the gate for her departure flight. ‘What do you say to 25 more years?’ Kyle asked Staci, while on bended knee. ‘I say yes, of course!’ she answered.”
Southwest, which helped make both moments (in 2020 and 1995) possible (and has made other cool moments possible), shared the story in pictures and video on Twitter.
The Southwest Airlines proposal, part two
Here’s the whole story of Kyle’s second Southwest Airlines proposal, including video, in tweets:
This handsome young gentleman is Kyle. pic.twitter.com/Z9gJF2tcGO
— Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) February 7, 2020
Twenty five years ago, Kyle gave a rose to everyone on his Southwest flight. They were instructed to hand their roses to a woman waiting for him in the gate area. pic.twitter.com/zfCpQcBBmJ
— Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) February 7, 2020
That woman waiting for him was his girlfriend Staci. She was very confused when random Passengers started handing her roses as they got off the plane.
— Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) February 7, 2020
But then she saw Kyle exit the jetbridge. As he handed her the last rose, he got on one knee and asked if she would make him the happiest man in the world. She said yes. pic.twitter.com/AwRfoIAPdp
— Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) February 7, 2020
Flash forward to 2020. Kyle and Staci have been happily married for 25 years and are flying Southwest once again. Kyle told Staci he’d meet her at the airport.
But he was already waiting for her when she got there. pic.twitter.com/2D2yyafdmi
— Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) February 7, 2020
With the help of our Employees, Kyle slipped down the jetbridge to meet an incoming flight. Again, Staci was waiting in the gate area. pic.twitter.com/MljTNDG6O1
— Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) February 7, 2020
As the Passengers de-boarded, Kyle handed them each a rose… pic.twitter.com/fmyNiqxGdj
— Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) February 7, 2020
…and they all handed them to Staci as they exited the flight. pic.twitter.com/TeUjibxxOZ
— Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) February 7, 2020
Needless to say, Staci was surprised! pic.twitter.com/nJOjipIyOL
— Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) February 7, 2020
And when Kyle got on one knee, she said yes all over again. pic.twitter.com/oQ4ugOv8dj
— Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) February 7, 2020
Who’s chopping onions? ? pic.twitter.com/yjP36YLiBi
— Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) February 7, 2020
How about another 25 years of love? We’re here for it. pic.twitter.com/FVD2FUcf4W
— Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) February 7, 2020
