Denny Flanagan captain
Photograph courtesy of Denny Flanagan.

Denny Flanagan: The Final Flight Piloted by the Captain Will Be…

D enny Flanagan is a veteran pilot and captain at United Airlines whom I have met several times and is well known amongst frequent fliers — regardless of airline affiliation — and the final flight on which he will officially pilot for United Airlines has been announced.

Back on Friday, August 29, 2014, I received an e-mail message from the beloved captain, announcing that there were fewer than two years before his retirement; and in that e-mail message was the following request:

“We connected through the years because of my proactive approach with you, my customers. I do not want to leave without having someone carry my torch and keep it burning.

“Here is how you can help. Last week a customer received my business card and posted it on LinkedIn. It has been getting some positive feedback. So if you are in the service business keep my torch lit by becoming personal with your customers.”

Denny Flanagan: The Final Flight Piloted by the Captain Will Be…

…Tuesday, May 31, 2016 on United Airlines flight 670 from Seattle to Chicago; and that flight seems to be the hottest ticket in town — or out of town, for that matter — as United Airlines has currently blocked the Y revenue cabin, according to FlyerTalk member Pat89339. “We do not know when or if they will release any seats. However, award travel is available in both cabins at the standard award level”, she posted. ”Mrs. Captain Denny and two of his five children will also be on board. They are working on the scheduling conflicts for the other children.”

Members of the press will also be aboard the airplane for the final United Airlines flight to be piloted by Flanagan.

The Article Written by a Customer and Posted on LinkedIn

Denny Flanagan captain
Passengers of a delayed flight were treated to pizza — personally delivered by the beloved captain himself. Photograph courtesy of Denny Flanagan.

Also included in the aforementioned e-mail message was a link to an article written by Wade Burgess — the aforementioned customer who thought he was going to be a passenger on just another typical and boring flight to San Francisco on an airplane operated by United Airlines…

…but that airplane was piloted by none other than Denny Flanagan — also known to frequent fliers as the more familiar Capt. Denny, which is how he signs his e-mail messages. He greeted Wade Burgess and other passengers with a smile as he welcomed them aboard the aircraft. Approximately two hours into the flight, frequent fliers and passengers seated in the business class cabin each received a handwritten note from Denny Flanagan expressing that they are valued customers and that their business is greatly appreciated; as well as a request on how the flight crew can exceed their expectations.

“I looked around and saw that all of the frequent fliers and business class passengers were reading similar cards and smiling”, wrote Burgess, who admitted that he is not easily impressed. “What a brilliant move. This captain probably created a greater personal connection to his company in 30 seconds than the formal loyalty program has in 30 years. I immediately started thinking about how I could apply this to my business. I encourage you to do the same.”

Other Information

During his remarkable career, you might already know that Denny Flanagan has been quite generous pertaining to supporting the Jason Dahl Scholarship Fund every year — such as back in January of 2014, for example.

He also contributes to the column Ask the Captain at InsideFlyer.

Summary

Denny Flanagan captain
Simbah goes for a walk on the tarmac at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Photograph courtesy of Denny Flanagan.

If you want the opportunity to be a passenger on the final commercial flight piloted by Denny Flanagan, the remainder of April and the month of May of 2016 will be your final opportunity to do so.

Denny Flanagan  — arguably the most popular captain of United Airlines and truly a remarkable person, in my opinion — is a man of his word; and he consistently has put the customer first during his tenure as a pilot. I respect people who stand behind what they say they will do, as there are not many people like Flanagan in this world. We can all learn a lot from people like him. If they can do it, we can do it too — and the world would be a better place in general as a result.

In the meantime, please join me in wishing Denny Flanagan a joyous, healthy and prosperous retirement — and please post your thoughts and experiences pertaining to this man, who truly exemplifies leadership in every sense of the word and has deservedly become a legend amongst frequent fliers, other passengers and colleagues alike.

All photographs courtesy of Denny Flanagan.

  1. Things are not always as they seem, who cased the delay to require the Captain to buy pizza? I have seen This man cause the issue than be the savior.

    I wish this person a very happy retirement.

    1. Sure, Bill. He caused the delay just so he could buy pizzas for the entire plane. You’re an idiot and a malcontent. Stay home so I don’t end up sitting next to you on a 6-hour flight.

  2. From Dorianne Jackson regarding her mother (Diana Sowle)’s
    role in acknowledging John Newton Williams IV’s wartime service.
    (Mr. Williams was my father-in-law.)

    My Mom went to Amarillo to bring John back to Washington, DC for the dedication of the WWII Memorial.
    Mom flew with John from Amarillo to Denver and then Denver to Washington, D.C.
    They were both traveling standby on my United Airline passes.
    I looked up the flight crew for the Denver to Washington flight and discovered it was a guy named
    Denny Flanagan (who I didn’t know). I emailed him through our company communication system at the time.
    I told him that my Mother would be escorting my Uncle John to D.C. for the WWII dedication.
    He responded with the letter that you have.

    Apparently, when they boarded the flight Captain Flanagan met them and upgraded them to first class seats.
    When other WWII veterans (also traveling to D.C.) heard the conversation they asked to be upgraded as well
    and Captain Flanagan upgraded as many as possible.
    In those days it was easy to upgrade people to First.
    Prior to departure it is customary for the Captain to make a PA announcement to the passengers.
    During the announcement Captain Flanagan talked about the many WWII veterans on the flight and
    specifically talked about John and read off the info about his service in the Pacific
    that I had given him in my email.

    The passengers all clapped and after landing made a special point of thanking those veterans
    in First Class for their service.

    My Mom and Uncle John were very honored and described how they had extra special service
    from the Flight attendants on the flight.

    ———————————————————————

    261935Z PID 53405 ID 159604 RTS SOW

    DSPNOT TITLE:/ FAVOR FOR FLT 1190/LET TYPE/ / EFFDTE:/ 052604
    AUTHOR: /JACKSON,DORIANNE /ADDRS /DCAFO /EXPDTE:/ 060904

    CAPTAIN FLANAGAN,
    I WONDERED IF YOU COULD DO ME A FAVOR. MY UNCLE WILL BE
    TRAVELING TODAY (MAY 26) ON OUR FLIGHT 1190 FROM DEN
    TO BWI AT, 1540. MY MOTHER IS BRINGING HOM TO WASHINGTON, DC
    FOR THE DEDICATION OF THE WWII MEMORIAL. WOULD YOU PLEASE
    MAKE A PA ANNOUNCEMENT RECOGNIZING HIM FOR HIS SERVICE IN
    WORLD WAR II. I WOULD REALLYH APPRECIATE IT AND I THINK
    IT WOULD MEAN ALOT TO HIM.
    HIS NAME IS JOHN WILLIAMS. HE IS 86 YEARS OLD. HE WAS
    A MATH TEACHER IN CONNECTICUT IN 1942 WHEN HE ENLISTED IN THE
    NAVY AND BECAME A LIEUTENANT. HE SERVED AS AN ENGINEERING

    OFFICER ON NAVY DESTROYER IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC FROM
    1942 TO 1945, AND WAS PRESENT IN TOKYO BAY
    AT THE SIGNING OF THE HAPANESE SURRENDER IN 1945. 100’S
    OF NAVY SHIPS WERE IN THE BAY AT THE SURRENDER TO
    DEMONSTRATE AMERICAN POWER TO THE JAPANESE AT THE SURRENDER.

    SOME OF THE MANY BATTLES HE FOUGHT IN WERE THOSE OF SAI PAN,
    TINIAN AND LEYTE GULF. HE IS TRAVELLING WITH MY MOTHER,
    DIANA SOWLE, BUT I AM NOT SURE WHAT SEAT HE IS IN.

    THANKS FOR YOUR HELP
    DORIANNE JACKSON, DCAFO, FN 159604

    261935Z AGENT SOW ID 159604 FROM PID 53405 TO PID 103132

    DSPNOT TITLE:/ HONNORED /LET TYPE/ / EFFDTE:/ 052604
    AUTHOR: /FLANAGAN, DENNIS /ADDRS /ORDFO /EXPDTE:/ 060904
    DORIANNE,I WILL BE MORE THAN HONNORED TO RECOGNIZE MR WILLIAMS.
    THE WORLD SOMETIMES FORGETS OF THE GREAT SACRIFICES THAT HE
    AND MILLIONS OF SRVICE MEN AND WOMEN GAVE FOR OUR FREEDOM.
    THEIR COURAGE AND DEVOTIOIN DURING THAT ERA OF OUR HISTORY
    WILL NEVER BE DUPLICATED. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS
    OPPORTUNITY TO TOUCH HIS LIFE.

    1. Thank you for sharing that, Robert Phillips.

      I have not heard from Denny Flanagan in a while; but I would not be surprised if he read what you wrote.

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