Fifth-Graders' Flight is Canceled, So Delta Sent An Empty Jet

Teacher Shantell Barbour feared her fifth-graders' carefully planned class trip to nation's capital was about to unravel.

The American Airlines flight that was supposed get Barbour's 41 students started on their June 2 trip from Oklahoma City to Richmond, Virginia, was canceled because of weather. But the trip to see Virginia and Washington, DC, was saved after the class received celebrity treatment from Delta, who flew the group on to the East Coast on a private flight from Oklahoma City.

In an interview with ABC's Oklahoma City channel, Barbour said American offered the class refunds for their tickets, but this wouldn't do.

"These fifth graders need to get to Washington, DC. We've been planning this for over a year," Barbour said.

FOX reports that two Delta gate agents noticed the class while they waited for an update from American and called headquarters, who decided to fly in a spare aircraft to operate a special flight for the fifth graders; "essentially a private flight," in the words of ABC World News Tonight. After more than six hours at the gate, Delta's plane arrived and the class was brought to Richmond to begin their trip.

Delta responded to Barbour's a thankful tweet, saying that operating the flight was "an absolute pleasure" for the airline.

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Although most stranded travelers aren't treated to private planes, Barbour and her class were able to enjoy their field trip to Virginia and Washington, which may not have been possible had Delta not stepped in.