Skip to content

Heathrow Airport surprises U.S. flyers with Thanksgiving pumpkin pies

Nov. 27, 2019
3 min read
DSC00953
Heathrow Airport surprises U.S. flyers with Thanksgiving pumpkin pies
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.

Bleary-eyed passengers arriving Wednesday morning at London's Heathrow Airport on a handful of flights from the United States didn't find their luggage at the bag claim.

Instead, they got fresh pumpkin pie.

It's an effort from Heathrow that comes on the eve of Thanksgiving, one of the biggest holidays of the year in the United States.

The American expat community in London is estimated to be about 200,00 strong and the team at Heathrow has noticed that #happythanksgiving had become a trending hashtag on Twitter in past years.

So, this year the airport got in touch with Austin-based Whole Foods and cooked up a "surprise and delight" event to welcome Thanksgiving flyers from the U.S.

Passengers on six flights originating from Houston, Philadelphia, Newark, Austin, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., arrived at the bag claims Wednesday to find wicker baskets filled with individual servings of fresh pumpkin pie rolling out on the bag carousel.

Sign up for the free daily TPG newsletter for more airline news!

There were also vegan and gluten-free pie options available.

And to top things off, literally, baggage ambassadors armed with cans of whipped cream were standing by to greet everyone and garnish the pie slices.

Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts
Some U.S. flyers arriving to London Heathrow were surprised at baggage claim with Thanksgiving-themed pumpkin pies on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019. The U.S. holiday is on Thursday. (Photo courtesy of Heathrow Airport)

After all the pies were delivered, garnishes and selfies-with-pies were taken, passengers received their checked bags.

After all the pies were delivered, garnishes and selfies-with-pies were taken, passengers received their checked bags. (Photo courtesy of Heathrow Airport)

This isn't the first Thanksgiving that Heathrow has celebrated in a fun fashion. In previous years, people dressed as turkeys roamed the terminals greeting passengers.

A previous Thanksgiving-themed event at London Heathrow played on the holiday's ties to turkeys. (Photo courtesy of Heathrow Airport)

And, in December, holiday travelers can look forward to a variety of North Pole and Christmas-oriented activities at Heathrow. The events and promotions should be entertaining, as past campaigns have included Boarding Bon Bons said to taste like Christmas pudding, turkey and stuffing and other traditional Christmas meal dishes.

Heathrow also has rolled out Christmas-themed celebrations during recent yeas. (Photo courtesy of Heathrow Airport)

And then there's the heart-warming, multi-year tale of Doris and Edward Bair. Handkerchiefs ready?

Featured image by Stephen Bates 07966 426476