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CBS/ February 11, 2009, 4:18 PM

Pilot Goes Extra Mile

Capt. Denny Flanagan has a glowing reputation among frequent fliers and other passengers on United Airlines lucky enough to land on his flights. There are glowing comments about him on travel chat boards.

Flanagan, you see, pulls out all the stops when it comes to attending his passengers, as CBS News transportation correspondent Nancy Cordes discovered.

He invites children into his cockpit, takes photos of pets and, when his flights are delayed, the snacks are on him! He even holds raffles and giveaways!

The veteran pilot is, says Cordes, truly a first-class captain, "on a mission to inject some humanity into an experience that, let's face it, these days can seem pretty dehumanizing."

On his flights, unaccompanied minor always get a window seat, and their parents back home, a phone call from the father of five, straight from the plane.

"It's called working from the heart. It's just working from the heart," Flanagan told Cordes.

To see her full report, .
Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved.
5 Comments Add a Comment
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keithle1 says:
Yeah, yeah. I got enough friends. Plane travel doesn''t thrill me at all. I don''t care if you''re giving away IPods in the cockpit. Just get me to New York within 3 hours of my scheduled arrival time if you please.

Only unaccompanied minor boys get a window seat.
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dan_shields-2009 says:
Oh My God! Thats The Pilot I Had When I Flew To California in 2005 To See My Friend, He Let Me Look Around Too, That Guy Is Awesome!
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xavia1-2009 says:
I don''t really know what this has to do with him being an American, republic 1776, but I would say a true man.
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jarheadcwo3 says:
A good man and a great role model.

He should be commended and he sets an example for others to follow.

Charles H.
CWO-3 USMC (ret)
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republic1776 says:
This is a true American.
Passion for his work.
A great role model for our children.
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