Immersive travel experience: United Airlines to fly over 1,000 students and teachers

In the peak of summer travel, United Airlines is flying 1,000 high school students from diverse backgrounds from across the U.S. for an immersive travel experience in a developing country as the exclusive airline partner of Global Glimpse. By providing access to travel, the airline will help students gain perspective, and build authentic connections across cultural, racial, economic, and social divides as a part of United’s continued efforts to break down barriers and promote inclusion and inspire future generations of aviation leaders.

Together, the airline and Global Glimpse will reach 70 high schools across the San Francisco Bay Area, New York, Chicago, Western Massachusetts and six college preparatory organizations to serve 1,000 majority low-income students by the end of this summer travel season. While abroad, students will have a powerful international experience where they will immerse themselves in a new culture, live and work alongside locals and volunteer in the community. Through the Global Glimpse program, students will engage in cultural seminars, meet with local business and community leaders, tutor local youth in English and develop community action projects in partnership with local organizations.

“We are in a unique position to connect these students to the world,” said Sharon Grant, Vice President of Community Affairs at United Airlines. “It is exciting to share in this journey, one that we hope will provide a new perspective on their lives and dramatically expand their views of the world.”

“Our partnership with United Airlines affirms and expands our commitment to connect young Americans from disparate backgrounds to one another and to the world,” said Eliza Pesuit, Executive Director at Global Glimpse. “With United by our side, more students will return home with the skills, confidence, and perspective to tackle complex issues in their local and global community.”

Prior to this summer’s trips, the airline’s employees shared best travel tips and helped prepare students and their teachers for their journeys. Many of the students will have their first experiences on board an aircraft when they fly to and from Dominican Republic and Ecuador through June, July and August.

United in the Community

Community Affairs is the charitable heart of United, using people, planes and network to do good. Driven by the idea that every action counts, United chooses to invest in its communities through four main pillars: break down barriers and promote inclusion, inspire future generations of aviation leaders, lift up communities impacted by disaster and connect people and planet.