Going to the airport can be a stressful experience for anyone, but it’s often worth it, if it means a wonderful vacation is waiting for you on the other side. Unfortunately, however, not all journeys are full of excitement. Sometimes people have to board a plane on the absolute worst day of their life.
Airport employees have been sharing heartbreaking stories on Reddit of the most upsetting goodbyes they’ve ever witnessed on the job. From people breaking down because they have to leave their loved ones to parents mourning the sudden loss of a child, we'll warn you right now that these stories may be hard to get through with dry eyes. So get your tissues ready, and upvote the responses that read like a tear-jerking movie scene.
#21
I, and my husband, were the ones leaving.
I have anxiety, don't do great on planes, but manage ok 99% of the time. But this one was different. We'd basically done a semi last minute to Australia to visit and be with his father before he passed. The cancer was in his lungs now, and he stopped all but palliative care. After 2 years fighting, he was tired.
It was getting closer to the time to go through customs and immigration on the way out, plus security, then to our gate. That's when the panic started to set in. I needed to get in line, to shut up the anxious brain. But I was basically telling my husband, say one last goodbye to your Dad, cuz this is it. I felt terrible, and have myself a panic attack coupled with bawling my eyes out. Saying our goodbyes, his Dad have me a big hug, told me he understood my stress, and said he wished I was his daughter.
He passed about 10 days after we landed home. Added heartbreaker: I fell pregnant the day before his funeral service.
I have anxiety, don't do great on planes, but manage ok 99% of the time. But this one was different. We'd basically done a semi last minute to Australia to visit and be with his father before he passed. The cancer was in his lungs now, and he stopped all but palliative care. After 2 years fighting, he was tired.
It was getting closer to the time to go through customs and immigration on the way out, plus security, then to our gate. That's when the panic started to set in. I needed to get in line, to shut up the anxious brain. But I was basically telling my husband, say one last goodbye to your Dad, cuz this is it. I felt terrible, and have myself a panic attack coupled with bawling my eyes out. Saying our goodbyes, his Dad have me a big hug, told me he understood my stress, and said he wished I was his daughter.
He passed about 10 days after we landed home. Added heartbreaker: I fell pregnant the day before his funeral service.
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6points
#22
I am once a airport ground staff in the Philippines.
The most heartbreaking ones are when the children were crying because their parents are leaving to work overseas. It is not easy, parents would stay 6 months to 1 year abroad before their next vacation.
The most heartbreaking ones are when the children were crying because their parents are leaving to work overseas. It is not easy, parents would stay 6 months to 1 year abroad before their next vacation.
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5points
#23
Not a worker, but when I put my 7 year old step-son on a plane to visit his mom for the summer. I didn't know it was the last time I'd get to see him for a year because his dad and I were divorcing, but my son must have. He tried to jump out of my arms and kept yelling for 'Mister' ( that's what I called his brother).
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4points
#24
Mine would have to be saying goodbye to my boyfriend. We had been stationed together for about a year and were going to new vases on opposite sides of the world. We had spent two weeks together in his hometown and I was going back to my base before he was heading to his. We said goodbye at the airport not know when we would be able to see each other again. I was in tears and could barely hold it together as I waited in line for TSA. He’s not a very expressive guy and doesn’t really react in emotional ways, but he waited in one spot and I zigzagged my way up the queue. It was such a small gesture but meant so much that he would wait until he could catch me a few more times before leaving. I’m tearing up just thinking about it. I love him so much.
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4points
#25
Not a worker but when I got married to my wife in the Philippines. When we said goodbye at the airport I cry before we even got out of the taxi. The whole way to the entrance of the airport I cried to and just sat there holding her not able to let go for about 10 minutes.
My mom who is with me was bawling to and my wife was actually the stronger one and said it would be okay and we'd see each other in a year (how long the spousal Visa takes). But then she started crying too. You could tell it must be a relatively common thing because there were people staring, even airport security guard had look on his face a recognizing that pain from past people who had to go through the same thing.
My mom who is with me was bawling to and my wife was actually the stronger one and said it would be okay and we'd see each other in a year (how long the spousal Visa takes). But then she started crying too. You could tell it must be a relatively common thing because there were people staring, even airport security guard had look on his face a recognizing that pain from past people who had to go through the same thing.
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4points
#26
Not a worker, but my experience. A week ago I had to leave my boyfriend after meeting him for the first time (we met on a video game almost 2 years ago) and we're pretty much each other's only best friend. After seeing him for 2 weeks laughing, smiling, and being so much happier than he usually is, when I left to security and saw him crying and hugging his coat to his chest I could hardly look back at him. I think it's the saddest thing I've ever been through so far. Even harder knowing it'll be a long time before we can see each other again since I have to finish school.
Edit: I just remember a little girl staring at me while we were hugging each other goodbye. I just looked back at her and hoped she doesnt have to go through the same thing for a long time.
Edit: I just remember a little girl staring at me while we were hugging each other goodbye. I just looked back at her and hoped she doesnt have to go through the same thing for a long time.
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4points
#27
Am a worker and a few years back I had a guy come into my bar with what I assume was his girlfriend or fling, whatever. At one point he was asking me “how do you do it? It’s gotta be sad watching people say goodbye all the time” and I truthfully told him that not many people make a big scene about goodbyes at this airport. I haven’t seen any that have stuck with me. Eventually his girlfriend leaves to get on her plane and he continues drinking a bit. I’m friendly and keep talking to him. Eventually he goes to leave, but not after writing a laughably long note on the receipt about how that was a married woman that he sleeps with whenever she’s in town and she’s going to tell her husband she wants a divorce
To this day, that is the most memorable “goodbye” I’ve seen and I don’t even remember him saying goodbye to the woman, just that there was a goodbye.
To this day, that is the most memorable “goodbye” I’ve seen and I don’t even remember him saying goodbye to the woman, just that there was a goodbye.
3points
#28
"I am not an airport worker but..."
One time I was sitting waiting for my flight and these two police officers were waiting by a gate. The flight gets in and the people start filing out. A mom and a younger daughter come out an the daughter bursts into tears when she sees the police officers.
The officers talk to what I assume was the grandmother. I don't really know. I don't know how any of them were related really, I just know the oldest lady was taken away to be talked to and the other two were behind talking with the other cop while the younger girl was sobbing.
So that was pretty (weird) and sad to see.
One time I was sitting waiting for my flight and these two police officers were waiting by a gate. The flight gets in and the people start filing out. A mom and a younger daughter come out an the daughter bursts into tears when she sees the police officers.
The officers talk to what I assume was the grandmother. I don't really know. I don't know how any of them were related really, I just know the oldest lady was taken away to be talked to and the other two were behind talking with the other cop while the younger girl was sobbing.
So that was pretty (weird) and sad to see.
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3points
#29
Not as tragic as the other responses, kind of ironically funny. A long-distance relationship fell apart for various reasons during a visit and she took me back to the airport. We both looked understandably distraught. The guy at the gate thought we were sad about saying goodbye, so he was *so happy* to announce that we were in the only airport in the US that allows non-passengers to accompany people to the gate, so she could come with me to my flight. I said that it wouldn't be necessary and he insisted very enthusiastically, "Are you sure? You can spend more time together!" After him insisting several times I had to spell it out, "Dude... she. is. not. coming. with. me." He finally got it and went "Oh..." The rest of check-in took on a somber tone.
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3points
#30
There was a guy that was the regional manager at some paper company and he was moving to Colorado. One of his employees that he didn’t get to say goodbye to drove all the way to the airport just to say goodbye. It made me shed a tear.
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2points