Air New Zealand Grabaseat and KFC search for person who shared food with fellow travellers during delay

Air New Zealand's Grabaseat team are looking for the generous traveller who shared their KFC with fellow passengers delayed this morning. Photo / 123rf

Air New Zealand is hunting for a passenger who surprised fellow travellers during a flight delay at Auckland Airport’s international terminal this morning.

At least a dozen flights were delayed this morning after an external technology outage caused issues at check-in desks. Travellers reported waiting several hours in queues as they waited for bags to be manually loaded by staff.

Amongst the disruption, one traveller said they had been waiting at the airport since 4.30am with a hungry teen and said the snacks on offer were insufficient. A fellow traveller then allegedly arrived with a “big feed” of KFC, offering it around to people waiting at the airport.

Air New Zealand‘s Grabaseat team has announced they are searching for the anonymous hero so they can return their kindness. The airline has partnered up with KFC to give the person free domestic flights to any KFC branch in New Zealand as well as a $500 KFC voucher.

A technical issue at Auckland Airport caused long delays with international flights in and out of the airport this morning. Photo / Supplied

Air New Zealand’s general manager of domestic Scott Carr commended the passenger’s selflessness and said the airline was proud to reward them for spreading the love.

“Travel disruption can be stressful, but this generous soul decided to wing it and bring the joy,” Carr said, adding that it was rare to see someone share their own food during a frustrating delay.

Grabaseat said it needs passengers and the wider community to help identify the “mystery chicken champion”.

“If you know the person responsible for bringing the ‘big feed’ of KFC at the airport, Grabaseat encourages you to come forward so they can be properly celebrated,” they wrote in a statement.

“We’ve all experienced those moments where a small act of kindness makes a big difference,” added Carr. “This is one of those moments, and we think it deserves to be celebrated with a side of applause.”