Flight 1989 – United Airlines’ obvious nod to Taylor Swift – took off Friday night, carrying Kansas City Chiefs fans to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl on Sunday.
The Chiefs booked their ticket to Super Bowl LVIII with a 17-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship two weeks ago and the airline immediately put on additional flights from Kansas City to Sin City for fans desperate to get there to support their team.
United hopped on the Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce bandwagon and posted a flight from Kansas City to Vegas – numbered UA 1989 – two days before the Super Bowl. The flight number was a clear homage to Swift’s 1989 album.
Flight 1989 gave a warm welcome to the traveling Chiefs Kingdom with red and yellow flags draped over the back of seats, hailing United as ‘proud to fly the Kansas City Chiefs’.
United’s official X account also teased the flight by posting a photo of a plane ticket with three friendship bracelets, with one spelling out the airline’s name, as a nod to the Swifties’ custom of exchanging the pieces of jewelry at her Eras Tour concerts.
The airline also put on two other flights, 2287, which celebrates the Chiefs’ power couple by highlighting the hit song title and Kelce’s jersey number, and 1587, which is named after Patrick Mahomes and Kelce’s jersey numbers.
United wasn’t the only company to get in on the action as American Airlines also posted a flight from Kansas to Vegas – numbered AA 1989 – the day before the Super Bowl, and return flight from Vegas to KC, numbered AA 87.
Although some NFL fans have called for the league and media covering the sport to focus less on Kelce and Swift’s relationship, those interested in the couple were treated to a huge moment after they kissed on the field following the Chiefs win.
Kelce found his girlfriend as he waited for the AFC Championship trophy presentation in emotional scenes, and Swift looked almost tearful as the couple had a moment to celebrate together with the eyes of the world on them.
And when Kelce duly got on stage and took the mic, he was euphoric – channeling the Beastie Boys by shouting: ‘You’ve got to fight for your right to party!’
Meanwhile, Swift has a flight of her own to make this week. After performing her sold-out tour in Tokyo, Japan this week – finishing her final show Saturday – Swift is expected to make a mad dash to Vegas for the Super Bowl.
The 17-hour time difference works in her favor on her return to the US from Japan and it will be the 13th Chiefs game this season that Swift will have cheered the team on for – her lucky number.
