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Santas without a sleigh and reindeer competed for free plane tickets in 1981

Years ago, an airline offered no-cost tickets in a Santa costume contest held inside an airport lobby.
With fares surging in the '80s, the airline required contestants to donate toys to Toys for Tots as part of the giveaway entry.
Costume judges saw entries ranging from cotton-ball beards to a cowboy hat with fur, and by the afternoon about 130 Santas had shown up.
After the gong, winners made a quick trip to the ticket counter to collect boarding passes, but there were more Santas than tickets, leaving some contestants left without tickets.
Updated Dec 15, 2025, viewers are invited to watch the archival playlist and video showcasing different Santa outfits.

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Santas without a sleigh and reindeer competed for free plane tickets in 1981

Not every Santa has a sleigh, some use airplanes to get around. In 1981, an airline in Oklahoma offered free tickets if people dressed like Santa, made a toy donation, and sang a carol or two.

2 days ago·Pittsburgh, United States

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