Two strangers at Chili’s swapped LinkedIn profiles instead of numbers. He returned after 3 years to surprise her
In a meet-cute straight out of a movie, the duo struck up a conversation at the restaurant's bar and 3 years later came right back to seal the deal.
Meet-cutes have our hearts, and this one is truly magical. Sarah Doss and Robert Schnetz met at a Chili’s bar at the O’Hare Airport in 2023, reported NBC News. The duo struck up a conversation, but both had flights to catch. Schnetz decided to give out his LinkedIn instead of his contact number. However, their destiny brought them together, and when it was time for him to pop the question, he knew there could be no better place than the restaurant at the airport where they first met.
In a post the restaurant shared on March 5, they captured the entire thing unfolding, and to further emphasize how delighted Chili's was, they made an irresistible offer — to sponsor their honeymoon.
Speaking of how they started talking, Schnetz was getting a drink with his coworker while Doss was charging her phone, according to ABC 7. The woman struck up a conversation, and the connection seemed alluring.
"I gave her my LinkedIn, and then I landed, and I have a message with her phone number," Schnetz recalled.
After three years of dating, Schnetz knew when he had to make things official; he had to start at the place where it all began. He convinced Doss that he had to fly for a work trip and asked her to tag along.
In the meantime, Schnetz asked his friends to fly out and make the arrangements before they could get there. “We start heading over, and I see on the screens our slideshow is playing. I thought, 'Oh no, she’s gonna know before we get there,'” the man recalled.
Luckily, Doss was too focused on trying to figure out what “event” was taking place with all the music and lights. Little did she know it was her own engagement. “This is where we met. It couldn’t be more special. I was so surprised," Doss said.
In a post shared by O’Hare International Airport, the couple is seen making their way before Doss breaks down in tears seeing the flowers, carpet, and the beautiful setup arranged just for her.
Finally, in the midst of passengers and loved ones, on Terminal 3, Schnetz popped the question. And Doss said yes. The caption read, “Congratulations to the sweet couple, and cheers to many more adventures full of Chili’s dates and El Presidente margaritas together!”
The restaurant, however, was beyond stoked. In their post, they decided to make a little proposal of their own. It read, “We saw the most iconic proposal video ever.
So, Rob and Sarah, can we pay for your honeymoon?” And in a caption, Doss, yet again said yes! In a post shared on TikTok by @counselormills, one of the passengers who seemed to track the story, it was revealed that the restaurant later reached out via email to contact the couple and break down the details. You’ll be surprised by the power airports and airplanes hold when it comes to love.
According to data from an HSBC survey shared by PEOPLE of over 2,150 passengers from 141 countries, 1 in 50 people have found “the one” during flights. 47% of passengers reported striking up a conversation with a stranger while traveling.
Data from a 2025 survey shared by The Guardian revealed that even as of 2025, a third of travelers reportedly flirted with a stranger. 20% said they would readily alter their plans to travel with someone they’ve just met. Antonieta Contreras, a New York-based sex and trauma therapist, explained why people feel so much during such meetings while traveling by air.
She explained how airports of flights can become exotic spaces, filled with high tension. “The excitement of travel is very particular. It’s a novelty, it's an adventure, it’s something new,” she remarked. When combined with the regular nervousness and anxiety, it adds to the interactions we have with strangers. Doss and Schnetz were stoked to celebrate their meet-cute, and so were the viewers, @flyfrontier wrote, “Who said airports aren’t romantic? Congratulations.” @knackroyoga added, “Love this so much and love a good airport love story!”
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