Little girl strikes up hilarious conversation with stranger on flight, wins the internet
From the word go, the little girl was serving up one-liners that had the woman in stitches.
Editor's note: This article was originally published on October 2, 2022. It has since been updated.
Your co-passenger on a flight can make or break your journey. While some people want to watch a movie or sleep, others love to chat. It’s rare to find a co-passenger who makes your flight better, but Kati got lucky with a 6-year-old girl who made her day. Kati, known as @KatiHartwig on Twitter, shared the hilarious and heartwarming conversation they had, showcasing the little girl’s sass and wit.
As the little girl settled next to her, Kati knew the ride would be memorable. “I’m going to talk to you randomly, so you need to be prepared, ok?” said the 6-year-old. Prepared? Kati definitely was not. Kati Hartwig, a digital media specialist for Columbus Regional Airport, documented the conversation on Twitter, where it went viral, amassing over 400K likes. When some speculated she had made up the conversation, Kati told Bored Panda, "Honestly, I’m flattered they think I could make up something that funny! But I really do believe that as we grow up, we are jaded, and that causes a lot of doubts, even when things are fun.”
My seat mate on my flight is a 6 year old little girl who started our trip with “I’m going to talk to you randomly so you need to be prepared, ok?”
— Kati Hartwig (@KatiHartwig) August 7, 2021
She’s also helping me decide what videos and photos will be good for our Instagram. “Yeah, keep the camera there. That way I can see out the window.”
— Kati Hartwig (@KatiHartwig) August 7, 2021
Priorities.
“Good timing. I was getting hungry.” - 6 year old seat mate to the flight attendant bringing us a snack mix.
— Kati Hartwig (@KatiHartwig) August 7, 2021
“Hey Kati you know what everyone should do when they get on a plane? Thank the Wright brothers.”
— Kati Hartwig (@KatiHartwig) August 7, 2021
😭 @southwestair can we get Shawnee on flight 2636 wings or something special because she is an absolute gem.
“They’re tilting us so we can see better! How nice.”
— Kati Hartwig (@KatiHartwig) August 7, 2021
Definitely not turning. Definitely giving us better views in row 24.
Girl in row in front of us: *reclines seat*
— Kati Hartwig (@KatiHartwig) August 7, 2021
My seat mate: *rolls eyes in 6 year old*
Stop it. Of all the movies and cartoons on her iPad, she decided to turn on the @southwestair live TV and watch HGTV.
— Kati Hartwig (@KatiHartwig) August 7, 2021
I have no doubt she will be flipping houses by 7.
Me: what are you watching?
— Kati Hartwig (@KatiHartwig) August 7, 2021
Her: love it or list it. I love it, get it?
I think she’s actually older than me, tbh.
“We’re going down!”
— Kati Hartwig (@KatiHartwig) August 7, 2021
She means we’re landing but I don’t think the lady in front of us knew what she meant… 😬
“You should get a video of this. The people would like it.”
— Kati Hartwig (@KatiHartwig) August 7, 2021
Can I hire a tiny assistant?
“I feel like I’m lucky because I got to sit by you.”
— Kati Hartwig (@KatiHartwig) August 7, 2021
🥺 excuse me while I go cry in a corner
Many shared their own personal stories about meeting kids on the plane. Even SouthWest airlines waded into the story.
Let’s hear the best story of a conversation you had with a seat mate on a Southwest flight. Kati will go first: https://t.co/Ttg9L3H7iN
— Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) August 9, 2021
My son yelling out from his tree house to people passing by on the street. Me: Didn’t I tell you not to talk to strangers? Him: we introduced ourselves, Mom.
— WhoIsAsking (@WhoIsAsking8) August 8, 2021
I’d spent several days trying to solve a sudoku. The twelve year-old next to me on the plane kept eying my paper. Eventually leaned over and said, ‘That’s wrong. That should be a 3 and that’s a 7. Solved. 🙄
— Jane Mosse (@camillalookalik) August 8, 2021
I was an unaccompanied 6 year old on 2 @SouthwestAir flights in December 2002. One of my seat mates shared her Rolos & to this day I think of her every time I eat one.
— Brianne Cronenwett (@BriCronenwett) August 8, 2021
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