Baby born mid-flight earns one million air miles

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Tuesday, August 23, 2016
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Baby born mid-flight receives one million frequent-flier miles

One baby girl has been alive a little more than a week and she already has more airline miles than you. How did she do it? Well, she was born mid-flight and the airline gave her one million air mile points.

The Cebu Pacific flight on August 14 from Dubai to Manila started off like any other trip. However,a few hours into the flight, a woman went into labor more than five weeks early while the plane was thousands of feet in the air.

Fellow passenger, Missy Berberabe Umandal, described the scene in a now-viral Facebook post.

According to Umandal, the woman wasn't expected to deliver her baby until October, but started to experience contractions on the flight.

"We only heard one semi-loud screech, and a few seconds later, there were tinier, cute screeches, and it was when we knew the baby was born." wrote Umandal in her Facebook post. "Luckily, she only had to push once."

Two nurses among the plane's passengers helped with the delivery alongside cabin crew as the pilot diverted to Hyderabad, India, to seek further medical assistance.

The baby girl - named Haven - and her mom are both doing well.

The budget airline said it's the first time a baby has been born on one of its aircraft. CEB's president, Lance Gokongwei issued a statement saying the airline would welcome Haven to the world - by giving her the gift to see the world.

"To celebrate this momentous occasion in the life of one of our passengers, CEB awards Baby Haven one million GetGo points, which she can use to fly with us for free," said Gokongwei.

The points have no expiration date and can be shared with her family.

Haven's arrival, according to Umandal, delayed the flight's arrival at its destination by nearly nine hours.

"But no complaints," she added. "Everyone in that plane was blessed."