Write about someone who strikes up a conversation with a stranger during a flight.

Posted in Short Story on Mar 7, 2025

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✍️ 8 stories

“Wing Woman” by Brutus Clement

Submitted to Contest #293

“God, I hate flying” I look out the window of the 747 so foolishly boarded in my rush to get cross country as quickly as possible. We are flying through some dark clouds so there is little to see. The old familiar fear rises in the pit of my stomach as I try to push it back. I have to maintain myself. Don’t start to panic. Nothing’s going to happen. I try to flood myself with calm, even as I’m white knuckling the arm rest. The four Jack Daniel’s I had before the flight aren’t working. The ...

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“dick's Loose Gems” by Lily Finch

Submitted to Contest #293

[Contains sexual content]Christmas Day, 2020, arrived. Our family had planned a trip to San Antonio for months. I had everything all set. Except I didn't.The woman taking our tickets asked for our passports. I produced five and gave two birth certificates for my little ones. I thought they didn't need passports. My hands shook. My heart burned as it beat into my throat, and as the beats came, they seemed to choke me. I couldn't breathe so well, and I had no words. I turned and stooped to my youngest children's height. I put my arms around th...

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“Terminal” by Davin Faris

Submitted to Contest #293

Among my many afflictions, I am a lover of airports. By way of example—I had lunch with an ex-girlfriend in Boston, some years ago, and she asked how much of my life is devoted to air travel. It was offhand, more or less a joke. I’d been complaining about a red-eye snafu, lost luggage at BWI. But her question stuck with me: how much of my life? It’s easy to reckon the flights, all logged in a company database. To really answer, though, you’d also have to tabulate all the packing and unpacking, the taxi rides from hotels, the last-minute weat...

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“Going Home or Going Away?” by Sarah Martyn

Submitted to Contest #293

I’m not claustrophobic, per se, but the tightness of economy seats in an airplane makes me feel uneasy. However, whenever I have to fly (at least on shorter trips, under about 3 hours), something works to pass the time and distract me from the air-specific claustrophobia: striking up a conversation. I’m not dumb, though. If someone has headphones on, or an eye covering and a pillow situated for a nap, I will manage with whatever I can watch or listen to on my phone if the connection works decently. But if someone has their eyes open and seem...

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“MOE & ALEXANDRA” by Antoine Polgar

Submitted to Contest #293

Moe and Alexandra Antoine J. Polgar Moe Fierst was usually not talkative on long flights. Yet when he arrived at his aisle seat on the Swissair flight from JFK to Geneva in 1982 in his three piece suit looking like an undertaker, he could hardly believe his luck. A lady in the window seat next to his aisle seat. A greying middle-aged woman dressed in a suit. A good prospect for a captive audience. Someone Moe could while away the time with over the next six sleepless hours in the darkened cabin until they got sleepy as if they were in bed to...

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“TURBULENCE” by Viqq Adriane

Submitted to Contest #293

Sensitive themes: This story touches on themes of self-identity, internal conflict, and LGBTQ+ themes of self-acceptance. The seatbelt sign flickered off as the plane hit another pocket of turbulence. Ethan’s grip on the armrest tightened, his knuckles turning white. He hated flying. Not for the usual reasons, though — the heights, the occasional bumps — but because it gave him too much time to think. Too much time to be alone with himself, something he avoided at all costs. Typical for someone who hadn’t done enough shadow work. You know?...

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“The Sound Between Us” by Dante Solari

Submitted to Contest #293

Martin Weiss had the same face I remembered, now framed by gray hair at the temples. I watched him approach down the airplane aisle, checking his seat number—next to mine. My fingers, which hours earlier had danced across ivory keys for an audience of a thousand, now twitched nervously on the armrest. I closed my eyes, pretending to sleep. I wasn't prepared for this encounter. Not today, when each applause still sounded like an accusation in my ears. The tour had been a success in everyone's eyes but mine. Six countries, eighteen concerts, e...

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“Grapes, Lettuce, Chicken Breast, Coffee” by Missy Hunter

Submitted to Contest #293

Most people aren't bothered by being crammed into a human-sized cigar tube traveling over 500 mph through the sky. Some people love the ups and downs of turbulence, treating it like a roller coaster at a theme park. Not me. I'd rather clean toilets than fly. I start getting nervous around 24 hours before take-off, wondering about the pilot's eyesight, airport security, the weather — you name it. I survey my fellow passengers at the gate, guessing who might be the fastest and strongest — who will be most helpful in a disaster. When it comes t...

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Write about someone who strikes up a conversation with a stranger during a flight.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 8 stories

“Wing Woman” by Brutus Clement

“dick's Loose Gems” by Lily Finch

“Terminal” by Davin Faris

“Going Home or Going Away?” by Sarah Martyn

“MOE & ALEXANDRA” by Antoine Polgar

“TURBULENCE” by Viqq Adriane

“The Sound Between Us” by Dante Solari

“Grapes, Lettuce, Chicken Breast, Coffee” by Missy Hunter

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your entire story in a car, train, or plane.

Center your story around someone who realizes they’ve left something behind.

Start or end your story with someone looking out a car or train window.

Write a story with the line “I’m late!” or “We’re late!”

Contest #293

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

393

Contest entries

141

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: