Sweet Flight Souvenir Delights Internet: 'Didn't Know You Could Do This'

A video about a nostalgic keepsake service offered to passengers flying with Emirates has captured the hearts of users on TikTok. The clip, posted by Adiya Poonoosamy (@adiya_p_), has amassed over 767,000 views since being shared on September 4. The footage of the free service was captured on a September 3 flight with Emirates, the poster, who is a 20-year-old student based in Toronto, Canada, told Newsweek. The video shows a flight attendant taking a Polaroid photograph of passengers in their seats. The clip then displays a plane-themed card with a Polaroid picture of two women posing together framed inside of it. Poonoosamy, who is studying fashion and does modeling on the side, used to live in Abu Dhabi and flew with Emirates often as a child. She said: "I always remembered the photos with my dog Teddy that they took when I was maybe five or six years old." She asked the flight attendants whether they were "still doing the Polaroid photos and I got so excited, so I asked them if my mom and I could get one."

The market for Polaroid cameras has seen significant growth in recent years, a considerable turn of events since the company filed for bankruptcy back in 2001. This resurgence is attributed to a renewed interest in analog photography and vintage aesthetics. This has led to an "increased demand for Polaroid cameras and films among consumers looking for unique and tangible ways to capture memories," according to a report by MarkWide Research, a market research firm based in California. The rise of social media influencers looking for more visually appealing content to share, as well as the instant print capability of Polaroid cameras, which perfectly aligns with the digital age's desire for immediate gratification, have been driving the market, the report found. The viral TikTok post also comes as travel is projected to reach record highs this year, with global tourism spending forecast to hit U.S. $2 trillion, according to market research firm Euromonitor International.

'How Have I Been Missing Out'

A note overlaid on the viral video read: "If you're ever on Emirates airline, don't forget to get a little souvenir of your flight," encouraging travelers to take advantage of this thoughtful service. In a caption accompanying the clip, the poster reflected on the emotional element of the keepsake. "It made me so emotional to see that they kept this tradition after so many years. I had one when I was a little kiddo with my stuffed animal," it said. This sentiment has struck a chord with many viewers, eliciting both nostalgic memories and a sense of connection. User @yummyburger100 said: "I didn't know you could do this," while Krista shared "I've been on Emirates so many times, how have I been missing out?" User @fammmm275 confessed: "I never asked because I thought it was only kids," to which the original poster replied: "hahaha gotta shoot your shot." User xokatxo reminisced: "Yes, we did this as kids. And I was too shy to do it now as an adult." Others shared memories of their own cherished keepsakes, such as @silly.yineda who wrote: "I have 2 of them, it's so sweet." User rifs said: "still have mine from 10 years ago" and yourfavafghana added: "Omg I have mine from 19 years ago." Do you have a travel-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@newsweek.com and your story could be featured on Newsweek.