We often talk about maximizing points, elite status benefits, and redemption sweet spots. But sometimes, the sweetest travel rewards aren’t the ones you calculate on a spreadsheet—they are the unexpected moments that bring a smile to your face.
Marriott Bonvoy recently teamed up with Air India to pull off a heartwarming holiday surprise at Mumbai Airport, proving that “surprise and delight” isn’t dead.
The Holiday Upgrade No One Expected
If you’ve traveled during the holidays, you know the drill: tired eyes, crowded terminals, and the mechanical wait at the baggage carousel. However, passengers arriving in Mumbai from Bengaluru on a recent Air India flight walked into a very different scene at Terminal 2.
Instead of the usual dreary belt, they found the baggage claim area decked out in Christmas decor, with the conveyor belt itself looking like a giant wrapped present.
But the real magic happened when the belt started moving. Alongside the usual suitcases and backpacks, bright, personalized gift boxes began rolling out—one for every single passenger.
Landed in Mumbai from Bengaluru and walked into a genuinely heartwarming surprise at the baggage belt
— Gogi Tech (Rajeev) (@gogiinc) December 18, 2025
🎄 Christmas gifts for every passenger
📍 Each gift box tagged with your seat number
Small gesture, big smile.
Merry Christmas!
Thank you Air India for making the day a… pic.twitter.com/F8g6tYwlN4
Personalized Perks
In a move that impressed even seasoned travelers, these weren’t just generic handouts. Each hamper was thoughtfully tagged with the passenger’s specific seat number. It’s a level of logistical detail we usually only see in First Class service, brought to the arrival hall for everyone.
Inside the boxes? A curation of festive treats courtesy of Marriott Bonvoy. Passengers found chocolate crinkle cookies, cinnamon cookies, and vanilla kipferl—a sweet welcome to Mumbai that instantly went viral on social media.
It’s good to see Marriott focusing on “experiences” (something they’ve been pushing heavily with their Marriott Bonvoy Moments platform).
Marriott confirmed to the media that this gesture was designed purely to “transform the arrivals conveyor belt area into a moment of joy.” Interestingly, reports suggest this wasn’t exclusive to just one flight; the group seemingly extended similar gestures to passengers on IndiGo and other carriers as well.
The Verdict
While 10,000 bonus points would have been a nice stocking stuffer, there is something undeniably charming about a travel brand injecting a bit of humanity and magic into the most mundane part of the travel experience—waiting for your bag.
Kudos to the Marriott Bonvoy and Mumbai Airport teams for making the holiday rush a little sweeter.
Did you fly recently? Let us know if you spotted any other holiday surprises!
