KLM Wants to Surprise Travelers with In-Flight Gifts from Grounded Friends

Dutch airline KLM is launching an awe-inducing initiative that lets people send surprise gifts to travelers during their flights.

The 'Wannagives' service comes just in time for the holidays and introduces a new way for KLM to rake in extra profits during the busy travel season.

KLM's gift-giving skills are already well-known thanks to its KLM Surprise program. For three years, the airline has searched through flyers' social media accounts to surprise them with a hand-picked treats from champagne to guidebooks.

Now generous friends can do their own gift giving. They can go to wannagives.klm.com where they select a gift and identify the recipient either through email or their Facebook or LinkedIn account. Buyers have the option to purchase gifts with frequent flyer miles.

A small bottle of champagne and crystal glass costs $20 or 6,500 Flying Blue Miles. A box of Godiva chocolates costs $25. And the best in-flight gift of all, extra legroom, can cost up to $123.

Gifts can delivered at 30,000 feet or at the flyer's actual address. A confirmation for in-flight deliveries can take up to three days as the airline checks that the recipient is indeed scheduled for the flight.