Christmas is a time when we're obliged to spend time with our family and loved ones - people who some of us might not get the chance to see enough throughout the year. It's great to be able to wake up on Christmas morning, open your presents under the tree, and have a laugh with those closest to you. There's just one problem: sadly, not everyone can afford to take time off over Christmas, and those that do are often right back to work on Boxing Day.

Pilots and flight attendants are people who are affected by this kind of busy schedule, but this year a devoted dad went the extra (frequent flyer) mile to spend time with his daughter over the holidays. Buckle up people: if father-daughter moments in movies make you weepy, then you might need a box of tissues to hand for this next story.

It all started when Mike Levy boarded a flight to Massachusetts from Florida on Christmas Eve, and sat next to an older man named Hal Vaughan. Bored, the two men struck up a conversation, and Mike asked Hal why he was flying that day. Hal explained that his daughter Pierce Vaughan was a flight attendant for Delta Airlines, and that the festive season was one of the busiest times of the year for her.

Because she'd been unable to take any time off, Hal had reasoned that the only way he'd be able to spend time with his daughter over Christmas would be to book a flight on the plane she was working her shift on. Thanks to the fact that family members of Delta employees can purchase tickets at reduced rates, Hal was able to hop on board Pierce's flight. Mike was so touched by Hal's story that he immediately snapped a selfie of him and Hal, as well as a pic of Peirce, and took to social media to share the story with others.

In an enthusiastic Facebook post, (which has since accrued over 135,000 likes) Mike wrote: "I had the pleasure of sitting next to Hal on my flight back home. His daughter Pierce was our flight attendant who had to work over Christmas. Hal decided he would spend the holiday with her. So, he is flying on each of her flights today and tomorrow around the country to spend time with his daughter for Christmas. What a fantastic father! Wish you both a very Merry Christmas!"

Later on, Pierce provided an update of her own, writing: "Look ma we made it! Dad's first trip using his benefits was a success! A special thanks to all of the patient, wonderful gate agents around the country and my perfect crew. He made it on every flight and even got first class RSW-DTW (Christmas miracle). Shout out to Mike Levy for being a great first class passenger & helping us to understand how cool this actually is!"

Sniff sniff. That really is a touching tale. I think that Hal Vaughan should be nominated for dad of the year, don't you?

Christmas is a time when we're obliged to spend time with our family and loved ones - people who some of us might not get the chance to see enough throughout the year. It's great to be able to wake up on Christmas morning, open your presents under the tree, and have a laugh with those closest to you. There's just one problem: sadly, not everyone can afford to take time off over Christmas, and those that do are often right back to work on Boxing Day.

Pilots and flight attendants are people who are affected by this kind of busy schedule, but this year a devoted dad went the extra (frequent flyer) mile to spend time with his daughter over the holidays. Buckle up people: if father-daughter moments in movies make you weepy, then you might need a box of tissues to hand for this next story.

It all started when Mike Levy boarded a flight to Massachusetts from Florida on Christmas Eve, and sat next to an older man named Hal Vaughan. Bored, the two men struck up a conversation, and Mike asked Hal why he was flying that day. Hal explained that his daughter Pierce Vaughan was a flight attendant for Delta Airlines, and that the festive season was one of the busiest times of the year for her.

Because she'd been unable to take any time off, Hal had reasoned that the only way he'd be able to spend time with his daughter over Christmas would be to book a flight on the plane she was working her shift on. Thanks to the fact that family members of Delta employees can purchase tickets at reduced rates, Hal was able to hop on board Pierce's flight. Mike was so touched by Hal's story that he immediately snapped a selfie of him and Hal, as well as a pic of Peirce, and took to social media to share the story with others.

In an enthusiastic Facebook post, (which has since accrued over 135,000 likes) Mike wrote: "I had the pleasure of sitting next to Hal on my flight back home. His daughter Pierce was our flight attendant who had to work over Christmas. Hal decided he would spend the holiday with her. So, he is flying on each of her flights today and tomorrow around the country to spend time with his daughter for Christmas. What a fantastic father! Wish you both a very Merry Christmas!"

Later on, Pierce provided an update of her own, writing: "Look ma we made it! Dad's first trip using his benefits was a success! A special thanks to all of the patient, wonderful gate agents around the country and my perfect crew. He made it on every flight and even got first class RSW-DTW (Christmas miracle). Shout out to Mike Levy for being a great first class passenger & helping us to understand how cool this actually is!"

Sniff sniff. That really is a touching tale. I think that Hal Vaughan should be nominated for dad of the year, don't you?