Middle TN man proposes to girlfriend with help from United Airlines

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A vision technician from Middle Tennessee flew into Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) on a one-way ticket Friday with big plans to propose to his girlfriend in a very special location, with some help from United Airlines.

According to United, Jack Lorey flew from Nashville International Airport (BNA) to IAH on Friday, Oct. 11. Passengers on his flight each had a rose in hand, so when they got off the plane, they would give their flowers to Erica Bonilla, who was celebrating her birthday weekend. Then, Lorey — who was had last rose — got down on one knee and proposed to Bonilla on the tarmac, with a United plane behind them and travelers surrounding them.

The airline said Lorey and Bonilla’s love story started in Florida, where Lorey was attending a friend’s wedding while Bonilla was on vacation with her family. They discovered a connection that led to lots of adventures, from rodeos to skydiving.

“We saw each other from across the bar so I went and introduced myself. We stayed in loose contact for a long time until she flew to Nashville to visit me for the first time. We clicked right away and both knew this was special,” Lorey recalled. “That loose contact became constant and the visits back and forth never stopped. Going down to Florida for that wedding was actually an unexpected last minute trip, but I thank God everyday for sending me.”

Since Bonilla is a Texas native and Lorey has lived in Tennessee for about 14 years after growing up in various places as an Army kid, they spent more than two years in a long-distance relationship, flying between Nashville and Houston on a monthly basis, according to the airline.

Lorey told United that he was living in Nashville while working at an insurance company when he and Bonilla started dating, but now he lives in Clarksville and works locally.

Friday’s flight marked a major step in Lorey and Bonilla’s relationship, and not just because of the proposal.

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“Leading up to the day, I was a nervous wreck, I sent an email on a whim to United and to have gotten their help to make this proposal happen is so cool. I am beyond grateful,” Lorey said. “Travel is a huge part of our relationship, it’s what’s kept us together all this time and Friday’s flight was our last long-distance flight, the weekend marks the start of Erica moving to Tennessee with me, and on top of that, it’s Erica’s birthday weekend!”

When asked what made the pair choose United for their many flights in their long-distance relationship, Lorey provided the following answer:

United has always been good to us and we were both familiar with the company. Erica’s Aunt worked for United and she has been very supportive of us, and I have flown United many times in the past. Another reason was from several trips I had last year. Not long after Erica and I started dating, I broke my ankle pretty badly and needed a couple surgeries. I couldn’t put any weight at all on that leg for 6 or 7 months and I didn’t know if traveling would be possible. United was extremely accommodating during that time and I was able to fly without a problem. We already loved United, but helping me make this proposal special for Erica has definitely built a lifelong loyalty from our family.

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