Mark and Rhonda Siegel, a couple from Weston, recently tried their best to snag a free ride on the Subway blimp that came to South Florida. They’ve enjoyed many high-flying adventures together in their 37 years of marriage, and this opportunity would be one more.

Demand was high: About 8,000 people lined up in an online queue, hoping to win a seat aboard the 180-foot Subway-inspired blimp. Rhonda won the free ride, and being generous, gave it to her husband, who’d always wanted to go on a blimp.

“I’m glad that I had the opportunity, and my wife was so nice to me,” Mark Siegel said. “She’s my soulmate.”

Mark Siegel was one of the overall 35 people who boarded the blimp Tuesday morning at the North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines, with about six to seven people taking trips at a time. Trips took place on Sunday, too, with an overall 40 people going up in the air.

The ground crew of the Subway Blimp "The Beast," wrangles the craft at North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023. Subway is sponsoring free blimp rides to 40 people who register at a first come, first serve basis to promote its new sandwich. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
The ground crew of the Subway Blimp “The Beast,” wrangles the craft at North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023. Subway is sponsoring free blimp rides to 40 people who register at a first come, first serve basis to promote its new sandwich. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Pilot Terry Dillard took passengers 1,000 feet up in the air and nearly nine miles east during 30- to 45-minute rides. Riders soaked in views of racing horses from Gulfstream Park Racing, towering high-rises and the glittering turquoise sea of Sunny Isles Beach.

“I started blimping in 1990,” Dillard, 69, said. “The flying part I could do blindfolded.”

Pilot Terry Dillard steers the Subway Blimp "The Beast," towards the coast from North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines, Tuesday. Subway is sponsoring free blimp rides to 40 people who register at a first come, first serve basis to promote its new sandwich. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Pilot Terry Dillard steers the Subway Blimp “The Beast,” towards the coast from North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023. Subway is sponsoring free blimp rides to 40 people who register at a first come, first serve basis to promote its new sandwich. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

One of the passengers was Alex Dainis, who has gained prominence on social media for posting about all things blimps. She has more than 80,000 followers on TikTok, where she posts informational blimp videos, and after pleading with Subway to grant her a seat on its blimp, she flew in from Los Angeles on Tuesday for her first-ever blimp ride. She said she’s known as the “blimp lady.”

South Florida is the third city the Subway blimp traveled to — it first flew passengers in Kansas City and then in Orlando before making its way to South Florida. A Subway spokesperson said registration for the free blimp rides was full two minutes after opening in each city.

When asked which city has been his favorite, Dillard didn’t say — but he did say he loves the water.

The Subway blimp brought passengers 1,000 feet in the air, providing scenic views of the South Florida beach. (Abigail Hasebroock/Sun Sentinel)
The Subway blimp brought passengers 1,000 feet in the air, providing scenic views of the South Florida beach. (Abigail Hasebroock/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

After his ride ended, Mark Siegel reunited with his wife, who was waiting to hear all about it.

“This is like the highlight of my life,” he said.