Eight singles are embarking on cross-country trips with total strangers in hopes of falling so head over heels in love that they say ‘I do’ at the end of their journeys.
The new Lifetime reality series Love at First Flight chronicles the adventures of four new couples who have been sent off on romantic — yet stressful — trips across North America.
After being paired together by professional matchmakers, the couples will meet for the first time on Tuesday night’s premiere of the show. Although the participants come from all over the country, they have one thing in common: they are all unlucky in love.
The couples’ compatibility will be tested with a series of travel-based challenges as they make their way from New York to Los Angeles. At the end of the trip, they must decide whether they want to get married or go their separate ways.
Daring choice: Alma Lopez and Michael Naccari are one of four new couples who are traveling across the country together in the new Lifetime reality series Love at First Flight
Surprise: On Tuesday night’s premiere, the couples will meet as strangers before embarking on their journeys across North America
Perfect match? Alma, 31, from Chicago, Illinois, is social services case worker who loves fitness and going out dancing with friends
Getting comfortable: Michael, 30-year-old accountant from Bellmore, New York, wants a woman who is comfortable in her own skin
Alma Lopez and Michael Naccari
Alma, 31, from Chicago, Illinois, is social services case worker who loves fitness and going out dancing with friends. Although she is ready for marriage, she won’t say ‘I do’ until she finds a man who is able to keep up with her in every way.
Family is important to the former beauty pageant contestant, who celebrates her Puerto Rican and Mexican heritage by visiting her relatives in Puerto Rico twice a year.
Although she describes herself as ‘strong-willed’ and ‘blunt,’ she admits that she tends to fall for men who are either desperate and needy or emotionally stunted and unable to commit.
Out of the four serious relationships she has had in her lifetime, two ended up up in proposals. While one former boyfriend proposed to her after their relationship ended as an attempt to win her back, the other popped the question after just a few months of dating.
Alma is looking for a man who as strong an independent as she is, and Michael may be her perfect match.
The 30-year-old accountant from Bellmore, New York, wants a woman who is comfortable in her own skin and willing to try to understand both his strengths and weaknesses.
Make or break: Alma and Michael’s compatibility will be tested with a series of travel-based challenges as they make their way from New York to Los Angeles
Same interests: Family is of the utmost importance to both Alma and Michael
Goals: Michael hopes to have children in the future, and he ultimately wants a partner who fits in with his family and wants the same things as he does
Looking for the real deal: Alma admits that she tends to fall for men who are either desperate and needy or emotionally stunted and unable to commit
Hopeful: At the end of their journeys, all of the couples will have to decide whether they want to get married or go their separate ways
Like Alma, family is important to him. He has ten nieces and nephews, and he insists that he never misses one of their baseball games or dance recitals.
Michael hopes to have children in the future, and he ultimately wants a partner who fits in with his family and wants the same things.
He admits he went to school to become an accountant because it was the most secure job he could think of, and he prides himself on keeping his life in order and his apartment clean while living by himself.
Michael insists he plans on doing a majority of the laundry and housekeeping when he gets married because he knows what he is doing.
Although he has had three series relationships, none of them ended up lasting. His most recent breakup took place in October, and while he has jumped back into the dating scene, he still hasn’t been able to find the right woman.
Michael claims all the Long Island women he meets are cookie-cutter clones of each other, and he feels like he is dating the same person over and over again — to the point that he is willing to put his love live in the hands of a professional matchmaker.
Matched: Jenna Fortner and Cale O’Bryan are both looking for serious relationships
All smiles: Jenna, 26, is a Los Angeles native who grew up in Manhattan Beach and now works as a kindergarten teacher in Beverly Hills
The simple life: During one challenge, Jenna and Cale have to work on a farm
Looking for love: Cale, a 29-year-old attorney from Dallas, Texas, doesn’t even have someone to take to his best friend’s upcoming wedding
Jenna Fortner and Cale O’Bryan
Jenna, 26, is a Los Angeles native who grew up in Manhattan Beach and now works as a kindergarten teacher in Beverly Hills.
Although it may sound glamorous, Jenna makes it clear that she teaches children who are bused in from all over the city to attend the charter school that she works at.
When she’s not working, she loves to play guitar, dance, and read, and she wants to find a man who likes to do similar things.
While Jenna considers herself vibrant and opinionated, she has had very little dating experience. Her two most serious relationships both evolved from friendships.
She and her last boyfriend were best friends for 15 and dated for almost four years. After the relationship ended, she decided to spend some time alone and focus on herself.
Struggle: While Jenna considers herself vibrant and opinionated, she has had very little dating experience
This could be it: Her perfect match would also be adventurous, passionate, and emotionally mature
Not working: Cale, meanwhile, has had trouble finding love on dating apps, but he knows he won’t be happy until he finds the right woman
Here’s hoping: Cale is looking for a confident woman who is career-focused and will challenge him both intellectually and physically
Now that Jenna is ready to find love, she is looking for a man who is not only employed, but ambitious as well. Her perfect match would also be adventurous, passionate, and emotionally mature.
Jenna’s partner, Cale, has had trouble finding love on dating apps, but he knows he won’t be happy until he finds the right woman.
The 29-year-old attorney from Dallas, Texas, doesn’t even have someone to take to his best friend’s upcoming wedding. He is so sick of dating, he wants to just skip straight to marriage.
Cale’s first serious relationship started in college and lasted four years. However, they drifted apart after graduation. They recently tried reigniting the spark during a weekend in Cancun, but it just didn’t work.
The CrossFit lover is also a long-distance runner and a member of several co-ed volleyball leagues.
Cale is looking for a confident woman who is career-focused and will challenge him both intellectually and physically. He hopes to meet someone who has a positive outlook on life and values trust and respect.
Common interest: Stephanie Johnson and Michael Stewart are both entrepreneurs
Strong woman: Stephanie, 30, has been busy growing her event company in Plano, Texas, over the past three years
Ready for committment: Michael Stewart is a 30-year-old travel club entrepreneur from Atlanta, Georiga, who is admittedly at a crossroads in his life
Getting to know each other: Stephanie and Michael make pottery together during one of their challenges
Stephanie Johnson and Michael Stewart
Stephanie, is a 30-year-old entrepreneur who has been busy growing her event company in Plano, Texas, over the past three years.
When she’s not working, Stephanie likes to cook, host parties, sing at her church, and work out. Although she has no problem making new friends and business associates, she has had trouble finding romantic partners.
Despite going on three or four dates a month, she has been unable to find a man who appreciates that she is a career woman who wants to remain celibate until she gets married.
Even though she has been single for more than a year, her biological clock is ticking, and she’s determined to have a child in the next two years.
Stephanie is looking for a religious man who is a natural leader and family-oriented. Although she believes her perfect match with be a gentle spirit, she still wants him to be someone who knows how to ‘grind and hustle.’
Taking charge: Stephanie admits that she has had trouble finding a man who respects that she is an independent career woman
Blossoming relationship? Stephanie was photographed giving Michael a hug on their trip
Mr. and Mrs. Right? Both Stephanie and Michael are religious and want to find someone who doesn’t mind putting sex on the back burner until they get to know each other
Biological clock is ticking: Stephanie is looking for a husband because she wants to have a child in the next two years
Her partner Michael Stewart is a 30-year-old travel club entrepreneur from Atlanta, Georiga, who is admittedly at a crossroads in his life.
His mother was recently diagnosed with cancer, and he found out that his ex-girlfriend had passed away in 2016.
The heartbreak has gotten him thinking about family and his future, even though he hasn’t had very many serious relationships.
Michael admits that he often ends up in short, superficial relationships, explaining: ‘Sex clouds my judgment.’
He is looking for a ‘God-fearing’ woman who is business-savvy and willing to wait to get to know him before diving into sex.
Hopeless romantics: Stephanie Ver Eecke and Ryan Pinterboth want to fine someone to share their lives with
Fantasy: Stephanie, a 28-year-old wedding singer from Lindenhurst, New York, dreams of saying ‘I do’
Fitting: Stephanie has been matched with Ryan, a ‘die-hard romantic’ from Royal Oak, Michigan
Stephanie Ver Eecke and Ryan Pinter
Stephanie, a 28-year-old wedding singer from Lindenhurst, New York, has seen plenty of wedding disasters, but she still dreams of saying ‘I do.’
She truly believes love conquers all, and she even has a love-themed vision board in her living room.
Stephanie’s cousin recently passed away at a young age, and the heartbreaking loss has gotten her thinking about what she wants for her future.
She is the only one of her friends who isn’t married with kids, and she is ready to settle down after a string of relationship that have ended.
Her longest boyfriend lasted for seven years, and while they lived together in both Los Angeles and New York City, their relationship eventually fizzled out.
Are you in? Ryan, a 26-year-old senior buyer at Genera Motors, spends most of his time working and traveling
Full package: Family is also important for the self-proclaimed ‘Momma’s Boy,’ who lives close to his parents in Michigan
Faithful: Stephanie’s most recent relationship ended after she found out that he was cheating on her, and now she is determined to find a trustworthy, one-woman man
Loved up: Stephanie truly believes that love conquers all
Stephanie’s most recent relationship ended after she found out that he was cheating on her, and now she is determined to find a trustworthy, one-woman man that she can ‘take care of.’
Fittingly, Stephanie has been matched with Ryan, a ‘die-hard romantic’ from Royal Oak, Michigan.
The 26-year-old senior buyer at Genera Motors spends most of his time working, but he travels whenever he can. He is looking for a wife who is driven and loves to travel as much as he does.
Family is also important for the self-proclaimed ‘Momma’s Boy,’ who lives close to his parents in Michigan.
Ryan’s last relationship was long-distance and took place when he was in California. Although he moved back home to Michigan to be with her, the relationship didn’t last.
He has been single for nearly two years after being so focused on work that he hardly went on dates.
Ryan turned exclusively to dating apps because he hates meeting women in bars, but he also hates social media. He hasn’t had much luck meeting anyone after he deleted his Facebook and Instagram accounts.