Guy Tries To Bribe His Way Into "First Class" With Gifts For Crew

Since it's being recorded, I'm sure the flight crew didn't want to get in trouble for moving someone to a premium cabin for personal gain, regardless of how little the gift card and candy cost.

I'm sure he knows that it'd be cheaper long term to just purchase the upgrade outright. But what's the fun in that??

Haha, good luck to him on his journey! Hope he gets the upgrade someday soon.

It's indeed a quite common thing to do when working within the industry flying on standby/non-rev. I've done it a few times and have been upgraded as well. This would also work better on American/European airlines compared to Asian/ME3. But doing this on a rev-ticket without any affiliation to the industry is indeed not a great way to try to score an upgrade.

What a moron. Most premium cabins are completely full. Where does this imbecile think he's going to sit? Does he actually think a crew member will send a premium passenger back to coach (assuming there are even any open coach seats) for a box of chocolates? These people should just stay out of airports and off airplanes.

If you do this in Vegas, I hear you get a suite upgrade with a cocktail waitress of your choice.

I like to give gifts during the holidays as a way of saying thank you for being with us without getting anything in return. I think about the fact that they can't be with their families for the holidays and I want them to know that I'm thinking about them. Giving gifts for the sole purpose of getting something in return is just tacky.

It's the quid pro quo angle of this I find problematic. If you are going to give crew a gift, give them at the end of the flight, not at the start. Doing it at the start sends a message, explicit or otherwise, that you expect something in return - as was demonstrated by the different treatment he received as well as one poster mentioning they have been upgraded.

I often bring small gifts for in-flight crews when flying biz/first, as well as front desk/concierge staffs at five star hotels. Nothing extravagant or “bribey”, usually high end chocolates or some other (sealed) edible treats to share. It’s always appreciated, I receive excellent service and I am always remembered. A little appreciation and grace goes a long way in the hard working, guest-facing travel industry.

I'm a retired management employee from a major U.S. carrier, and last July flew BA First ORD-LHR-DXB on a revenue ticket. At ORD I purchased a box a chocolates for the crew and gave it to the purser after boarding. I wasn't expecting anything in return, I was already in First, but I do this on occasion because I have a soft touch for cabin crews who I acknowledge don't have the easiest job these days. The crews are always appreciative of the gesture, and once they learn I used to work in the industry we invariably end up talking shop in the galley after dinner. It's a nice diversion on an otherwise long and boring flight, and I glean information on what's currently going on at their airline, so it's a win-win for both of us.

My wife is an FA and while FA's appreciate the gifts, you likely won't get anything special other than some thank yous and maybe a free shot of booze if it's domestic or maybe a couple extra biscoff.

I flew LAX-SYD and bought the crew a bag of chocolates. The purser came to thank me, a couple crew did as well. I was already in J so it's not like I wanted an upgrade (and F was full but that's fine) but did it because I was being nice.

FA's don't have the easiest job, but showing a thank you in the form of a small gift is always appreciated. Just don't expect anything special unless you want a lot of biscoff cookies.

Wow, poured out the green tea? Rude!

It's called BRIBERY. It's immoral and usually illegal.

Well I would advise him to not try and bribe on low cost airlines LOL

Norse Atlantic, Zipair, and French Bee don't exactly have "First Class". Maybe try a Middle Eastern airline instead.

All of you are expecting something. You are expecting great treatment irrespective of the cabin you purchased. Even if you are not, this is still the message being sent and most crew will now think they should treat you differently, because you have now made a connection with them. If you are going to give a gift, give it at the end of the flight.

I have an upcoming flight on Austrian, Vienna-NY. I went into my PNR and had an upgrade offer for just ~$250 (or something around that, can't remember exactly). I couldn't believe it though. All of these videos are extremely cringe worthy - the FA's obviously notice they're being filmed.

For long-haul I'll often bring a gift they can share, such as chocolate covered espresso beans in a nice package. I give it to them when they come around and introduce themselves. Never expect anything from it, other than a smile, but I've been on many flights where I have had my drinks and such comped.

lol. The "$20 trick"

The world would be a much better place without influencers.

I have a sure-fire trick to getting a first class seat and it works every time I fly: I purchase a first class ticket! Amazing!

He should have tried when flying Delta and says he's Tim Dunn.

Poured it out where? Behind his seat?

Whenever I fly BA, I always give the crew a couple of bricks to say thank you.

Fake video and fake commercial

I thought French Bee was all Biz Class?

I got upgraded from biz to FC on a BA 747 DFW-LHR for a mere 2 boxes of Texas Turtles bought at the shops at DFW.

Bringing gifts for flight attendants seems like it's getting out of hand.

How many lift balms or Emergen C packets can they use? Or Starbucks gift cards?

Are you trying to get an upgrade? Or free drinks? Or just want attention?

This is a *great* strategy to go viral on social media!

LOL! LOL! A sucker is Born .......

I found this machine in Vegas last month that I put a dollar in and won a prize. So I kept doing it since I was stuck at the airport with nothing else to do. I kept putting $1 and winning over and over. It was amazing. The only problem I had when I was done is I didn’t know what to do with 27 cans of coke.

No, FrenchBee is a low cost. They have super squeezed Economy and Premium Economy (slightly better).

You are probably confusing with La Compagnie which is indeed all-Business Class cabin.

Does 3-4-3 on a A350 sound like business class to you ?

Not sure why people are sh!tting on this guy. Seems obvious he’s doing it for social media purposes and not actually expecting to get upgraded, and there are way more obnoxious things an influencer can do.

If anything, he’s countering all the idiotic influencers giving “1 trick to get free upgrades” advice, and showing how it’s basically a waste of effort and money to dress up and try to bribe people.

I think you're thinking of La Compagnie, another French airline.

I’m rooting for the guy!

Okay boomer! Seriously, if you didn't even get the joke. He's not really expecting to get upgraded, this is just an entertaining video series.

Practically all the ME3 airlines crew are recruited from all over the world; not from the Middle east hubs.
A nice box of European chocolates will go down well, just don't offer a gift box of dates.
They have little discretion to do seat upgrades, but they will be happy to offer little treats from the galley including the 'nice' champagne they tell the other pax isn't available.
They lead very regimented and controlled off duty lives in company compounds, and a splash of kidness goes a long way in making their day!
Don't leave the gift untill the flight is over; most will want to see that you are pampered a bit and enjoy your flight.