Creative Bribery: Gifts for First Class

You know what? There’s all sorts of sketchy advice circulating on how to snag that swanky upgrade on flights. One enduring nugget of “wisdom” suggests you turn to bribery—bring gifts for the crew! Surprisingly, there’s a tale that’s kind of heartwarming, albeit with a predictable twist. It’s the tale of a man and his not-so-budget-friendly charm offensive.

Meet the Man Who Spent Big on Gifts for the Crew…

Enter Instagram’s own outlandishly charming chap, Parker Seidel. Over the past few months, he’s been on a mission—a mission to charm his way into those illusive first class seats armed with presents. Mind you, he’s blissfully unaware there really isn’t a “first class” on his budget airlines. Oh, but who needs trivial details when you’re brandishing gift bags, right?

Our protagonist stands out because his antics are refreshingly humor-laden and bereft of entitlement—a rare combo these days. Still, it’s hard not to chuckle as he levels up his efforts each time.

It started innocuously enough on a French Bee flight to Paris. For $99.96—meticulously spent on Starbucks gift cards, sweets, and a spiffy gift bag—he heroically handed over his bounty to the cabin crew, exclaiming, “I just want to say, I really appreciate you, this is for you, this for all the flight attendants as well.” The outcome? Champagne, amenity kits, and snacks flowed his way—all mid-flight, naturally.

Onward to Attempt Number Two…

Seidel’s next bounteous voyage was on ZIPAIR to Tokyo. This time he upped the ante with a hefty $192.34 spend—a haul which bizarrely included a heartfelt letter (thanks, ChatGPT!) expressing gratitude galore. Nine hours into the journey, the crew returned the favor with… a cup of green tea. He doesn’t drink it, so down the drain it went. They also sent a goodie bag and note—silver linings, folks.

The spectacle continued on Norse Atlantic en route to Rome. Armed with $183.60 worth of personalized gifts, he handed out individual bags and heartfelt notes, daring even to embellish the gate agents with gifts. With a dapper outfit to match, he faced the inevitable flight crew question, “are you with us?” as he boarded and… received nada.

But he’s undeterred, already plotting his fourth strike at winning over the skies!

Is Gift-Giving a Tactic Worth Embarking Upon?

So, is doling out gifts really the ticket to that dream upgrade? Well, throwing gifts at the crew holds its own allure versus other dodgy advice out there, should you find yourself feeling bold.

Here’s a few considerations to chew on:

• An upgrade will only materialize if any seats are actually available, which is far from guaranteed.
• If you hope to spur rule-bending, almost $200 in gifts to your friendly neighborhood Japanese airline isn’t likely a winning formula. 😉
• Seidel could have feasibly used that cash to buy an outright upgrade instead.
• Gifting the crew typically signals you’re an airline insider—a practice that might open doors quicker.
• Given Seidel’s viral Instagram antics, one suspects his extravagant spending was staged for content—potential mics and cameras in crew faces elevate suspicion levels.

The fair verdict? Showering the crew with kindness is a thoroughly neighborly gesture, assuming you’re not eying a reward in return. But let’s be honest: if your motivation’s an upgrade, that’s called a bribe—and one that bears scant prospects of success.

Yes, occasionally a passenger-cum-airline-industry-member bearing gifts may find themselves in cushier seats. Yet it’s the industry insider status amplifying the impact—not merely an aisle bag full of candies.

Final Thoughts

In short, Parker Seidel’s epic quest for that elusive “first class” upgrade through schlepping gifts to airline crews might just be a charming, feel-good story. Yet, let’s not kid ourselves—playing Santa for seat upgrades is truly a gamble with odds not worth betting the house on. Yet I salute the tenacity! And hey, there’s always the next flight into the unknown skies… onboard Norse Atlantic. I’d say, keep trying, Parker!

What’s your take on this unconventional approach?

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