Airline passenger reveals hack for getting 'special treatment' in-air

2023-03-21

Airline passenger reveals intriguing ‘hack’ for getting special treatment on flights – explaining how the tactic earned him extra leg room, ‘super nice’ service, AND first class amenities

Jeremy Maclellan, 26, gifted $130 worth of Starbucks cards to cabin crew
Although he wasn’t bumped up to business class, he bagged an empty exit row
He also saw his headphones upgraded and he got and amenity kit with goodies

Fancy bagging extra leg room and other perks on your next flight? Then listen up.

An airline passenger has revealed how he landed an exit row seat, a first class amenity bag and a spread of in-flight treats after employing a controversial travel hack on a 12.5-hour flight from New York to Abu Dhabi.

Jeremy Maclellan, 26, a former car salesman from Massachusetts, decided to try a tactic highlighted by air steward and TikTokker @flyingrealtor earlier this year – and his video detailing the positive impact it had on his travel struck quite a chord with followers.

The trick involves gifting Starbucks cards to cabin crew and showing some ‘kindness.’ To Jeremy’s surprise, when he tried the hack it worked in his favor and he details the chain of events in a three-minute long TikTok clip, which has since been viewed more than 2.6 million times.

Jeremy Maclellan, 26, a former car salesman from Massachusetts, tried out a controversial travel ‘hack’ highlighted by air steward and TikTokker @flyingrealtor earlier this year

The trick involves gifting Starbucks cards to cabin crew and showing some ‘kindness.’ To Jeremy’s surprise, when he tried the tactic it worked in his favor

In the video, posted to his account @x_travels, Jeremy says he was dreading his long-haul in economy and had found a business class seat but the price was coming out at around $12,000.

He continues: ‘I didn’t want to pay that. So I went and I got eight $15 Starbucks gift cards [that came] to like $130… I don’t know, around there.’

Then when he boarded the plane, he asked how many flight attendants there were and he was told there was 12.

Aware he was short of gift cards, he went ahead and gave them to the cabin crew anyway.

When he was asked if he was cabin crew for another airline, he said he responded with something like: ‘No, I just thought I would show the love, spread the appreciation. You know, it’s a long flight and I appreciate you guys.’

He then went to find his seat in the ‘very back of the plane’ and he said he was annoyed to find a woman had stolen his window seat which he had gone to the effort of selecting ahead of time.

‘She was already planted in my seat, shoes and socks off,’ he exclaims as he recounts the story.

After telling the woman that she was in his seat, Jeremey said she moved over but he was disgusted by the fact she left her shoes in his place.

However, he was swiftly saved from his nightmare seat buddy situation as a flight supervisor who had one of his Starbucks gift cards came and asked if he wanted to move to a completely empty exit row.

Gave my flight attendants $130 to starbucks and i think it was worth it. #travel #travelhack #flying #airlines #airport #appreciation

The TikToker told DailyMail.com that he was able to sleep better ‘having the whole exit row to myself and being able to stretch out’

After watching Jeremey’s video, many viewers have said they had similar success with the Starbucks flight hack

She told him: ‘We really appreciate what you did. That was very nice.’

Jeremy concludes that his hack was totally worth spending $130.

He tells viewers: ‘It wasn’t business class, didn’t get a full laydown flat seat but I think it was worth the gift cards to get a whole row to myself.

‘And they were so nice to me the whole flight, like I took a nap for a bit and when I woke up there was like a little goodie bag… like a mom-packed lunch… with like a water bottle, a sandwich and some snacks. They were super nice to me.’

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The TikToker also told DailyMail.com that he was able to sleep better ‘having the whole exit row to myself and being able to stretch out.’

Another bonus was that he got an upgraded pair of headphones and an amenity bag ‘like you would get in first class’ containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, and hand lotion.

After watching Jeremey’s video, many viewers have said they witnessed similar success with the Starbucks flight hack.

One commenter wrote: ‘I did this and got upgraded to first class from Heathrow to Canada. 10/10 would recommend.’

And another revealed: ‘I did that on a two hour Southwest Flight. $5 gift cards and they all came up to me separately thanking me and gave me free drinks.’

Some viewers who work as flight attendants have also highlighted how kindness can go a long way. One wrote: ‘Flight attendant here… if you just say “hi” back to me when I greet you (you wouldn’t believe how often we are ignored) I’ll give all the things, honest.’

Going full circle, @flyingrealtor who inspired Jeremy’s stunt created a stitch of his video.

‘Shout out to this dude for trusting me,’ the creator said. ‘I know what I’m talking about.

Jeremy told DailyMail.com that he did not want to disclose the name of the airline as he ‘doesn’t want to risk getting anyone in trouble.’

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