“Bribing” for First Class? One Flyer Tried—Three Times
He spent over $400 on gift bags for crew hoping to score upgrades. Did it work?
Mina Y
April 16, 2025
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There’s a lot of bad advice out there about how to land an upgrade. Some people say to dress nicely. Others suggest dropping subtle hints at the gate. And then there’s this guy—who decided to go all-in on the “gift your way to first class” strategy.
Instagram user @parker.seidel is documenting his journey of trying to score premium seats by showering airline crews with Starbucks cards, candy, handwritten notes, and hundreds of dollars' worth of thoughtful gift bags. His mission? “Bribe” his way into the good seats. His results? Mixed, at best.
The $400+ “Upgrade Attempt” Breakdown
Parker has tried this move three times so far, and here’s how it’s gone:
Flight 1: French Bee to Paris — He spent just under $100 on Starbucks cards and chocolate. He didn’t get upgraded, but the crew brought him champagne, snacks, and an amenity kit.
Flight 2: ZIPAIR to Tokyo — He upped the ante to $192. After nine hours, he was offered… a cup of green tea. (He doesn’t drink green tea.)
Flight 3: Norse Atlantic to Rome — $183 worth of individually wrapped gift bags and handwritten notes for each crew member. This time? Nada.
Still, he’s staying committed—and apparently planning a fourth try.
Does This Ever Work?
In short: not really. Flight attendants appreciate small gestures, especially from fellow airline employees. But most carriers—especially low-cost ones—don’t upgrade people based on gifts. It doesn’t matter how fancy the note is (even if ChatGPT wrote it).
Upgrades require space, policy discretion, and sometimes, airline status. Handing over a gift bag doesn’t unlock an override button for those.
What This Means for Nonrevs
Passriders, take note: kindness is always welcome, but lavish gifts won’t boost your chances of getting out of 34B. In fact, if you’re flying on a pass, drawing attention to yourself with extravagant gestures can backfire. Crews are trained to keep things by-the-book—and a bag of chocolates isn’t going to bump you over an elite member or a paying passenger.
That said, a simple smile, respectful attitude, and professional appearance still go a long way. Many nonrevs have scored better seats with zero drama—just timing and a little bit of standby luck.
The Bigger Picture
As upgrades become harder to score and premium cabins fill up with paid passengers and elites, expect more viral "hacks" like this. But for those of us who fly standby often, the real secret is patience, flexibility, and a Plan B… C… and D.
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