Blogger Wants to Upgrade Your Seats

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God Save The Points writer Gilbert Ott will give you his business class seats – if you can find him.

A New York blogger will give you his business class seats on any one of his upcoming flights, but only on the condition you are on the same flight and you can find him. Gilbert Ott, author of the blog God Save The Points, is offering a free upgrade to anyone who spots him in the airport.

After so many negative aviation stories in 2017, including the United passenger who was dragged off an aircraft, Ott wanted to do something unique to make flying fun again. After some thought, he came up with the idea to give up his business class seats to anyone who asks aboard his flight.

“We’ve had so many bad stories about people getting dragged off planes,” Ott told FlyerTalk. “Even if [the upgrade] never happens to them, I’ve had people reach out saying they love the idea.”

While Ott has already been found several times, many of his trips include intercontinental flights aboard British Airways. To make the game even bigger, the British flag carrier has offered up to 10 upgrades to flyers on the same flight as the blogger.

“I was amazed by British Airways,” Ott said. “I put the challenge out, and the next thing I know, their head of PR sent me an e-mail asking if they could join the fun.”

When flying, his cabin mates have ranged from fellow flying enthusiasts, to a couple returning to the United Kingdom after a honeymoon in New York. On one particular trip during the weekend of July 22, Ott found himself being chased down by a group of teenagers hoping to earn the free upgrades on his British Airways flight.

“It was crazy over the weekend,” he told FlyerTalk. “It was like being a member of The Beatles.”

His remaining adventures throughout the end of the year include trips aboard a number of airlines, spanning across the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. While Ott is excited to meet his readers, his greatest joy is giving everyday flyers an upgraded experience and helping them get to the front of the cabin.

“It’s the game aspect that’s the most fun,” Ott told FlyerTalk. “It’s forced me to be more participatory with people, and people seem psyched. For a blogger who works out of a little apartment, it’s been a pretty good success.”

[Photo: Gilbert Ott/God Save The Points]