First Class for a bribe?
Jan 28, 2006 | 7:04 pm
#1
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: San Diego, CA
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First Class for a bribe?
A co-worker posed this question and my immediate response was "No way, you'd never pull it off, people could get fired". But I told him I'd post here and ask, so here goes.
He wants to fly from LAX to an yet undetermined airport in Brazil, flying yet undetermined dates "at the end of the year". He was wondering if bribing a flight attendant with $400 - $500 would get him upgraded to First Class. And if so, what's the chance of doing it again on the return flight.
Alternately, what are other things he could do to get bumped up (besides paying the 1st class fare, obviously). Perhaps buy a yearly membership to a specifc Airline club (though I'm not even sure that'd give you upgrade privledges)?
He wants to fly from LAX to an yet undetermined airport in Brazil, flying yet undetermined dates "at the end of the year". He was wondering if bribing a flight attendant with $400 - $500 would get him upgraded to First Class. And if so, what's the chance of doing it again on the return flight.
Alternately, what are other things he could do to get bumped up (besides paying the 1st class fare, obviously). Perhaps buy a yearly membership to a specifc Airline club (though I'm not even sure that'd give you upgrade privledges)?
Jan 28, 2006 | 7:52 pm
#2
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I'd say chances are slim to none. I have had my a$$ bribed into F, but it was at an airport in a 3rd world country and over 10 years ago. Most likely offering a bribe to an FA will have negative consequences.
Jan 28, 2006 | 8:02 pm
#3
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Originally Posted by Doltzbert
He wants to fly from LAX to an yet undetermined airport in Brazil, flying yet undetermined dates "at the end of the year". He was wondering if bribing a flight attendant with $400 - $500 would get him upgraded to First Class. And if so, what's the chance of doing it again on the return flight.
However, this being said, I can see making such an offer to someone going down the very wrong way. A quick whisper to the TSA, and you're gig is up.
Jan 28, 2006 | 8:09 pm
#4
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Originally Posted by dannyr
A quick whisper to the TSA, and you're gig is up.
Jan 28, 2006 | 8:12 pm
#5
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Originally Posted by mahasamatman
Other than the fact that they like to stick their noses in lots of places they don't belong, why in the world would the TSA get involved?
If the plane went down for whatever reason, and the guy in 28B was found to be carrying explosive, they need to know who it was.
Jan 28, 2006 | 8:51 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: NYC
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Originally Posted by Doltzbert
=He was wondering if bribing a flight attendant with $400 - $500 would get him upgraded to First Class.
People have tried to slip me cash many times for upgrades. There is nothing more insulting to me than this - and I make sure to tell them so, preferably within earshot of other passengers. Idiots!
US carriers are already struggling...the cost of most tickets barely covers the gas bill for the flight, they can't afford to pay us the income they agreed to in our labor contracts. Given all that, these passengers actually think I'm going to help them STEAL from the company? As if!
Jan 28, 2006 | 8:55 pm
#7
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I don't think it would work in the US...when I lived in Jakarta, Indonesia (a notorously corrupt place) I had a friend who offered the Garuda flight attendant some cash to allow another friend to move up to an empty first class seat next to him. Reportedly, the flight attendant was shocked and refused.
Good for him! There are honest people everywhere.
-steps up to soapbox-
Sure what your friend is proposing isn't like robbing a bank...but it's still stealing. Just because you pay someone to "give" you something that isn't their right to "give" away...
It's very similar to knowingly buying stolen goods. Pretty hard to justify by my way of thinking.
-steps down from soapbox-
Good for him! There are honest people everywhere.
-steps up to soapbox-
Sure what your friend is proposing isn't like robbing a bank...but it's still stealing. Just because you pay someone to "give" you something that isn't their right to "give" away...
It's very similar to knowingly buying stolen goods. Pretty hard to justify by my way of thinking.
-steps down from soapbox-
Jan 28, 2006 | 9:02 pm
#8
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Originally Posted by BamaVol
I'd say chances are slim to none. I have had my a$$ bribed into F, but it was at an airport in a 3rd world country and over 10 years ago. Most likely offering a bribe to an FA will have negative consequences.
Jan 28, 2006 | 10:10 pm
#9
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Originally Posted by dannyr
If the plane went down for whatever reason, and the guy in 28B was found to be carrying explosive, they need to know who it was.
Jan 28, 2006 | 11:43 pm
#11
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Originally Posted by dannyr
Each passenger is given a boarding pass which identifies them as the traveller. For the same reason you can't go through security with someone elses passport.
If the plane went down for whatever reason, and the guy in 28B was found to be carrying explosive, they need to know who it was.
If the plane went down for whatever reason, and the guy in 28B was found to be carrying explosive, they need to know who it was.
In case you don't know, the above airlines do not have assigned seating...
Jan 29, 2006 | 6:06 am
#13
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Originally Posted by oklAAhoma
Good question.
Will
Jan 29, 2006 | 6:27 am
#14
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Washington,DC
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It is done all the time
All one does is ask a FA or gate agent if it is possible to buy an on board upgrade and hand them the cash.
It is not a bribe... its a question....BA have on board upgrades and you get a receipt..Now I'm sure some FA / GAte agents might give you that Op Up and pocket the cash but that is their choice
nothing wrong with asking
It is not a bribe... its a question....BA have on board upgrades and you get a receipt..Now I'm sure some FA / GAte agents might give you that Op Up and pocket the cash but that is their choice
nothing wrong with asking
Jan 29, 2006 | 8:15 am
#15
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Originally Posted by TravelinWilly
Not really. Last I heard those carriers didn't have 1st/biz., thus they could get away with no assigned seating - there's no place to which one can upgrade.
The TSA (rightly) would not care who is in what seat -- proof: some airlines don't have assigned seats.