Sis Got A Free Upgrade To First Class On Long Flight, Family Is Furious She Didn’t Give It To Bro

Who wouldn’t like to get a free upgrade to first class, especially during a long flight? Probably everyone would – or at least most of us. However, it’s very unlikely that everyone who wants it could get it. You need to be very lucky or be loyal to the airline – and if there’s a possibility, it may be your lucky day.

One Reddit user had a similar situation – as she was a frequent traveler with the airline and had the most status out of all the passengers, she was offered a free upgrade to first class. However, according to her family members, she should have passed on the upgrade to her brother.

More info: Reddit

Starting a family vacation with drama is not the best decision

Sis Got A Free Upgrade To First Class On Long Flight, Family Is Furious She Didn’t Give It To Bro

Image credits: Pixabay (not the actual photo)

Woman shares that her whole family was going on vacation and since she and her brother live in the same part of the country, they were flying together

Sis Got A Free Upgrade To First Class On Long Flight, Family Is Furious She Didn’t Give It To Bro

Image credits: Vinh Lâm (not the actual photo)

Now, after boarding, a flight attendant came to the woman saying that one first-class passenger didn’t show, so as she had the most status, she was offered the seat

Sis Got A Free Upgrade To First Class On Long Flight, Family Is Furious She Didn’t Give It To Bro

Image credits: August de Richelieu (not the actual photo)

She added that her brother is 6’6” – so when they landed, he was mad and only after meeting the rest of the family members was she told that what she did was ‘awful’

Sis Got A Free Upgrade To First Class On Long Flight, Family Is Furious She Didn’t Give It To Bro

Image credits: u/Abbyissostupid

She emphasized that her whole family is furious at her and scolding her for not giving her first-class upgrade to her brother

A couple days ago, one Reddit user took her story online seeking to hear community members’ opinions on whether she was in fact being a jerk as she was told by her family. She took the free first-class upgrade that the airline gave her on a 12-hour flight and didn’t give it to her 6‘6” brother. The post went viral, collecting over 12K upvotes and 2K comments.

The original poster (OP) starts her story by sharing that her whole family was planning on meeting in Hawaii. And while there are 6 of them, she and her brother live in the same part of the country, so they were traveling together. However, after the boarding, the flight attendant came to OP saying that there was an available seat in the first class and due to her frequent travels, she had the most status of all the passengers.

OP explained that she took it in a heartbeat and had a great flight. However, when they landed, she met her brother, who, importantly, is 6‘6” (~198cm) and was very mad. After finally meeting with the rest of the family, their mom told OP that what she did was ‘awful’ and she should have given her seat to her brother. Needless to say, the whole family is upset with the woman and calls her a jerk.

However, the community members had the woman’s back – “Your family is outrageous. Would the brother have offered OP the first class seat if it was reversed? Doubt it,” one user wrote. “He would have not gotten the seat either way. Had you tried to give it to him, the airline would have offered it to the next person with a high status,” another noted.

Sis Got A Free Upgrade To First Class On Long Flight, Family Is Furious She Didn’t Give It To Bro

Image credits: Recal Media (not the actual photo)

In the comments, people online noted that OP’s brother is going to have quite a lot of perks by being tall, so he had no right to be a jerk about the seat. However, let’s look a little bit into how accurate it actually is that being tall brings quite a few perks in life.

Well, according to HubPages, height tends to correspond with confidence. If you are taller than normal, people will regard you as more confident, and hence take you more seriously. Another thing that, in fact, has been backed up by studies is that you can earn more money. A study conducted in Britain discovered that every inch of height over normal corresponded to an additional £789 in annual earnings.

Also, you are more likely to be successful and people are even more willing to help you. A study discovered that people are more likely to help taller persons than shorter people. Tall people are even more likely to get hired! Well, looks like it’s actually true – despite not being offered a first-class upgrade from his sister, he is going to have quite a lot of perks by being 6’6″!

Now, it’s no surprise that if you are really tall, it’s uncomfortable to fly. Luckily, AFAR listed a few tips on how you can make it at least a little bit easier – first of all, get a seat in the emergency exit row. Also, use the secret button on the aisle armrest. The button is intended for travelers with accessibility issues, but it can also provide a tall traveler extra room to stretch out in the aisle or shift their body during flight.

And finally, sometimes it’s worthwhile to invest in comfortable or economy-plus chairs and spend a little bit for premium seats, especially for longer flights.

So, what is your take on this story, dear readers? Do you think the sister was in fact being a jerk for not giving the seat upgrade to the brother? Or did she do nothing wrong? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Redditors backed up the woman in this situation and assured her she didn’t do anything wrong

Sis Got A Free Upgrade To First Class On Long Flight, Family Is Furious She Didn’t Give It To Bro

Hey there! I'm Austeja, a writer with a knack for capturing everything from family dramas to the latest meme trends at Bored Panda. Armed with a Bachelor's degree in business management, I blend expertise with creativity to deliver engaging articles. I love spicing up my pieces with insights from experts in the industry, ensuring the readers get interesting information. When I'm not typing away, you can find me jet-setting to sunny destinations, hunting for the perfect palm-fringed oasis, enjoying leisurely brunches with friends or binging various TV shows!

Read less »

What do you think ?

POST

A S Mora 6 months ago

This family clearly has a favorite child, and a child from whom they expect sacrifices for the favorite. This woman will go no-contact and they'll all freak out because I'd bet my favorite pair of shoes they also rely on her for something they all refuse to learn how to do.

50points

WindySwede 6 months ago

Or also "We have given you everything, how can you do this?!"

9points

Load More Replies...

Jeevesssssss 6 months ago

I'm assuming you couldn't have swapped it anyway from the comments. If you could have swapped it, it would have been a nice gesture, and if I weren't disabled and had a 6'6 brother one I'd probably offer. The MINUTE it was assumed I'd just be giving it up though that would be it. It's not his right, it would be a thoughtful sacrifice of something you've earned (by having to spend money to sit in a flying tin can for hours on end).

15points

Israel Martinez 6 months ago (edited)

[insert uproarious laughter emoji] ...

4points

Load More Replies...

Marcellus II 6 months ago

Indeed, but I'd expect a frequent flyer to know this? So she says first time it comes up "no, you weren't eligible" and that's the end. She can't come up with it afterwards, because if she didn't know then it wasn't an argument.

3points

millac 2 months ago

I think that is where everyone is getting twisted. The commenters are thinking this is about a seat, but her family are judging her character as a person. It didn't occur to her to offer. If she were that type of considerate person, she would have asked, been told no, it wasn't transferable, and then she could have enjoyed the seat guilt free and without her family thinking she's s**t. But she's not that kind of person, so now she is suffering.

0points

Pan dulce 6 months ago

Would the airline have allowed her to 'take the first class seat' only to give it to her brother (someone w/ no flight credit)? Not that it matters (because f**k that, the seat is hers) but it could have been a good defense to get the family off her case.

12points

Anne 6 months ago

No. The seat would have gone to the next highest level.

4points

Load More Replies...

Jorge Gonzalez 6 months ago

I would have take the first flight back home and go no contact with the family. I cannot stand passive aggressive cowards and their enablers.

8points

Joe Reaves 6 months ago

Even if they would have allowed her to give it to her brother, which they almost certainly wouldn't, he didn't ask. That's not expecting him to 'beg', that's expecting him to use his words like an adult (or any child over about 5).

8points

Dragons Exist 6 months ago

Him asking for the seat and her refusing, and then him continually asking, is begging. Him not even asking isn't begging, it's expecting OP to give the seat to him without asking

6points

Joey Jo Jo Shabadoo 6 months ago

I think the biggest a*****e here is the other sister. Why did she get involved at all, let alone bring the kids into it? She sounds awful

6points

Guess Undheit 6 months ago

Being upset in the five minute conversation after landing is normal. Getting pi$$y and passive aggressive for a week is a display of emotional infantilism.

5points

Emerald Gal28 6 months ago

It's a privilege not an entitlement,if they are all bitter about it and making the holiday awful, I'd just reimburse the flight ticket price to my father and go back Let them live with the guilt for making me end the holiday early

4points

Lance Wong 6 months ago

NTA. To put it crazy, as said, the first class upgrade can not be transferred. I fly alot, both business and personal. All my business trips are paid by my employer. We went to a seminar with a few other coworkers. I was offered an upgrade and my boss had a freak. Saying he paid for my travel. He should get it. I agreed and told the flight attendance that was fine. We were told I was only being offered the upgrade because they needed the coach seat for a standby customer. And I may not save my upgrade for future flights or transfer the upgrade. Needless to say my coworkers and manager was quite unhappy. When we got back to home base, the animosity was too much and I quit. My points was a combination of business and personal. It wasn't separate. A free upgrade that was now or never, and couldn't be transferred? Sorry boss.

4points

What does this button do? 6 months ago

the owner of our company put it best on the flight where I got upgraded and he was in the back of the bus... "I'd expect him to get the upgrades here and there - if he doesn't, it means he's not doing the job I'm paying him to do!"

5points

Load More Replies...

Fembot 6 months ago

In all this, the 6’ 6” brother who I assume is healthy and has a speaking voice, is playing victim who needs to let others speak for him? If he’d reacted (to OP and afterwards to the family) in a reasonable way, the family wouldn’t be splitting up

4points

Georgie Gal 6 months ago

I hope an update comes after OP shares this with her family. Or throws the facts at them. Shoot, I have a pinched nerve in my back that rarely acts up, but when it does I use a cane. Went to Disneyland with family and I had to use the cane by day two. And I usually refused to skip ahead in lines whenever I was asked because it's not like I'm completely disabled. I have a feeling if this family had the same issue, they'd all be demanding to jump in front of everyone. (P.S. I did accept the jump ahead a few times when the lines weren't all that long, but partly because a few of the other guests would tell me to go ahead. Hey, I'm nice, but who am I to refuse someone a good deed for the day? Lol)

4points

Daggie_style 6 months ago

If the son was so damn precious, why didn't parents love him enough to get him first class. It says the dad sprung for the tickets. Just because they're family doesn't mean they're important. Ditch those C U Next Tuesdays

3points

DC 6 months ago

Fück your family! Or, rather, don't, there's already enough of them...

3points

Hannah Taylor 6 months ago

Touché!

0points

Load More Replies...

Insomniac 6 months ago

Ah, the Golden Child and the Scapegoat. So classic.

2points

Tessana Nemenski 6 months ago

*facepalm* I hate how people who don't fly frequently/consistently are the ones that complain the most. (In this case the brother). Even if OP wanted to be nice, a majority of US airlines won't let you do this... even if you have the most loyalty on the flight. Why? Because us loyalty folks know how the system works. Flight attendants will not risk confirmation and /or complaints to upper management for upgrading out of order of loyalty rank let alone someone with no loyalty status

2points

What does this button do? 6 months ago

besides, other than a few discount airlines, pretty much every major airline offers some sort of economy plus seating, which has significantly more legroom, for typically less than a hundred bucks above the base economy. Brother could have easily upgraded himself to economy plus on check in and paid the pittance it costs. If he's ever flown any time before, or ever read anything related to air travel, he'd have known you don't comfortably jacknife 6'6" into basic economy seating. Agreed on the complainers - the frequent fliers just roll with the punches and make a sarcastic post about it later (oh, the glamour of air travel, etc.). The infrequent fliers seem to expect air travel to be like it was in the 70s, right down to the smoking section. The older I get, the happier I'll be to trade in my status for the sofa.

1point

Load More Replies...

Wai Keet 6 months ago

It's always the dumb people who gets angry over the dumb shhiiiit.

1point

Emerald Gal28 6 months ago

It's a privilege not an entitlement,if they are all bitter about it and making the holiday awful, I'd apologise to my father for ending the trip early ,just reimburse the flight amount. I'd leave them feeling bad for ruining the holidays over something like this then meet them less.If a family is this selfish then there's no need for them to be near you

1point

roddy 6 months ago

So, if you had refused it, would you have been able to use the points on an upgrade for a subsequent flight? If so, maybe saving the points for another occasion would have been better.

1point

The Starsong Princess 6 months ago

The seat could have gone to him if she switched after takeoff. But the expectation by her family that her first thought should be the comfort and convenience of her brother over her own is odd. I bet the family has a pattern of putting him first.

1point

Natalia 6 months ago

They'll come crawling back when they need a babysitter!

1point

Laura Williams 6 months ago

Wow entitlement doesn't quite cover this. 1 they offered it to you not your brother. They could see he was tall. Did they offer for one of your family members to take your place. Nope it was how many points you and you alone had. 2 if he had been a grown up man he could have asked hey if we can can we trade. He didn't do that. 3 like every body has been saying he could have paid for a seat with more room or they could have. They knew how tall he was. Tell them to buy him a first class seat home. Nobody will step up. Yes he was uncomfortable boo hoo you're going to Hawaii grow up everyone. Honestly have the airline explain it if they are huffy still. And what the hell is the dig with your niece and nephew. They all need to grow up. Especially the sister with they only like to play with people who consider family. Read her go no contact except for dad tell him your happy for him. Seriously grow àss people acting like children. Hope sister sees this. I'm just as big a bìtch as she is.

1point

Yu Pan 6 months ago (edited)

I feel differently on this one. If I'm traveling by myself, I'd take the first class. If I'm traveling with family, I'd offer it to my family (like my mother or my sister because seats would be more comfortable for them) and if that's not possible, someone else can take it. Hey, if I suffer, at least I'm suffering together with my family. Besides, if Op has status anyway, she can get upgrade the next time she travels by herself.

1point

Lance Wong 6 months ago

It was an upgrade because of a cancelation. Not a coupon or gesture to be used on future flight. Nor can it be transferred.

2points

Load More Replies...

millac 2 months ago

She's going to end up family-less if she follows the redditer advice to blow everyone off. She should at minimum lie that it was non transferable. I don't think most people understand how absolutely gargantuanly tall 6'6" is and how it makes everything in life horribly inconvenient and quite often painful.

0points

Craig Reynolds 4 months ago

If she didn't already know her brother is the "golden-child", she certainly knows now...

0points

Clare Valentine 4 months ago

Maybe, if it were allowed by the airline, you could have swapped halfway, so that you both got a first class upgrade. Otherwise, I agree, NTA

0points

Melissa anderson 6 months ago

Sounds like her family is jealous of her success, especially her brother. I’m guessing her brother is the golden child and his parents worship him like a god.

0points

Gozer LeGozerian 6 months ago

Did a 12 year old write this?

0points

Natasha Clark 6 months ago

NTA!! Your brother is clearly the spoiled brat "golden child" & have that "only boy" card on standby. You'd be a fool to not go no contact with them to throw a temper tantrum like two year old over a damn seat.

0points

Armando Gonzales 6 months ago

No, she was not being a jerk. Her family is full of A holes. I would Tell them to screw off and then leave

0points

Reta Murphy 6 months ago

Tell us who the golden child is without telling us. And yes he is acting like a child. Your perks, f**k them. Also it sound like family measures love by the inches like my family did. Sister was 5'9" and was the favorite. I am 5'0" and was called a mistake, an oops and worked for my keep. Tell them to grow up and go LC to NC whatever you are comfortable with until they pull their heads out of their asses. Don't babysit, don't lend money, if you are paying something for them, quit. Hugs to you.

0points

tori Ohno 6 months ago

Why did her family think that the male child should get the better seat?

0points

Josh Schrank 6 months ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

POST

A S Mora 6 months ago

50points

WindySwede 6 months ago

Or also "We have given you everything, how can you do this?!"

9points

Load More Replies...

Jeevesssssss 6 months ago

15points

Israel Martinez 6 months ago (edited)

[insert uproarious laughter emoji] ...

4points

Load More Replies...

Marcellus II 6 months ago

3points

millac 2 months ago

0points

Pan dulce 6 months ago

12points

Anne 6 months ago

No. The seat would have gone to the next highest level.

4points

Load More Replies...

Jorge Gonzalez 6 months ago

I would have take the first flight back home and go no contact with the family. I cannot stand passive aggressive cowards and their enablers.

8points

Joe Reaves 6 months ago

8points

Dragons Exist 6 months ago

Him asking for the seat and her refusing, and then him continually asking, is begging. Him not even asking isn't begging, it's expecting OP to give the seat to him without asking

6points

Joey Jo Jo Shabadoo 6 months ago

I think the biggest a*****e here is the other sister. Why did she get involved at all, let alone bring the kids into it? She sounds awful

6points

Guess Undheit 6 months ago

Being upset in the five minute conversation after landing is normal. Getting pi$$y and passive aggressive for a week is a display of emotional infantilism.

5points

Emerald Gal28 6 months ago

4points

Lance Wong 6 months ago

4points

What does this button do? 6 months ago

5points

Load More Replies...

Fembot 6 months ago

4points

Georgie Gal 6 months ago

4points

Daggie_style 6 months ago

3points

DC 6 months ago

Fück your family! Or, rather, don't, there's already enough of them...

3points

Hannah Taylor 6 months ago

Touché!

0points

Load More Replies...

Insomniac 6 months ago

Ah, the Golden Child and the Scapegoat. So classic.

2points

Tessana Nemenski 6 months ago

2points

What does this button do? 6 months ago

1point

Load More Replies...

Wai Keet 6 months ago

It's always the dumb people who gets angry over the dumb shhiiiit.

1point

Emerald Gal28 6 months ago

1point

roddy 6 months ago

So, if you had refused it, would you have been able to use the points on an upgrade for a subsequent flight? If so, maybe saving the points for another occasion would have been better.

1point

The Starsong Princess 6 months ago

1point

Natalia 6 months ago

They'll come crawling back when they need a babysitter!

1point

Laura Williams 6 months ago

1point

Yu Pan 6 months ago (edited)

1point

Lance Wong 6 months ago

It was an upgrade because of a cancelation. Not a coupon or gesture to be used on future flight. Nor can it be transferred.

2points

Load More Replies...

millac 2 months ago

0points

Craig Reynolds 4 months ago

If she didn't already know her brother is the "golden-child", she certainly knows now...

0points

Clare Valentine 4 months ago

Maybe, if it were allowed by the airline, you could have swapped halfway, so that you both got a first class upgrade. Otherwise, I agree, NTA

0points

Melissa anderson 6 months ago

Sounds like her family is jealous of her success, especially her brother. I’m guessing her brother is the golden child and his parents worship him like a god.

0points