Quantcast

Passenger allegedly funds first class upgrade by selling feet pics mid-flight

A No-Frills Airline Is Getting Into the Premium Game
TAKING OFF: Major airline introduces new inflight service rules with less time to order your drinks
2 Delta flight attendants fail breathalyzer test before flight to JFK
US Senate panel criticizes rising airline seat fees, will call execs to testify
Spirit’s Demise Is a Lesson in ‘Airline-o-nomics’
Inside BA’s new first-class suites: £800 an hour for most private seat
Focus: US airline flight crews confident and angry as unions seek richer contracts
Hawaiian Airlines Eliminates Widebody Route Amid Alaska Airlines Merger
US budget airlines are struggling. Will pursuing premium passengers solve their problems?
Delta CEO says the Trump administration will reverse government ‘overreach’ seen under Biden
Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy: How will it affect your travel plans?
British Airways yet to identify cause of latest IT meltdown
Delta Airlines Will Start Serving Shake Shack Cheeseburgers Next Month
United Sees Nearly 30% Surge in Travel to European Christmas Markets
Budget airline Israir to launch flights between Israel and NY, ending wartime monopoly by flagship carrier El Al
Asia's airlines blame supply chain woes for disrupted operations
Qantas and Qatar Airways: Planned partnership in the Australian aviation industry under the microscope
Spirit Airlines delays release of Q3 financial results as debt restructuring talks heat up
Delta investigating after plane’s nose mysteriously suffered damage
What Elon Musk's Starlink means for airlines
CAP OFF Major twist in Dublin Airport passenger cap row as High Court pauses decision in victory for airlines next summer season
Riyadh Air plans new jet order decision early next year
Calls for a blanket ban on politicians receiving free flight upgrades
Wizz Air Loses Challenge Against EU-Approved Romanian Aid for TAROM
Southwest, Other Airlines Plan a Shake-Up. Why They Need More to Boost Their Stocks.
One of Boeing's biggest customers leveled fresh criticism over ongoing 737 Max delivery delays
Low-Cost Airlines Innovate with Subscription Models
LA Considers $25 And $30 Minimum Wages For Hotel And Airport Workers
Airlines are on the hook for more than you think if something goes wrong with your trip
WA Labor & Industries plans to create new airline worker protections
Passenger allegedly funds first class upgrade by selling feet pics mid-flight
Research
Webp uefmsw7k0lt5f20uxuve40u9xjr0
Airbus A380 | Airbus

A recent incident on an American Airlines flight has sparked curiosity and debate regarding the lengths to which some passengers might go to fund their travel experiences. Reports suggest that a first-class passenger might have paid for their upgrade by selling pictures of their feet during the flight.

Bare feet in the cabin have previously caused discomfort among passengers, sometimes leading to extreme reactions. "A passenger with smelly feet once drove another so nuts that he got stabbed on arrival in the parking lot," one account recalls.

However, the phenomenon extends beyond mere annoyance. Some individuals are photographing their own feet mid-flight, possibly catering to an online market for such images. With high-speed inflight Wi-Fi, these photos can be uploaded and monetized before landing.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

During the pandemic in 2020, as American Airlines faced furloughs, one flight attendant devised a creative solution. She created a course for her colleagues on how to sell feet pictures online for $10. "Apparently not just any feet pictures make money, even on the internet," she noted. "There are well-known poses in the foot fetish community that one must perfect and opportunistic scammers to watch out for."

The economic viability of this niche market remains puzzling to some. "The thing I don’t understand – that I guess is the advice to pay money for – is how do you get people to pay for something that’s probably already everywhere online for free?" questioned one observer.

If true, this passenger appears adept at leveraging this unconventional revenue stream, enough to afford first-class travel on an American Airlines Airbus A320, albeit with seats described as low-end even after more than a decade since the merger with US Airways. Given that American sells upgrades for as little as $40, only a modest audience might be necessary to support such expenditures.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Every now and then, ambitious aircraft concepts emerge that capture attention but often do not materialize.

Jun 8, 2025

Long Beach Airport has announced a new daily nonstop service to Baltimore Washington International (BWI) through Southwest Airlines.

Jun 7, 2025

Lidl workers in Belgium initiated a strike and blockades on June 5, following similar actions in France and Italy.

Jun 6, 2025

Delta Air Lines is expanding its flight offerings for the 2025 pro football season, introducing new routes and increasing capacity to accommodate fans traveling to major games.

Jun 6, 2025

National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO Ed Bolen addressed the U.S. House Aviation Subcommittee, emphasizing the urgent need to reform the nation's air traffic control (ATC) infrastructure.

Jun 6, 2025

Last month, over 130 volunteers from Delta Air Lines and several partner organizations collaborated to construct a new playground in College Park, Georgia.

Jun 6, 2025