Airline passenger reveals his travel hack that earned him extra leg room

Want to take extra legroom and other benefits with you on your next flight? Then listen carefully.

An airline passenger has revealed how he landed on an exit row seat, a first-class toiletry bag and some in-flight treats after using a controversial travel hack on a 12.5-hour flight from New York to Abu dhabi.

Jeremy Maclellan, 26, a former car salesman from Massachusetts, decided to try a tactic earlier this year highlighted by air steward and TikTokker @flyingrealtor — and his video of the positive impact it had on his travels garnered quite a following.

The trick involves gifting Starbucks cards to the cabin crew and showing them some “kindness.” To Jeremy’s surprise, it worked to his advantage when he tried the hack and he describes the chain of events in a three minute narration. TikTok clip, which has since been viewed more than 2.6 million times.

The trick involves gifting Starbucks cards to the cabin crew and showing them some “kindness.” To Jeremy’s surprise, it worked to his advantage when he tried the tactic

In the video, posted to his @x_travels account, Jeremy says he dreaded his long trip in economy and found a business class seat, but the price came in at around $12,000.

He continues: ‘I didn’t want to pay that. So I went and I got eight $15 Starbucks gift cards [that came] to like $130… I don’t know, around there.”

When he boarded the plane, he asked how many flight attendants there were and was told there were twelve.

Aware that he had run out of gift cards, he went ahead and gave them to the cabin crew anyway.

When asked if he was a cabin crew for another airline, he replied with something like, “No, I just thought I’d show the love, spread the appreciation.” You know, it’s a long flight and I appreciate you.’

He then went to look for his seat “all the way in the back of the plane” and said he was annoyed when he discovered that a woman had stolen his window seat, which he had selected in advance.

“She was already in my chair, shoes and socks off,” he exclaims as he tells the story.

After telling the woman she was in his seat, Jeremy said she moved over to him, but was disgusted that she left her shoes in place.

However, he was quickly saved from his nightmare buddy situation when a flight attendant who had one of his Starbucks gift cards came and asked if he wanted to move to a completely empty exit lane.

The TikToker told DailyMail.com he could sleep better “with the whole exit row to myself and being able to stretch out”

After watching Jeremy’s video, many viewers said they had similar success with the Starbucks flight hack

She told him, “We really appreciate what you have done. That was very nice.’

Jeremy concludes that his hack was totally worth spending $130 on.

He tells viewers, “It wasn’t business class, I didn’t get a full flat seat, but I think it was worth the gift cards to get a whole row to myself.”

“And they were so nice to me the whole flight, like I was taking a nap and when I woke up there was a little goodie bag… like a mom lunch box… with a bottle of water, a sandwich and some snacks. They were super nice to me.’

The TikToker also told DailyMail.com that he could sleep better “with the whole exit row to myself and being able to stretch out.”

Another bonus was that he received upgraded headphones and a toiletry bag ‘like you would get in first class’ containing a toothbrush, toothpaste and hand lotion.

After watching Jeremy’s video, many viewers have said they witnessed similar success with the Starbucks flight hack.

One commenter wrote: ‘I did this and got an upgrade to first class from Heathrow to Canada. 10/10 would recommend.’

And another revealed, “I did that on a two-hour Southwest Flight. $5 gift cards and they all came up to me individually to say thank you and give me free drinks.”

Some viewers who work as flight attendants have also highlighted how kindness can go a long way. One of them wrote, “Stewardess here… if you just say hello to me when I greet you (you wouldn’t believe how many times we get ignored), I’ll give you all the things, honestly.”

Coming full circle, @flyingrealtor who inspired Jeremy’s stunt created a stitch of his video.

“Shout out to this guy for trusting me,” the creator said. ‘I know what I’m talking about.

Jeremy told DailyMail.com that he didn’t want to reveal the airline’s name because he “don’t want to risk getting anyone in trouble.”