Via iStockphoto / @jaybarco289 TikTok
A man was filmed handing out $100 bills to everyone aboard a flight to Las Vegas. Somehow, this isn't the first time this has happened.
Doesn’t it feel like flying used to be more fun?
Way back in the day, getting onto a plane meant stepping aboard a luxury experience. You weren’t just flying—you were relaxing, helping yourself to the in-flight buffet and ordering cocktail after cocktail from the cabin bar.
Even just a few decades ago, flying was a much easier experience. The security was more lax, you could actually pack a full-size shampoo in your carry-on, and you weren’t turning your body into origami to try to actually fit into your seat.
Today, much of the magic of air travel has died. That said, some people appear to be trying to keep that magic alive. Specifically, one man seems to be attempting to raise flyers’ spirits by handing out cash.
Why Did This Man Give Everyone Free Money?
In a video with over 767,000 views, TikTok user Jay Barco (@jaybarco289) shares a video from the cabin of an airplane.
“This dude gave everyone on the flight to Vegas $100,” he writes in the text overlaying the video.
The video shows the entire cabin cheering, with many passengers holding up their $100 bills.
The plane in this video seems to be a Boeing 737-700 in a 3 by 3 configuration. That means, if Barco is telling the truth, and if the plane was full, the man in question likely spent over $14,000.
This isn’t the first time Barco has shared this incredible story. He originally posted the video back in 2022, when it accumulated over 1.8 million views. But why did this even happen in the first place?
These Aren’t The Only Lucky Flyers
“Dude hands out $100 bills to everyone on a flight” is, somehow, not a one-time occurrence.
Back in December 2020, a man was filmed walking down the aisle of an airplane handing everyone on the plane $100 bills. As for why he did it, he simply said “Merry Christmas” and “Happy New Year.” He even said that he did not care what one did with the money and that they could throw it out if they wanted to.
It doesn’t seem like any outlet covered Barco’s story, neither at the time of its original posting nor during the era after this recent viral repost. As a result, the motivations of the dude in the video—and who he even is—are unknown.
It should be noted that, if you are crazy enough to do this, you should probably do some research before handing out these dollar bills to flight attendants. According to the New York Post, many airlines explicitly ban flight attendants from accepting tips. American Airlines, Delta, and United have strict no-tip policies, while other airlines, such as Frontier, allow flight attendants to accept tips.
That said, a small gratuity isn’t likely to raise eyebrows. Some flight attendants say they can accept gift cards. Plus, if you really want to, you can give a small gift card to TSA workers.
Viewers Are Jealous
In the comments section, many users said that they wished that their flights came with the benefits experienced by Barco. Others simply shared similar stories.
“I’m always on the wrong flight!” exclaimed a commenter.
“As a former F/A we used to do a lottery on the Vegas flights all the time, but you had to feel the crowd first and make it disclaimer that we do not have to participate,” offered another. “people would write their seat number on a five dollar bill, and we would pull one winner who would get the pot! LOOKS LIKE THATS WHATS GOING ON!!”
“Back in the 90s we took fight to Atlantic City from Detroit everyone that wanted to participate put 10.00 with your name on the bill,” recalled a third. “steward pulled out one name with the winner’s name!”
“That never happens on my flights I fly all the time. All over the US,” wrote a further TikToker.
BroBible reached out to Barco via TikTok direct message and comment.