Latest update:
Inspired by global creator Irak, Sarthak Sachdev conducts a controversial ‘social experiment’ at an airport counter, leaving netizens completely divided.
Influencer feigns injury to get business class upgrade on Air India, internet says ‘This is why real people suffer’
How far can you go to get past the cramped seats in economy class and stretch your legs in business class? For modern travel influencers, the answer seems to be: buy a fake medical prop and put on a show.
An Instagram creator named Sarthak Sachdeva found himself at the center of a social media storm after he filmed himself pulling a very controversial stunt at an Indian airport. In a video that went viral on X and Instagram, the influencer managed to force his way into luxury seats by pretending to be infected. Wearing a fake neck brace and a sling on his hand, Sachdeva went to an Air India office and publicly asked employees for a first class seat. While the ground agent informed him that first class was unavailable, she took pity on his apparent physical condition and upgraded him to business class instead.
“Just a fun social experience”
Knowing that the video would likely cause a sensation, Sachdev added a caption to his video making it clear that he meant no real harm, stating that he got the idea from a popular international YouTuber:
“Wait until the end! I saw @airrack doing this video so try the Indian version! W @airindia for his hospitality – nicest staff I’ve ever seen and damn the food was delicious 🙂 This was just a fun social experiment and no wrong message or disparagement was meant to anyone!”
Despite his disclaimer, the video immediately divided the internet. While some users found the loophole funny, others — including airline employees and frequent flyers — accused it of exploiting workers’ basic empathy and making life more difficult for people who had already been harmed.
Social Media Reaction: ‘Real People Are Suffering’
The comments section quickly turned into a heated debate about Internet ethics. Many users were extremely disturbed by this prank, noting that this type of behavior makes airline workers suspicious of people who truly need medical help:
“Real people suffer because of the betrayal of these kind of people.”
“@airindia should make this influencer pay for fraud under the guise of a social experiment. Real travelers who have a problem will become suspects and no one at the counter will help them. This is how trust has been broken. It has caused huge damage.”
The outrage has reached such a point that viewers have begun tagging government authorities, demanding strict legal action against content creators who film themselves defrauding companies in order to get views: “Influencers who flaunt and promote illegal/immoral activities should be subject to jail time with all their social media accounts deleted. The government must take it seriously before it is too late.”
Meet Instagram Influencer Sarthak 👏- Bro pretended to have a hand injury at the airport, and at the ticket counter he used his fake injury to upgrade his regular ticket to business class. 😭 pic.twitter.com/WSovK0jskn
– Sumit (@beingsumit01) May 24, 2026
Support Air India’s kindness
On the plus side, many viewers pointed out that the video was actually a great ad for the airline’s customer service team, proving that the workers have sincere hearts:
“Working in customer experience for Air India, I have seen people mistreat the entire airline over one rude interaction. One employee did not identify the airline. This incident shows the kindness of the staff. They helped believe the passenger was hurt. Big heart to the airport staff.”
Another user shared a real-life story confirming that airlines regularly offer upgrades to injured passengers out of pure compassion: “It’s true. One of my friends had an accident while traveling abroad and broke his leg. Upon his return, he was upgraded to business class. No questions asked, and he was helped to the bathroom too.”
Is the whole video organized?
Of course, because it’s the internet, a few eagle-eyed viewers have begun to look closely at the background details, claiming that the entire video might be fake and that the influencer likely paid for the premium ticket before arriving: “Fake, he clearly entered Gate 1 of the CSMIA reserved for first and business class passengers. He could only have entered if he already had a business class ticket. The reception lady had clearly refused him an upgrade to first class. He had a valid business ticket and got the same thing.”
Regardless of whether the ticket was paid for or the employees were truly scammed, many users saw comedy surrounding the incident. Joking about how easy it would be for Indian passengers to copy this trend on their next family vacation, users left some final and funny warnings for the airline: “Ab Airindia wale yeh video dekh ke tickets ke paise mangege😂😂”
Read more
