Woman fakes pregnancy to check in extra bags on flight
A woman has faked a pregnancy in order to flout extra baggage costs on a flight — and social media users can't tell whether it's "hilarious" or "criminal".
TikTok user Ashlin, known by the moniker "MiniAdvantures", shared a clip of herself concealing a drawstring bag beneath her jumper, impersonating the belly of someone heavily pregnant.
Hoping to avoid paying a fee for holding too many carry-ons, Ashlin's tactic appeared to work, as the travel blogger boards the flight — with no additional cost.
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https://www.tiktok.com/@miniadvantures/video/6979240722763402501?_d=secCgYIASAHKAESMgow1%2BifWPcLv1v1pfW5%2BX%2B3VkxC2NI%2FSUUllcVC9FCKstviQG%2Bt3D4XnKnVzP2vOrm9GgA%3D&checksum=28703f4550f5a1a38a8edcb0c3226915d7f1d33183b87e7b4f1f7bb0b992a3d5&language=en&preview_pb=0&sec_user_id=MS4wLjABAAAAUwTM005yk3E7fLVky0lObjMnhYIHdE7ZSDWTA89vXtPCB6YJLsI1EY6jmPmUGYBA&share_app_id=1233&share_item_id=6979240722763402501&share_link_id=9B8E8A23-27A6-4D4C-A4B6-D6B139F7EF31&source=h5_m×tamp=1625964181&tt_from=copy&u_code=dc265hddei2hgc&user_id=6817612760273863686&utm_campaign=client_share&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=copy&_r=1Ashlin films herself lifting her hoodie up and pulling the drawstrings over each of her shoulders.
She then moulds the contents of her bag to look like a pregnant stomach before pulling her hoodie back over the top.
In one of the stills in the video, the woman shows off her "bump" in the bathroom of the airport.
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"When you get a $44 [approx. $59] flight but can only bring a backpack," Ashlin wrote on the video, highlighting her mission for ultimate flight frugality.
She later confirms "it worked", capturing herself on the flight with her multiple carry-ons.
Ashlin confirmed the hack 'worked'. Getty
In a follow-up post, Ashlin explains her tactic to pose as a pregnant person was successful.
Garnering over 13 million views and three million "likes", many users praised Ashlin's tactic as "brilliant", "genius" and "revolutionary".
However, a large portion of viewers had questions for the TikTok star.
"What happens when you go through the scan?" asked one user.
"What if airport security stops to 'check you' for a search?" wrote another.
One regular flyer clarified to "everyone asking about security", that officials at the scanning check section of boarding a flight don't "care how many bags there are."
"It's at the GATE that they care about limits," they added.
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https://www.tiktok.com/@miniadvantures/video/6979402812249607429?_d=secCgYIASAHKAESMgow1%2BifWPcLv1v1pfW5%2BX%2B3VkxC2NI%2FSUUllcVC9FCKstviQG%2Bt3D4XnKnVzP2vOrm9GgA%3D&checksum=28703f4550f5a1a38a8edcb0c3226915d7f1d33183b87e7b4f1f7bb0b992a3d5&language=en&preview_pb=0&sec_user_id=MS4wLjABAAAAUwTM005yk3E7fLVky0lObjMnhYIHdE7ZSDWTA89vXtPCB6YJLsI1EY6jmPmUGYBA&share_app_id=1233&share_item_id=6979240722763402501&share_link_id=9B8E8A23-27A6-4D4C-A4B6-D6B139F7EF31&source=h5_m×tamp=1625964181&tt_from=copy&u_code=dc265hddei2hgc&user_id=6817612760273863686&utm_campaign=client_share&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=copy&_r=1&is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1&lang=enAshlin's tactic, though illegal, gained credible favour among users, many of which claimed they would be saving the tip for "next time I fly!"
"This is so smart, I can only bow," wrote one person.
"This is the advice I needed and it was for free," said another.
While many, clearly duped by Ashlin's move, shared their "congratulations" with her on her "pregnancy."
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