First class passenger's brazen act sparks in-flight etiquette debate

An Emirates first class passenger has divided the Internet with a brazen act that some think is acceptable and others believe is incredibly rude. 

From raw dogging to shoulder nuzzling, we all know travelling in economy these days is a precarious endeavour.

But what you might not know is that flying at the pointy end can be equally fraught. 

There's one naughty thing many first class passengers do, that precious few admit to... Pictures via Instagram

From screaming babies to broken monitors and seats that won't recline (not to mention people with poor personal hygiene and lost luggage), first and business class cabins are as prone to problems as any other human invention.

Speaking of which: a brazen in-flight act by an Emirates first class passenger is going like the clappers on Instagram.

Everyone does this, right? Pictures via Instagram (@jonny_mitchell1991)

The source of the controversy? A guy called Jonny has filmed himself taking everything that's not nailed down from his first class cabin at the end of his Emirates flight, from the expensive headset to the drinks from the minibar.

This man's cheeky first class act has left the Internet divided... Pictures via Instagram

He also takes the menu, the flowers and the in-flight beauty products, as well as the notepad, pen and amenities kit. He captioned the clip: "8k a ticket, you best believe I’m stealing everything."

Surprisingly, many other Instagram users admitted to the same behaviour. Popular Instagram account @passengershaming wrote: "I’m absolutely taking everything" while Instagram user @nickylivin wrote: "I’ve been lucky enough to fly first with Emirates a few times and have pinched a few freebies."

See also: 'First world' business class complaint sends Internet into meltdown

Others wrote things like: "I thought I was the only one" and "Don't be shy to steal they already made you pay for all these so indirectly it belongs to you."

Apparently first class passengers love swiping amenities just as much as the rest of us... Pictures via Instagram

Others criticised Jonny's behaviour, with comments like "The seat might have been 1st class but not the passenger" and "money doesn't buy class" rolling in. 

Escape contacted Emirates to get the official word on what's acceptable to take with you, and what isn't. 

An Emirates spokesperson said: "We want our First Class passengers to enjoy a luxurious experience that extends beyond the flight. The amenity kits, designed with premium brands, are for passengers to keep and enjoy at their leisure."

"For other amenity items such as the Byredo skincare collection, pyjamas, plus note pads and pens, passengers are welcome to keep should they wish."

Emirates added: "Customers flying First Class to select destinations can look forward to Bulgari fragrances, including the High-Perfumery Collection Le Gemme offered in designs created exclusively for Emirates, a keepsake gold-lacquered Bulgari mirror, plenty of self-care travel treats, and new additions of foam ear plugs and soft elastic hair ties in their amenity kit."

The headphones, however, are a no-go. Emirates said: "The Bowers & Wilkins E1 headphones have been created by world renowned British sound experts specifically for our flights and onboard entertainment, using noise‑cancelling technology to block out ambient cabin sounds and deliver the cleanest output. Passengers can enjoy these headphones during their flight with Emirates only."

"As for the mini-bar items, passengers can enjoy these during their flight."

See also: Business class passenger's stunning complaint

First class expert and founder of Flight Hacks Immanuel Debeer told Escape: "You can take all the consumables but headsets and binoculars are off limits. Besides, those headsets have a 3 pin connection to render them useless if taken home."

"I'd say that if you take the headsets it's rather telling of one's character as a person." 

Generally when it comes to the rules around what you can and can't take away from a first class cabin, Escape understands that pyjamas and amenity kits are fair game, but headsets and other equipment designed for the aircraft should remain on the aircraft.

As for food and beverages, when we spoke to one major airline we were told that all food served must be left onboard and directed to the Department of Agriculture for airlines operating in Australia.'s guidelines. 

Business and first class are all about indulgence. But please: leave the headset alone...

It remains to be seen whether Jonny actually took everything home or was simply delighting in enraging the Internet, but either way, his video has sparked a truly enlightening discussion. 

Further first class etiquette rules many people might not be aware of include not intruding on other passengers' space when getting your things from the overhead bins (the suites have doors for a reason) and not awkwardly hovering over someone while wandering around the cabin.

See also: 7 hardships only business class passengers suffer

You also shouldn't ask flight attendants if everything is free, because, as Air Travel expert Gilbert Ott once told Insider, "First class is about indulgence."

There you have it: go indulge. Just maybe leave the headset where it is at the end of your flight...

Originally published as First class passenger's brazen act sparks in-flight etiquette debate