An Overly Friendly Seatmate On Your Flight Can Get You In Trouble – This Viral Post Advises People What To Look Out For
Some people don't want to be friends—they just want to use you...
One friendly seatmate can make a long flight feel a lot shorter, until that friendliness starts to look a little too convenient. That is exactly what happened in this viral story, where a woman on a flight to Dubai found herself sitting beside an older passenger who seemed harmless at first.
As the plane got closer to landing, the situation turned strange fast. The woman was suddenly asked to help with a handbag, then realized the request could leave her tied to something much bigger than a simple favor.
Her story spread quickly online, and the comments were just as intense as the post itself. Read on.
Be careful if someone is acting especially friendly with you on a plane.
Michael RehfeldtTranslator and journalist Unigwe Chidalu from Lagos, Nigeria, shared her experience:
UnigwechidaluShe was sitting next to a friendly old lady on a flight to Dubai.
Unigwechidalu
The old lady started feeling sick when the pilot announced the plane was reaching its destination.
Unigwechidalu
She started calling OP "her daughter."
Unigwechidalu
That is where the flight started to feel off.
One kind man advised Unigwe Chidalu to make it clear to everyone that she and the old lady were not together...
Unigwechidalu
Which she did.
Unigwechidalu
The old lady asked OP to carry her handbag...
Unigwechidalu
OP refused and exited the plane.
Unigwechidalu
At the airport, OP witnessed the old lady's miraculous recovery...
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The old lady started calling OP "her daughter" again.
Unigwechidalu
So the airport police took her in for questioning.
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Luckily, the evidence showed that she was innocent...
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OP has learned her lesson...
Unigwechidalu
This interesting and exciting story was initially posted on several different websites, but it really took off when Twitter user Chidalu shared it on his page, garnering more than 9,300 likes and 7,400 retweets. Here are some of the most interesting comments:
This also echoes the fight over whether a friend should pay excess luggage fees despite financial struggles.
Some readers were immediately skeptical.
Some people were a bit suspicious:
Davideddieson
How did the old lady manage to get the drugs past baggage control?
Gazzilee
Others had seen versions of this kind of story before.
Other people shared their experiences:
TimaJimmy
And this is quite common.
sodyOka4
It happens everywhere.
odion4niaja
Don't do it!
CrazyTortz
Unfortunately, this is so true...
Living_JustCus
Many commenters questioned the authenticity of the story, but the truth is that criminals often prey on unsuspecting people to help them with their unlawful actions. It is not always about smuggling drugs across the border, but it is quite common.
There are cases of criminals even staging lotteries with trips to exotic countries as the main prizes. They would then use unsuspecting “winners” as drug mules.
They would provide them with suitcases (often containing drugs in secret compartments) or sealed envelopes to give to the “travel agent” at their destination. The list of their methods is quite long. So, be careful out there.
Before you board, read about the friend who wanted to join last minute after you refused to share your travel itinerary.
