When your parent works for an airline, jetsetting around the world is easy, as a self-confessed ‘airline nepo baby’ has revealed.
Joshua Crawford, 23, from New Jersey, has built a burgeoning social media following thanks to his globe-trotting content – which he admits is because his father works as a flight tool, calibration and support equipment supervisor for United, meaning his son can hop on a plane for free.
In a TikTok post, Joshua – whose father has worked for the airline for 24 years – shows how he has driven 260,212 miles over the past five years after taking 123 flights to more than 30 cities around the world.
In another upload, he outlines the other benefits of being an ‘airline nepo baby’ – along with being able to fly for virtually nothing.
Joshua Crawford, 23, from New Jersey, has built a burgeoning social media following thanks to his globe-trotting content – which he admits is due to his father working for United
He has logged 260,212 miles over the past five years, taking 123 flights to more than 30 cities around the world. Above, pictured on a recent trip to Paris
The first plus point he gives is that international travel is ‘easy’. This is because he has Global Entry, which includes TSA pre-check.
Although he didn’t get Global Entry for free, he said Business Insider he got a discount thanks to his father’s work.
Next, Joshua says he’s able to score free upgrades — including to first class — on all flights when seats are available.
In one photo, he demonstrates how he landed a $7,000 flat-flat seat in United’s Polaris business class cabin at no extra cost.
And in dozens of other clips, he can be seen enjoying the food in premium cabins with glasses and silverware in view.
The third benefit of being an airline nepo baby, says Joshua, is that he gets airport lounge access so he never has to spend money on food in the terminals.
In 2023, the influencer visited four continents with trips across the US, Europe, Australia and Japan.
At United Airlines, children of employees have their flying privileges revoked when they turn 26.
However, because Joshua is listed as his father’s ‘primary companion’, he has managed to maintain the VIP treatment.
Joshua says he is able to score free upgrades – including to first class – on all flights when seats are available
Another perk of being an airline nepo baby, Joshua says, is that he gets airport lounge access so he never has to spend money on food in the terminals
While Joshua can fly across America for free by being on standby, he has to pay tax on international flights, but he says this is a fraction of what a full-price ticket would be.
For example, he only had to pay $70 for a last-minute flight from Japan to the United States
He told his TikTok followers that he feels ‘blessed’.
On the back of his post, other airline nepo babies have chimed in.
One of Joshua’s fans wrote: ‘My mom works at Delta and my dad at Southwest. Had so many great experiences because of it.’
Another revealed: ‘Being able to hop on a flight when you need to is truly a blessing. I used Delta like Uber in college.’
Like Joshua, one TikToker said her mother, who works for JetBlue, made her a ‘flying partner’ so she wouldn’t lose the benefits when she turned 24.
“The most amazing privilege really,” she added.
Joshua currently lives in California.
After graduating with a degree in marketing, he is looking for a job while working part-time at Trader Joes.
In its TikTok outlining the perks of being an airline’s nepo baby, United Airlines posted a response exclaiming: ‘We love this for you!’
Joshua hinted that he might be interested in following in his father’s footsteps by forging a career in the aviation industry, with his reply reading: ‘I LOVE you guys to the bottom of my HEART. I’m also looking for a job.’