Earlier this month, a Delta Air Lines flight departing from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) had a couple of empty first-class seats. With all eligible passengers already upgraded, a gate agent came up with an unconventional idea — a breakdancing contest, where the top two performers would earn a spot in first class.
As first reported by View From The Wing, the flight was scheduled to depart from gate A31, and it’s believed the economy cabin was oversold.
This meant the two remaining first-class seats needed to be filled. Since the upgrade list had already been cleared, the final decision rested with the gate agent on how to allocate those premium spots.
According to the report, the gate agent made an announcement over the loudspeaker, asking for two passengers interested in moving up to first class. The twist? Anyone willing to break dance at the gate would be considered for the upgrade. Passengers were told it was a free upgrade — with the only condition being that they had to “bust a move.”
Two travelers accepted the challenge: a man wearing a hoodie and a woman dressed in dark clothing. The impromptu performance quickly drew a crowd, with onlookers cheering, laughing, and applauding. Both participants impressed enough to win, and each was awarded a first-class seat.
This isn’t the first time Delta has made headlines for a creative upgrade idea. More than three years ago, the airline also organized a similar dance-off at the gate, offering upgrades to Comfort+ seats.
