CHINA: In one of the strangest travel hacks to emerge from China, a passenger repeatedly dined for free at Xi’an International Airport’s first-class VIP lounge without ever boarding a plane. The man purchased a fully refundable Eastern China Airlines first-class ticket, which granted him access to the lounge, then simply changed his flight date after each visit. This tactic allowed him to re-enter the lounge day after day, eating and relaxing like a premium traveler at no extra cost.
Over the course of several months, he reportedly enjoyed more than 300 complimentary meals and amenities. Because each booking remained active and valid, his actions technically complied with the airline’s rules, even though they clearly violated the spirit of the program. Lounge staff only became suspicious after noticing his repeated appearances without corresponding flights.
According to local reports, Eastern China Airlines eventually intervened, banning him from the lounge once they realized the extent of the scheme. Despite this, the passenger managed to cash in the refundable ticket at the end, recovering all his money and leaving the airline with nothing but a cautionary tale.
The episode highlights how poorly designed ticketing and lounge-access policies can be exploited, especially when loopholes go unchecked. It has since become a widely shared story across Chinese social media, sparking debate about whether the passenger was simply clever or unethically abusing the system.
