Shameless influencer Jamie Zhu's scam to get flight upgrade

YouTuber Jamie Zhu has almsot 700,000 subscribers. Photo / Supplied, @jamiezhu

An Australian Instagram influencer has tricked his way into a free business class upgrade, after "pretending he had a broken ankle".

Jamie Zhu, who has 1.1 million followers, was travelling with Cathay Pacific from Sydney when he attempted the prank.

In a video posted to his followers, Mr Zhu said: "I've just got to the airport and I've got a very long international flight ahead of me.

"I've thought of an idea where I might be able to get a business class flight for free.

"I hope this works!".

Zhu feigned injury to get a free business class upgrade. Photo / Supplied

Mr Zhu boasted to his almost 700,000 YouTube subscribers about how he'd score a better seat, after filming himself going to a pharmacy at the airport where he buys a "moon boot" which is used for when you have a broken ankle or foot to support it.

After putting it on, he then heads to his flight and boards, heading to his economy seat.

When he shows how his boot will not fit underneath the seat in front, the influencer

asks a passenger for help to push it under the seat in front of him, before calling a member of staff over to ask for another seat.

"I have to get clearance," the flight attendant said.

The video then cuts to him in business class, where his friend is filming while he sits back in a bigger seat.

Mr Zhu brags about having an "amazing eight hour sleep" on the plane while also showing off the food and drink he was treated to in business class.

His social media fans have praised him for his efforts.

"This guy is clearly a genius business man," one person said.

Another user commented: "This is amazing!!!"

Within minutes of going into business class, he took off the cast. Photo / Supplied

Some wanted to follow in his footsteps: "I'm flying out Friday … definitely gonna try this."

Others admitted they wouldn't do it themselves.

"I would be way too scared to do this I'd feel so guilty," he said.

Someone else added: "My boot would slide off from sweating too much with anxiety to pull this off."

Not everyone agreed with his bragging into business class.

One Instagram user slammed him, saying: "This is kind of wrong …"

Many also slammed the stunt for being fake.

"I am sure he was booking one economic seat and one first class," one person questioned. "One for camera man and one for himself, then they swapped. Pretty sure that what was happened."

Others said he was even sitting next to his dad on the plane which showed it was fake, to which Jamie said "not my dad but looks like him!"

Jamie is known for his high profile pranks. In 2016, he went viral after "forgetting" to plug his headphones into his laptop while watching porn during a lecture.

He was also slammed for a prank in 2018 when he screamed loudly during tennis player Nick Kyrgios' service during the Australian Open.