For most people, the luxury of traveling via a private jet is just a dream. They either don’t have the money to afford it or lack the motivation to save for it. But, that is a thing of the past. The pandemic has given them that final push that made them move from commercial flights to flying private.
Still, most people can’t help but think that it is only for the rich. So, if you post a photo of yourself aboard one on Instagram, you are guaranteed to get a bunch of likes. After all, only a few people can do that. Such people are celebrities and business executives. Take Kylie Jenner and the Kardashians, for example—just a few among many celebrities with private jets who showcase their luxurious travels.
While you may not be able to afford a legitimate private jet travel experience, you can fake it. Many influencers, and surprisingly, even stars, have done this. Bow Wow, an American rapper, actor, and television presenter is the most notable one.
Bow Wow Challenge
In 2017, Bow Wow became an internet sensation. From an airport in Georgia, he uploaded a picture of a private jet on Instagram. “Travel day. NYC press runs for Growing Up Hip Hop. Let’s go!” the caption read. Of course, being the star he is, no one suspected he was faking it. After all, he is the rapper who is behind the hits “Mo Money,” “Get Money,” and “Money In The Way.”
However, minutes after that, his seatmate in economy on a regular flight uploaded a photo of the star. That is how the internet knew that he was just pretending to be flying in style. The jet picture turned out to be a stock photo stolen from an Ft. Lauderdale private limousine company.
That incident gave birth to the Bow Wow Challenge. This meme-y trend had social media users post photos of themselves indulging in luxury. But, the major requirement is that it should be obvious that they are faking it. For instance, one user drew the Mercedes-Benz logo on construction paper and taped it on the steering wheel of his car. He also had a poorly drawn Rolex on his wrist. He wrote in the caption, “Gotta spoil myself now and then.”
You would think that Bow Wow’s embarrassing mishap would stop people from doing this. But that is not the case. Looking at things now, it seems that it planted an idea in social media users’ heads rather than discouraging them from doing so.
The Influx of Instagrammers Posting Their Photos “In Private Jets”
The Bow Wow Challenge almost had a reboot last year. Girls on Instagram suddenly posted photos of themselves in a luxurious-looking private jet. They were pictured sitting on one of the white leather seats in the aircraft with mahogany paneling and small, round windows. But after looking at the photos so much, Instagram users realized the interior of the “jets” the girls rented are all the same.
Twitter user Melissa (@maimonmelissa) exposed the truth behind the pictures. She posted a snap of the private jet, revealing it is just a studio set. The image she uploaded showed that the faux jet ends just out of shot.
Since Melissa’s tweet came out, people collected and exposed influencers who faked the luxury of a private jet. This revelation has sparked discussions about authenticity in luxury travel trends and the lengths some go for the perfect image.
Influencer Maria Isabel is among the ones who were called out. But, she replied that she did not claim to own a private jet. She said they used the studio set to film content for a project called “Stuck In The Sky.”
Influencers and even TV stars indeed have rented grounded planes in the past for their projects. This studio set just happened to be cheaper, thus more ideal.
While Maria Isabel’s story saves her from potential embarrassment, the same cannot be said for other influencers.
Influencers work rely on their following. However, people are more likely to follow someone they already see as successful. They want to be like those people and may be able to do so by mimicking their lifestyles. In some way, private jet travel shows the wealth, importance, and status of a person. So, if the influencers can make these people believe they enjoy a luxurious life, they can gain more followers.
Unfortunately, it backfired on them. People were vocal about their disappointment when they found out. Some comments even said it was “vapid” and “beyond dumb.” One user said she was sorry for those influencers since they have to fake most of their lives to build an identity online.
Meanwhile, others took it lightheartedly and just laughed it off. They comment, “That is not real. The birds told us!” on influencers’ posts. Even Lil Nas X shared his take. He photoshopped himself in the controversial studio set.
The Studio Set
You can find the faux jet in FD Photo Studio in Los Angeles. The studio bills it as “the first and only of its kind in the city.” Sergey Kostivov, a middle-aged Russian who migrated to California in the 2000s, owns the photo studio. He was a professional photographer who struggled to find a place to shoot. While there were places he can use for his photoshoots, they would require him to pay $500 for the whole day.
So, to save money, he rented a small, well-lit space in the Fashion District. There, he made simple sets by hand and let his friends book the place to cover rent. Then, in 2017, it grew as a business. He started making elaborate sets using scrap parts. He also enlisted a single contractor for more complicated stages.
One of those sets is the “private jet” set. They built it from wood since they cannot afford parts from airplane graveyards. The set is pretty simple. It has two chairs, a table, a couch, and airport carpeting. But Kostivov says he plans to add more accessories in the future. You can rent the set for $64 an hour.
Kostivov did nothing wrong. Nor is it wrong to dream and pretend to ride a private jet. Just let the viewers know it is fake so they would not accuse you of being a “social climber.”
Conclusion
The allure of private jet travel has long been associated with status, luxury, and exclusivity. In today’s digital age, where social media shapes perceptions, influencers, and celebrities often go to great lengths to curate an image of opulence—even if it means faking it. The rise of the Bow Wow Challenge and the exposure of staged private jet photos highlight the lengths some will go to for engagement and validation.
While there’s nothing wrong with dreaming of luxury travel, authenticity remains key in building trust with audiences. Social media thrives on aspirational content, but the recent revelations about influencers renting a private jet studio set have sparked conversations about the fine line between aspiration and deception.
At the end of the day, real luxury is about experience, not just appearances. If you’re serious about flying private, finding private jets for rent is now more accessible than ever. With advancements in technology, you can easily streamline your private jet booking through a private jet booking app for iOS or a private jet booking app for Android, ensuring a seamless and luxurious travel experience.
Why settle for staged photos when you can fly in style for real? Let JetsOnset help you experience private aviation how it was meant to be—exclusive, comfortable, and authentic.
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