Family Board Long-Haul Flight From L.A., Then Daughter Does the Unexpected

Most parents don’t expect anything in return for the work they’ve put into raising their kids, but one woman took it upon herself to repay hers for their years of sacrifice.

Zoya Biglary shared the moment she surprised her family with first-class flights in a wholesome video on TikTok—a dream she once thought impossible. The 34-year-old who goes by @thezoyaroya on TikTok, told Newsweek that she secretly purchased the tickets after she started making an income from her full-time role as a content creator.

“As the oldest daughter of immigrants, I’ve always felt a responsibility to ‘give back’ to my parents who have sacrificed so much for us,” said Biglary, from Los Angeles. “The last flight we took as a family in 2019, I distinctly remember sitting in economy and looking at first class and thinking, one day I’ll buy us all first-class seats, which was a wild dream because I didn’t have much money saved up at the time.”

Biglary’s parents emigrated from Iran in the early 1980s, leaving behind everything after the revolution to start a new life in the United States and arriving in the country without any possessions or knowledge of the language.

“They worked hard and faced discrimination for so many years to make sure my little brother and I could grow up in a safe, opportunity-filled country,” Biglary told Newsweek.

In the viral clip, which has received 1.8 million views and counting, Biglary films her parents and brother boarding the flight.

After holding on to their boarding passes (“so they wouldn’t get lost”), Biglary tells her family that they’re sitting in No. 3 and instructs them to go near the front of the plane.

“The cutest part was that my brother initially thought the seats were only for my parents [and] in the video, you can see his shock when he asks, ‘Me, too?’,” Biglary said.

Realizing what their daughter has bought for them, Biglary’s parents can’t believe what they’re seeing: “No way,” her mom says. Making their way down the aisle, her dad asks “Are you serious?”

Biglary told Newsweek that her parents loved the first-class experience. “It was a 12-hour flight so it was incredible to enjoy that level of comfort. At the end of the day, I just want to give my family the same comfort that they’ve given me all my life,” the content creator added.

The footage received thousands of comments from other social media users inspired by her kind gesture.

One user, who shared that they too are a daughter of immigrant parents, commented it’s “an indescribable feeling” of being able to give back to your loved ones.

Her clip also inspired another woman to do something similar for her parents one day: “As a daughter of Persian immigrants, thank you for the reminder to work harder so I can do this for my parents one day,” they commented.

The meaning behind Biglary’s clip is deeply personal and she told Newsweek that her parents are “extra special”.

As a gay woman (Biglary is engaged to fellow content creator Alix Traeger), her family took some time to adjust, but they support her wholeheartedly.

“This is unfortunately very rare in Middle Eastern families and my followers around the world always love seeing my supportive parents in videos. So, in my opinion, they deserve a lot more than just first-class flights, but it’s a good start,” Biglary said.