New York Mayor's 'flight ticket negotiation' with Turkish Airlines: 'Don't make it too cheap, it will be noticed'
The 'cheap ticket negotiation' between an employee of New York Mayor Eric Adams, who is accused of receiving illegal campaign donations from Turkey, and an airline official has been included in the indictment.
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New York Mayor Eric Adams is being prosecuted for allegedly receiving illegal campaign donations from Turkey. The prosecution's indictment includes correspondence between one of Adams' staff members and a Turkish airline official.
According to the transcripts in the indictment, Adams' staff member requests that a cheap ticket be provided to the Mayor.
The airline official accepts the request and offers a price of 50 dollars. Upon this, Adams' staff member states that the price is too cheap and requests that it be raised to around 1000 dollars, noting that otherwise, Adams, who is 'being watched at every step,' could become a topic of discussion for flying for free.
The full text of the conversation is as follows:
Adams' staff member: (For the flight ticket) How much does he owe? Tell them (the people who will receive the payment) to call me so I can make the payment.
Airline staff: The ticket is very expensive because you are buying it at the last minute. I am working on getting a discount.
Adams' staff member: Okay, thank you.
...
Airline staff: I will charge you 50 dollars.
Adams' staff member: No.
Airline staff: This (price) is reasonable, isn't it?
Adams' staff member: No, honey. 50 dollars? What? Write a reasonable price.
Airline staff: What price should I ask for?
Adams' staff member: (Adams) is being watched at every step right now. Make it 1000 dollars or around that. Make it look real. We don't want them to say he flew for free. All the media's attention is on Eric right now.
...
Adams' staff member: Also, (Adams) is asking where he can stay in Turkey. Do you have a recommendation?
Airline staff: Four Seasons.
Adams' staff member: (That place) is too expensive.
Airline staff: Why does he care? He won't be paying anyway. His name won't be written anywhere either.
Adams' staff member: Super.
THY UPGRADED ECONOMY CLASS TICKETS TO 'FIRST CLASS'
According to the transcripts reflected in the indictment, Adams paid the airline approximately 1100 dollars for each ticket. The tickets were economy class. However, Turkish Airlines (THY) upgraded the tickets to 'business class' without charging a price difference.
If Adams had purchased these tickets normally, he would have had to pay 15,000 dollars.