Hannah Bronfman, a well-known influencer and heiress to the Seagram’s fortune, recently found herself in a bit of a predicament while traveling from New York City to Houston. In a video shared on her TikTok account on November 13, Bronfman recounted how she arrived at the airport just 20 minutes before her flight was set to start boarding. Normally, this wouldn’t have been an issue, as she has both Clear and TSA PreCheck, which typically allow her to breeze through security without needing to present identification. However, this time, the system unexpectedly asked for an update to her identification, throwing a wrench in her plans.
Bronfman explained that she went to check her wallet and realized her driver’s license was nowhere to be found. Her husband, Brendan Fallis, had taken it with him to Kentucky, where he was at the time. The couple, who tied the knot in 2017 and share two children, were apart, and Bronfman was left scrambling. She attempted to use her credit cards as a form of identification, but this didn’t work either. To make matters worse, since she hadn’t arrived at the airport a full hour before her flight, she was denied the opportunity to verify her identity further. This setback forced her to push her travel plans back, and she would no longer be able to fly first class as originally intended.
Despite the inconvenience, Bronfman managed to keep her spirits up. She treated herself to a gingerbread oat milk chai iced latte from Starbucks while she waited at the airport, jokingly referring to it as a way to “cheer [herself] up.” Meanwhile, her nanny, who was luckily at home, came to the rescue by sending Bronfman’s passport via Uber. Bronfman filmed the moment the Uber arrived at the airport, capturing the passport wrapped in tin foil inside a paper bag. She humorously referred to this as “the sandwich move,” lightening the mood despite the stressful situation.
Bronfman eventually boarded her flight to Houston, though it was in economy class rather than the first-class seat she had initially been booked in. She documented the entire ordeal on TikTok, ending the video with a shot of herself boarding the flight with her carry-on luggage and the caption, “See you soon Houston!” In the video, she also addressed potential trolls who might criticize her for flying first class, explaining that her original flight had been arranged and paid for by the conference she was attending. Bronfman was set to speak at a panel titled “Funding Wellness Tech: Investing in Purpose-Driven Health Solutions” at the 2024 AfroTech Conference on November 14. For work-related travels like this, it’s common for organizers to cover such expenses, allowing speakers to fly in comfort.
Bronfman expressed her preference to “just get there” rather than waiting for another flight with first-class availability. She wanted to arrive in Houston as soon as possible to settle into her hotel and prepare for her early morning panel. She also mentioned that she didn’t want to incur additional expenses, such as a $100 Uber ride back to the city to retrieve her passport. Despite the challenges, she managed to salvage the situation, even joking about “girl math” when referencing the flight credit she received.
In reflecting on the incident, Bronfman also took a moment to criticize the Clear program for not providing a heads-up about the need for updated identification. Her ability to navigate the situation with humor and grace, as well as her openness about the experience, showcased her resilience and down-to-earth personality. It’s a reminder that even influencers and high-profile individuals face everyday challenges—and sometimes, a little creativity (and a well-timed Uber) can save the day.
