Barbara Corcoran refuses first class to share miles with family

In the United States, Barbara Corcoran, a successful entrepreneur and judge on the television show "Shark Tank," has made headlines due to her frugal travel practices. Despite being a self-made millionaire after selling her real estate company, The Corcoran Group, for $66 million in 2001, she chooses to fly coach instead of first class. Corcoran explained that a coach ticket costs about 25% of a first-class ticket, allowing her to accumulate miles and share them with her family for free travel. She stated that this practice allows her to bring her family along on trips, ensuring that her miles don't go to waste. Corcoran's preferences extend to her travel habits at airports, where she avoids spending on food by packing her meals, consisting of fresh fruit, cheese, and a baguette or croissant. She believes these meals far surpass the options available in higher classes. For Corcoran, the satisfaction of using her accumulated miles for family travel outweighs the comfort of first-class travel, reflecting her practical approach to wealth and family connections.