It was several years ago.

I was flying from the states to the Middle East for a job interview. My connecting flight was little late and when I arrived at the gate the boarding had already started: first class passengers had already entered, and now economy class was boarding. Reaching my first class seat, I was surprised to see an old man already sitting in it. I showed the gentleman my seat on my boarding pass, but he didn't understand and simply looked away. Next, I turned to the flight attendant, who said, “Yeah, I saw he wasn’t in his seat—I'm waiting for two male flight attendants to come carry him to his seat in economy class.” Then I looked closer and realized that that gentleman in my seat had medical issues, was elderly, and couldn't walk without help.

I told her “never mind, just give me his seat in economy class. I’ll take that,” and off I went to economy class.

An hour later, when the seat belts signs were turned off, I saw the flight attendant pointing her finger at me while talking to a man. The man approached me and said, “What you did right there was really a great thing.”

“Who are you ?”

To which he replied, “I'm sitting right next to the elderly man that you gave up your seat to.”

“Oh,” I said. “It’s not a big deal.”

He continued. “That old man in your first class seat has no idea what you did for him: he doesn't know someone gave up a seat for him—and—paid a lot for that.”

Eager to get back to my inflight entertainment, I again said, “It’s not a big deal.”

Writing his phone number on the back of his business card, he surprised me by handing it to me. “Here’s my business card.”

“Thanks,” was my reply, and he returned to his seat.

My interview that day which I had traveled to for so long didn't work out. I Googled the business card the second man had given me while I was in my hotel room, waiting for a flight back home, and I discovered they did the same type of work as the company that had been interviewing me.

I gave him a call the following morning and said I wanted to meet him. I met him in his office. Immediately after coffee and greetings, I broke the news:

“I need a job: I know what you guys do and I can contribute to it.”

To which he replied, “You’re hired—you start the first of May.”

That was the shortest interview I or anyone I know has ever experienced.

That man became my mentor for the rest of my life. I don't work for him anymore but we are still close. He made me a stronger person and I truly appreciate him: I gave up a first class seat and gained a first class mentor.

Edit: thank you very much for your positive comments, people of Quora.

To address those negative comments: I was traveling first class because I could afford it: I had a good job and was looking for better job. Even if I couldn't get that job and had gotten fired from my current job, I could afford to keep my present lifestyle for four years and be able to travel once a year in first class.

I had very humble beginning, and I appreciate my current situation.

Never for a single second will I ever let my bank account determine what kind of person I am.