In 1990, Tom Stuker spent a lot of money on a United Airlines lifetime flight pass, which cost him $290,000 per person. This pass lets Stuker book flights for himself and a friend to any destination and at any time. But was it a good deal? Let’s find out.
Stuker is a global car dealership consultant running his company, Stuker Training. His business requires extensive travel, which has resulted in him making hundreds of trips to Australia. More than 30 years ago, United Airlines sold lifetime first-class flight passes to some people.
They needed to raise money because they were struggling financially during a recession. Each pass cost $290,000, and there was an option to get a companion pass for an extra $220,000. The total cost of the option was $510,000. Stuker bought this option, allowing him and a companion to fly first class for life.
While the pass was considered a business expense, Stuker describes it as a total gamble. He paid half a million dollars without knowing if the airline would survive its challenges or not. Luckily for him, the risk paid off. United Airlines survived the financial troubles of the nineties. The risk taker, Stuker, has continued to fly frequently since purchasing the pass. In fact, he is regarded as United’s most frequent flyer who is not a staff member.
ALSO READ: SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Rocket Grounded After Rare Inflight Failure
In 2019, Stuker took 343 flights, which would have cost over $2 million. This is almost four times what he paid for his flight passes, and he did it all in just one year.
Besides having unlimited flights for life, Stuker earned millions of redeemable miles. This was before the airline changed its system from miles flown to dollars spent. Since he already had a lifetime pass, he used these miles to pay for hotel stays, cruises, and other luxury items. At one point, he even exchanged his miles for $50,000 in Walmart gift cards. Even though the airline doesn’t let people with lifetime passes earn miles anymore, Stuker still gets something. He gets a yearly bonus of extra miles.
ALSO READ: Sam’s Club Is Getting Rid of Their Main Benefit
By June 2024, Stuker shared on Instagram that he had taken more than 12,000 flights. Using his lifetime flight pass, he has traveled over 24 million miles with United Airlines. He spends much of his time on flights, working, and planning future trips for himself, his family, and his friends. Together, they have traveled to many countries over the years.
How does the airline feel about Stuker? They mostly love him. Even though the airline probably loses money because he uses his lifetime flight pass so much, they appreciate Stuker. They describe him as a friendly and easygoing passenger. He gets along well with the United staff and really supports the airline. Nowadays, Stuker flies about a million miles each year and expects to reach 25 million miles by early next year.
You Might Also Like:
Ford Unveils 2025 Maverick Pickup with High-Tech Features and Hybrid Options
More of the UK’s Super-Rich Are On the Verge of Relocating to the UAE
Cathie Wood Offloads $25 Million Worth of Underperforming Tech Stock