An American man has travelled more than 23 million miles on commercial flights after purchasing a lifetime airline pass in 1990. Tom Stuker, a car dealership consultant from New Jersey, bought the special pass from United Airlines for $290,000, allowing him to fly without paying for individual tickets.
Stuker’s unusual purchase has turned out to be a valuable investment. According to reports by The Washington Post and Channel News Asia, he had completed more than 12,000 flights by July 2022 and visited over 100 countries. He has continued to use his pass for business trips and personal travel.
The frequent flyer has also collected millions of airline miles through his journeys. He has used these rewards for hotel stays, cruises and other benefits. In one unusual experience, he even used his miles to win a charity auction for an appearance on the popular American television show Seinfeld.
Stuker once described the lifetime pass as the best investment of his life. However, United Airlines no longer sells these unlimited travel passes, making his deal a rare example of an offer that became far more valuable over time.
