- In 1990, Tom Stuker purchased a United Airways lifetime cross. He has since flown 23 million miles.
- Stuker has redeemed numerous numbers of miles and at one level did not sleep in a mattress for 12 days.
- Stuker advised The Washington Put up that the cross was the “greatest funding of my life.”
Tom Stuker is not your typical frequent flier.
Whereas many vacationers communicate fondly of stays at luxurious resorts and the first-class seats they had been in a position to ebook from amassing a great deal of airline miles, Stuker is in a category of his personal.
Stuker — a automobile dealership advisor from New Jersey — has flown 23 million miles, which, in accordance with The Washington Put up, is extra miles than any particular person in historical past.
In 1990, United Airways marketed a lifetime cross for $290,000, and Stuker rapidly snagged the provide.
Now, 33 years later, Stuker often enjoys his favored perch in seat 1B.
Per the Washington Put up, Stuker at one level spent 12 consecutive days with out touching a mattress, as he flew from the Newark to San Francisco after which to Bangkok and Dubai, solely spending time outdoors of the pleasant skies whereas he visited airport lounges.
Stuker, now 69 years previous, advised the newspaper that his frequent travels had been pushed by the buildup of airline miles.
“Greatest funding of my life,” he mentioned.
Stuker mentioned he knew early on that frequent-flier miles weren’t only a method to get extra flights; he additionally ended up promoting and buying and selling miles with others.
He advised The Put up he as soon as used miles to acquire so many reward playing cards that he was in a position to renovate his brother’s dwelling.
(United now not extends such passes to its fliers, per the newspaper.)
He even received an public sale years in the past — bidding 451,000 miles — to be a visitor on an episode of NBC’s “Seinfeld.”
Stuker advised The Put up that he has been to 100 international locations and had over 120 honeymoons together with his spouse.
And United has embraced Stuker, asking for his enter in crafting the menu at their Polaris golf equipment. And in accordance with The Put up, the airline has a Mercedes prepared on the airport tarmac if Stuker must make a fast connection.
Representatives on United’s 800 quantity even acknowledge Stuker.
That degree of service appears virtually legendary, however Stuker continues to be reaping the advantages of his Nineteen Nineties-era cross that has really put the world at his fingertips.
