A man buys unlimited flights for $500,000 and has been flying non-stop since 1990: “The best investment of my life”

Although he has been a consultant for several years, Tom Stuker’s fame comes not from his work but from being the man who holds the title of the most frequent flyer in the world.

In 1990, United Airlines launched two unprecedented offers: the first was based on lifetime flights for $250,000 for a single crew member, and the second consisted of paying $450,000 and allowing you to bring a companion on each and every trip. Stuker chose the latter option, obtaining unlimited plane tickets for himself and one companion.

Traveling non-stop since 1990

The unlimited travel offer allowed Stuker to take more than 12,000 flights with United Airlines, always traveling in first class and exceeding the astonishing figure of 24 million miles flown. This pass has allowed Stuker to live a life many travelers dream of, as he has been able to visit more than 100 countries and take 120 honeymoons with his wife.

“The best investment of my life,” Stuker told the Washington Post. Despite the high initial cost of the pass, the value of all the trips he has taken has been immense; in 2019 alone, he took 373 flights, corresponding to 1.46 million miles. This number of trips would have been worth €2.72 million if he had purchased them in 2019.

Ways to earn flight miles and get benefits

Although United Airlines no longer offers these unlimited flight passes, there are several ways to earn air miles and the airlines offer a number of benefits. First and foremost, loyalty is a very important aspect. It’s always advisable to fly with the same airline you used for your other trips, as many airlines offer loyalty programs.

These programs offer frequent flyers a number of points, which they can accumulate to obtain benefits such as priority boarding, access to exclusive lounges, and free class upgrades.

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