ladbible homepage
ladbible homepage
  • iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK
    • US
    • World
    • Ireland
    • Australia
    • Science
    • Crime
    • Weather
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV
    • Film
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • Netflix
    • Disney
  • Sport
  • Technology
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Money
  • Originals
    • FFS PRODUCTIONS
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • SPORTbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
Unlimited lifetime first-class plane ticket rules explained as passenger travelled 24 million miles around world

Home> Lifestyle> Travel

Published 19:11 8 May 2025 GMT+1

Unlimited lifetime first-class plane ticket rules explained as passenger travelled 24 million miles around world

He's well and truly beat the system

James Moorhouse

James Moorhouse

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

The word unlimited is usually limited to all-you-can-eat buffets and refillable fizzy drinks, but back in the 80s when life was much simpler, American Airlines launched a pass which guaranteed first-class travel for life.

While it proved to be an absolute disaster for the company, pass owners suddenly had the freedom to travel whenever and wherever they wanted, with whoever they wanted, if they also purchased a $150,000 (£113,000) companion pass.

Travelling these days can cause a lot of stress, whether it's making sure you're at the airport on time, adhering to the strict baggage rules imposed by Ryanair or simply making sure that the country you're planning to visit isn't on the no-fly list.

But for those who got their hands on the AAirpass, paying the small fee of $250,000 (£180,000) to do so, travelling became one the simplest and most enjoyable things in the world, with the 'world's most frequent flyer' Tom Stuker certainly getting his money's worth, having travelled close to 25 million miles since picking up his ticket.

Advert

Tom Stuker has travelled a long way over the years
United

The 71-year-old reckons he saves over £1m a year by jetting off to countries around the globe, but there are also some pretty strict rules when it comes to making sure you can keep the money tree ticket and ensuring you don't annoy American Airlines any more than they probably already are.

Do American Airlines regret launching unlimited pass?

Bob Crandall, AA's chairman and CEO from 1985 to 1998, told the LA Times in 2012 the company 'thought originally it would be something that firms would buy for top employees'.

"It soon became apparent that the public was smarter than we were," he admitted.

What rules do AAirpass holders have to follow?

In 2007, AA moved to crackdown on some of the most frequent users of the pass, with Shark Tank's Mark Cuban avoiding punishment, despite allegedly using his ticket to once bump legendary basketball star Magic Johnson off a flight.

Tom Stuker shares his flying hacks online (Instagram/@ua1flyer)
Tom Stuker shares his flying hacks online (Instagram/@ua1flyer)

Those who had made 'fraudulent use' of their passes had them revoked following a long legal battle, with AA claiming that their misuse included booking onto flights they never intended to take, inventing fake passengers on the companion ticket, or letting others use their AAirpass in exchange for cash.

Are there any American Airlines pass holders who still have unlimited flights?

But Struker is living proof that following the rules to the letter can have its benefits, as he is still able to enjoy first-class travel whenever he likes, and shares his journeys on his popular Instagram page.

Tragically, for those of you in the US, American Airlines soon realised their mistake and saw that pass owners were always going to squeeze as much juice out of the proverbial lemon, and they stopped selling them in 1994.

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@ua1flyer

Topics: American Airlines , Travel

James Moorhouse
James Moorhouse

James is a NCTJ Gold Standard journalist covering a wide range of topics and news stories for LADbible. After two years in football writing, James switched to covering news with Newsquest in Cumbria, before joining the LAD team in 2025. In his spare time, James is a long-suffering Rochdale fan and loves reading, running and music. Contact him via [email protected]

X

@JimmyMoorhouse

Recommended reads

Blue Ivy breaks Met Gala rule as she makes debut with Beyoncé and Jay-ZJamie McCarthy/Getty ImagesProfessor Green has tumours behind eye and spine as he reveals 'rare' and painful conditionInstgram/Professor GreenBritish 'drug mule' couple arrested within minutes of landing at Istanbul airport as friends issue desperate pleaFacebook/Holly CooperKaty Perry’s bizarre faceless look at the Met Gala has been explainedJulian Hamilton/Getty Images)

Advert

Choose your content:

20 hours ago
a day ago
  • YouTube/hgvmeta
    20 hours ago

    New HGV lorry driver shares pay slip to show 'serious' amount they really make

    A UK-based Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) lorry driver has revealed how much he earns after tax

    Lifestyle
  • (Getty Stock Images)
    a day ago

    Doctor explains who really needs to take Omega-3 supplement that is one of most common in world

    Eating oily fish is best, but if not, you might want to invest in some Omega-3 supplements

    Lifestyle
  • X/Emmerald Barwise
    a day ago

    Single mum shares dark reality of OnlyFans as she vows to never touch it again

    Emerald Barwise decided to join the platform in order to make some extra cash

    Lifestyle
  • TikTok
    a day ago

    How position of ‘black band’ tattoo can have very different meanings as X-rated meaning shared

    There could be a surprising NSFW meaning behind the popular black band tattoo

    Lifestyle
  • Major issue Black Hawk pilot may have experienced before crashing into plane leaving 67 dead
  • Pilot made two deadly mistakes before US Army helicopter crashed into plane and killed 67 people, new report claims
  • EarthCam footage shows devastating moment American Airlines plane and military helicopter explode mid-air
  • Air traffic control audio from American Airlines crash reveals devastating reaction to plane colliding with helicopter