Man who had lifetime first-class ticket revoked after costing airline $21,000,000 had to follow one rule
- Flyer bought a lifetime first-class ticket for American Airlines
- It set him back $250K in 1987
- However, it was allegedly revoked for one reason
Published on Nov 27, 2024 at 5:42 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Nov 28, 2024 at 4:28 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
High flying became a way of life for Steven Rothstein when he bought a lifetime first-class ticket AAirpass from American Airlines in 1987 before it was controversially revoked.
It set him back just $250,000 at the time – just under $700,000 today.
He was entitled to unlimited first-class flights.
However, there was one golden rule that seemed simple enough but he ultimately fell foul of – here’s what happened that led to the pass being revoked.
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The lifetime first-class ticket
As well as allowing unlimited first-class travel alongside 66 other wealthy flyers, Rothstein also added a companion pass for an additional $150,000.
Over the two decades that followed, Rothstein booked thousands of flights.
So many, in fact, that it’s estimated to have cost the airline over $21 million.
There was said to have only been given one simple and straightforward rule: not to lend it to anybody else.
“When I bought the AAirpass, in no uncertain terms, they told me that there was only one rule: I couldn’t give anybody the AAirpass,” he previously told The Guardian.
“And those were the days before they took identification from passengers.”
Rothstein claims that despite a colleague offering $5,000 a week to use it – he turned them down.
So where did it all go wrong?
After revoking the pass in 2008, American Airlines claimed Rothstein had been ‘fraudulent’ in the way he used the pass.
He was accused of violating the pass rules by making speculative bookings and reserving seats under fictitious names including ‘Bag Rothstein’ and ‘Steven Rothstein Jr’.
Rothstein countersued in 2009, seeking $7 million in damages.
However, both parties ultimately settled out of court, with Rothstein claiming that he regrets buying it.
American Airlines told the Guardian that while they ‘continue to provide AirPass benefits to eligible cardholders’, they are ‘enjoyed in conjunction with the appropriate program conditions’.
A man who bought an unlimited flight pass in 1990 racked up an unbelievable amount of air miles.
London-based Amelia cut her journalistic teeth covering all things lifestyle, wellness and luxury in the UK capital. Fast-forward a decade and the experienced content creator and editor has put pen to paper for glossy magazines, busy newsrooms and coveted brands. When her OOO is on you can find her spending quality time with her young family, in the gym or exploring the city she loves.