Man who saved $2.37M buying lifetime United Airlines pass has traveled more miles than anyone in history

In 1990, New Jersey car dealer Tom Stuker bought a United Airlines lifetime pass for $290,000 and traveled more than anyone else in history.

He traveled to over 100 countries and saved around $2.7 million in flights and fees.

Stuker calls this the best decision he ever made, and it’s easy to understand why.

And he also set a record that’s going to be difficult to beat.

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The nearly unbeatable record set by this United Airlines passenger

In 1990, New Jersey car dealer Tom Stuker decided to fork out $290,000 to buy a United Airlines lifetime pass.

Back then, all-you-can-fly lifetime passes were more common, and more to the point, they came with fewer caveats.

No ifs and buts, you’d buy one and fly when and wherever you wanted on United, which Tom Stuker did.

He said he’s traveled to over 100 countries, and in 2019 alone, he clocked enough miles to circle the moon six times.

Stuker has so far flown 20 million miles, more than anyone in history.

Stuker is literally the most traveled person in the world.

Is the United Airlines lifetime pass still a thing?

The short answer: not really.

In today’s world, some content creators would almost bankrupt airlines if they were offered lifetime passes.

It already nearly happened once.

In 1981, American Airlines started selling a lifetime first-class ticket to alleviate financial troubles.

They ended up phasing out the lifetime pass, and one passenger in particular had his pass revoked because he just wouldn’t stop traveling, costing the company a fortune.

Tom Stuker himself said he’s saved at least $2.4 million with his United Airlines lifetime pass.

Some equivalent passes still exist, but they generally have a long list of clauses in the fine print that tilt their potential advantage way in favor of the airline, not the passenger.