Man who bought a $290,000 United Airlines unlimited flight pass in 1990 shares his jaw-dropping number of air miles
Published on Mar 03, 2026 at 6:47 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Mar 04, 2026 at 9:13 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
Tom Stuker is the guy who famously bought a United Airlines unlimited flight pass in the 1990s and absolutely milked it.
His investment was significant, but it was clearly worth it.
As of 2026, his air mile count is off the charts.
And he’s not stopping, as he apparently has a very specific figure in mind.
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This United Airlines flyer is the most traveled man in the history
In 1990, a man called Tom Stuker bought a United Airlines lifetime pass for $290,000.
Since then, Stuker has been traveling all over the world with his pass, saving eight figures, and accruing millions of miles in the process.
As of February 2026, he’s flown over 24 million air miles.
Stuker is literally the most traveled person in the world.
And he’s not stopping: he says he wants to get to 25 million.
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Can you still do that in 2026?
Airlines still offer rewards programs, but they’re nowhere near as generous as they used to be.
They also offer some all-you-can-fly options.
Wizz Air, for example, is still offering a type of membership that allows you to fly from any point A to any point B for a flat fee of around $10 per flight.
There’s a very long list of ifs and buts in the fine print – and a hefty upfront fee – but that’s more or less exactly as advertised.
Turkish Airlines also recently offered a generous award of one million air miles if certain conditions were met, but there was a problem.
Initially, the airline said it would award people booking six flights to six continents with one million miles.
But shortly after, they tightened the timeframe.
Same flights, same continents, but you’d have to book within days and travel within weeks.
Not exactly easy.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
