Shocking reason man had lifetime first class ticket seized mid-flight after spending $250,000 on unlimited travel
The financier had his lifetime plane ticket revoked after costing the airline $1m a year
There is a shocking reason why the man who had his lifetime first class ticket seized mid-flight after spending $250,000 on unlimited travel.
For many, it would be the purchase of a lifetime, being able to travel around the world first class as many times as you want.
So it’s not surprising why one Chicago-based financier took an airline up on this offer.
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It all started back in 1981 when American Airlines introduced the AAirpass - a prepaid membership that offered discounted flights to frequent travellers.
At the time, passengers were given the option to buy unlimited first-class travel for five years, or if they wanted to cough up more money, they could have it for a lifetime.
Back then, a ticket like that came with a quarter of a million dollar price tag and Steven Rothstein snapped one up.
In 1987, he upgraded to the lifetime option and two years on from that, he paid an extra $150,000 to add a companion to his travels.
Rothstein flew constantly and over the years he became well known among flight crews.
In one news article, his daughter Caroline Rothstein wrote: “A quarter of a million dollars gave him access to fly first class anywhere in the world on American [Airlines] for the rest of his life. He flew so much it paid for itself.”
But in 2008, Rothstein’s golden ticket was seized.
During a time of financial instability, American Airlines created a ‘revenue integrity unit’ to investigate whether the AAirpass program was costing more than it was worth.
It turns out that Rothstein and another member, named Jacques Vroom, were costing the airline about $1 million a year in travel.
Without warning, in December 2008, the airline pulled the plug on Rothstein’s pass.
He learned this when he was reportedly stranded at Chicago O’Hare International Airport and handed a letter accusing him of ‘fraudulent behavior’.
But Rothstein didn’t go down without a fight. He denied any wrongdoing and tried to sue American Airlines in 2011.
While the court sided with the airline, the case was settled privately in 2012.
“They told me that they viewed the AAirpass like a bond, so it was as if I was lending the airline money, and they needed money,” Rothstein told Forbes in 2019. “So they gave me a very good deal.”
He insists he used the pass to help others, adding: “I gave a man in Seattle a ticket to go to his father’s funeral. I gave many people tickets to visit ill family members. I don’t view that as philanthropy, I view that as good deeds.”
After the fallout, Rothstein decided to ditch American Airlines altogether and switched his loyalty to United Airlines.