Texan passenger who bought 'unlimited' American Airlines ticket faced serious consequences after clocking up 38 million miles
One passionate flyer from Texas has taken the definition of unlimited quite literally, as he's been landed in hot water after his American Airlines lifetime pass was apparently used too much.
Paying for flights can start to add up if you're constantly jetting around the globe, and for people who frequently fly due to work it can easily become a hassle you'd rather avoid in the long term.
That's where something like American Airlines' 'AAirpass' comes in handy, as it offers limitless first class travel on the company's planes for your entire life, although it does come with an understandably hefty fee.
One man decided to pay up over 35 years ago and bought his own American Airlines lifetime pass, but he's now realised that there are indeed limitations that the airline isn't too happy about.
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How much did he pay for the unlimited pass?
As reported by the Daily Mail, Texas resident Jack Vroom purchased his AAirpass for a staggering $350,000 fee back in 1989, which works out to around $865,000 in today's money thanks to inflation.
There is no fixed price for the unlimited pass, with its value instead being based on the age that you buy it at as that determines roughly how much time you have to use your 'lifetime' access.
Billionaire Mark Cuban also got his own AAirpass at around the same time, although he only had to pay an initial fee of around $125,000, which then increased once he bought some extras.
Why is he in trouble with American Airlines?
While the sheer price of his unlimited pass would be enough of a story in any other situation, the real shock of Jack Vroom's situation is because American Airlines has now denied his access despite it supposedly being for the rest of his life.
It seems like the company didn't realise quite how much this would cost in the long run, as while American Airlines managed to gain a hefty short term financial boost, Mr Vroom's yearly travel is burning a hole to the size of $1,000,000 in the airline's pocket.
He has allegedly traveled on enough flights to go around the world at least 1,600 times, with a large number of those alongside a 'companion' ticket that also takes advantage of first class access for no extra cost.
While Mr Vroom would often take his family and friends along with him, he also extended his generosity to victims of AIDS, allowing them to fly home to their families with his extra seat.
"As part of our ongoing security practices and normal business operations at American Airlines, we actively analyze all of our ticketing and program policies for any improper activity, including with our AAirpass accounts," explained a statement from the airline in reference to the removal of Jack Vroom's unlimited access.
"If we determine that any activity has violated our policies or is fraudulent in nature, including non-fraudulent provisions that were included in these original contracts in question, we take actions we deem appropriate."
There's unfortunately no way for him to repurchase the pass, or anyone else to do the same, as American Airlines officially discontinued the AAirpass in 2004 with roughly only 40 people taking advantage of the program.