Imagine spending $290,000 for unlimited flights for life – that’s exactly what Tom Stuker did back in 1990. Since then, he’s flown millions of miles, making one of the best investments of his life.
While many of us dream of seeing the world, the costs of flying can make it seem impossible. Stuker saw this challenge and decided to jump on an exclusive offer from United Airlines for a “lifetime” pass, which allowed him to fly as much as he wanted.
Unfortunately, this once-in-a-lifetime deal is no longer available, so unless you’ve got a spare $300k lying around, you’re out of luck.
With years of travel experience, Stuker is now sharing some of his best tips to help others navigate the skies.
In a conversation with The Washington Post, he revealed how to increase your chances of an upgrade and why you should never check a bag. One of his tricks? He pretends to know the first flight attendant he sees, who’s likely to be the head attendant and the perfect person to befriend for a little extra VIP treatment.
Sharing his travel tips, Stuker explained that he always greets flight attendants with, “I remember you! You gave us such great service last time. I wanted to thank you again.”
Even if he’s never actually met them, he claims this simple line is a surefire way to score “all kinds of free stuff.”
As for seating, if you’re unable to reserve your preferred spot in advance, Stuker suggests checking the seat map app while boarding. This last-minute check could help you secure a better seat.
If a seat becomes available that’s better than the one you’re assigned, Tom Stuker says the cabin crew “won’t care” if you take it.
On the subject of airplane etiquette, one of Stuker’s biggest pet peeves is passengers who use their cell phones without headphones.
If someone takes a loud business call on speaker, Stuker jokingly says, “Hey, next time you’re going to have all of us to your business meeting, bring doughnuts.”
When it comes to luggage, Stuker’s advice is clear – never check a bag. Traveling with only cabin baggage can save you valuable time, making your airport experience much smoother.
Stuker points out that “every town has laundromats… and stores,” so you can easily reuse clothes or buy anything you might have forgotten during your travels.
While he is not very active on social media, he occasionally posts on Instagram under the handle @ua1flyer. In one of his posts, he gives his take on plane food.
In a caption alongside a photo, Tom wrote, “As you can imagine, I eat a lot of my meals on airplanes. I’m often asked which my favorite is, and hands down, it’s the lobster mac-n-cheese!”
He also posts about the United Polaris Lounges, which are available to premium cabin travelers, mentioning that they offer a fantastic selection of cocktails.
His favorites include the Paper Airplane, the Lavender Lift, and the Mai Tai.
On a more somber note, Stuker shares that he has witnessed four deaths from heart attacks during his extensive travels. He recalls, “I’d met a couple of them, too. Just died right in their seats. The last guy was up in business with me, Chicago to Narita (Tokyo).”
He continued, “They covered him with a blanket and put the seat belt back on. What else could they do? I guarantee somebody in business was thinking, ‘Hey, if he’s not gonna eat his chocolate sundae, would you mind…?’”
When he’s not soaring through the skies, Stuker co-founded the Automotive Training Network, a global car sales consultancy with locations in the US, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Now semi-retired, he enjoys even more freedom to travel.
A major milestone in his journey was reaching 10 million miles flown in 2011, which led United Airlines to honor him by naming a 747 after him.
Source: The Washington Post
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