He is the world's most frequent flyer.

He owns a golden ticket, after making a half-million dollar investment more than three decades ago.

Tom Stuker is also known as the 24-million-mile man.

Back in 1990, he bought a "lifetime pass" on United Airlines for him and a companion for $510,000.

That pass allows him to fly first-class anywhere, anytime.

"Basically, I'd take my brother and say, 'Hey, let's go down to Dallas and buy some cowboy boots.' So, the next day, on Friday, I say, 'Honey, let's go to Paris for the weekend,'" Stuker said.

He also earns reward points on those miles.

"On one week, I cashed in enough miles to get $50,000 gift cards in Walmart," Stuker said.

Stuker has used points to remodel his brother's house and fund a children's cancer charity.

"Got my money's worth, there's no argument about that," Stuker said.

He hasn't owned a car in decades, using his points to rent cars instead.

"I've been able to make a lot of people's dreams come true, especially my kids', especially me and my wife," Stuker said.

This past February was the first time in 45 years that Stuker slept at home for a full calendar month.

For everyone else paying full price, Stuker has some advice.

"Get your butt out of bed, and take that first flight out: most dependable flight, No. 1. Prices are cheaper at that time," Stuker said. "You want to get that last flight out of the night? Guess what? Good chance it could be delayed to 3 o'clock in the morning, which screws you up royally and also could be canceled."

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5723969&forum_id=2Elisa#48923190)

“Stuker said he would encourage everyone to buy a similar lifetime pass and, if none are being offered at the time, to visit United Airlines’ headquarters and negotiate one with the CEO using a firm handshake.”

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5723969&forum_id=2Elisa#48924001)

so AA hired detectives to hunt for violations of the terms. for example, the rules say you can't get anything in exchange from your traveling companion. if you flew your buddy to London so the two of you could watch a soccer match in a London sports bar and your friend said in return, "then the beers are on me!" then AA would terminate the deal.

in the interview the ticket holder said that whenever he took a traveling companion he had to sit the companion down and grill them on the rules.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5723969&forum_id=2Elisa#48923613)

Only airlines can make me side with the boomers. jfc I hate everyone.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5723969&forum_id=2Elisa#48923975)

for $500K in 1990 dollars still quite a gamble that United never went bankrupt in the last 35 years.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5723969&forum_id=2Elisa#48924400)

If United were acquired by another airline could be complications like an old stock certificate for a major oil company that is valueless because it wasn't exchanged within the time window after the merger.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5723969&forum_id=2Elisa#48926077)