Man With 10 Million Air Miles Gets Plane Named After Him

Chicago car salesman Thomas Stuker has set a record by accumulating an astonishing 10 million air miles on United Airlines. In the past 29 years Thomas has flown almost 6,000 times - racking up a total mileage that would circle the Earth 400 times. From the article: "Mr Stuker has already been highly rewarded with access to a special lounge at the airlines hub in Chicago, first-class upgrades as a matter of course and even a plane named after him on the fleet."

Comments

Yet *still* no full-sized soft drink

[elrous0]

Congratulations, sir and welcome to first-class. Here is your 4-ounce Dr. Pepper and complimentary half-bag of potato chips.

Re:Yet *still* no full-sized soft drink

[JoeMerchant]

Here is your 4-ounce Dr. Pepper and complimentary half-bag of potato chips.

Apparently, you've never flown First Class. On a KLM hop from London to Amsterdam, I sat in First - the chips and soda were in the back, but it was lunchtime and a decent meal was provided in First. More impressive than the food was the fact that one man took a little longer to finish than the rest of us. When he did hand his tray to one stewardess, another stewardess pressed a button that set off a chime in the cockpit - within 5 seconds the pilot announced and started our descent into Amsterdam.

If you're not paying full fare, you're just baggage.

Re:Yet *still* no full-sized soft drink

[Sunshinerat]

You're doing it wrong then...
I am at a million and have not seen economy seats in the last two years, even though I buy nothing but economy tickets...
You may be stuck on an airline that does not have 2+ class service.
Again, you are doing it wrong by not participating in an airline program, or have not flown a million miles, or have been flying for the last 20 years and not hitting 50.000 miles a year on one airline, or always fly the same route, weekday and time on a plane where upgrades are impossible (planes with a small number of business/first class seats, while flying hub to hub).

The trick is, say with one airline (or hotel chain) as much as possible.
Silver level (typically 25.000 miles plus) will give you a small chance of upgrades (it happens on off-days/times).
Gold (typically 50.000 miles plus) will give you a decent chance of upgrade on many routes, however, if you fly between hub airports you may be out of luck.
Platinum (or whatever; 75.000 miles or more) is what you aim for. Almost certain to upgrade on flights unless your flight is an international feeder or hub to hub with nothing but status people. I have seen flights where United Global Services people (special invitation only) fly middle seat economy.

And finally, if you have status, most airlines will give you ways of getting free booze in economy in case you are stuck there (vouchers or friendly flight attendants).

Re:And more importantly

[RazzleFrog]

He flies first class. They actually get to molest TSA agents instead in first class.

Re:And more importantly

[Abstrackt]

It's like any other B.S. in life, if you do it enough, it doesn't bother you. TSA will always be a sore spot for a lot of people because they just don't encounter it often enough to develop the social callouses.

I fly at least monthly and it still bothers me, it has since 2001. The only way to get through the TSA line quickly is to smile politely and be half-naked by the time it's your turn. Take off your belt, stuff your watch in your jacket pocket before it goes through the X-ray (because they tell you to keep it on, it always beeps though, leading to a pat down), remove your shoes and hold your boarding pass in your teeth so your hands are free to throw everything on the belt. It kind of takes the fun out of traveling for some reason....

Re:What level?

[slartibartfastatp]

Were it not a NP Complete problem, he wouldn't get that many miles