A man who bought a lifetime pass which granted him free first class flights until he died only had to follow one rule, but still got the pass taken away from him.
According to The Points Guy, a domestic flight in the US flying first-class with American Airlines can set you back anywhere between $1,170 to $4,790.
Some lucky individuals might treat themselves to a first-class flight here and there, but Steven Rothstein was able to travel in style each time he flew.
Why, I hear you ask? Because in 1987 the stockbroker – then 37 years old – purchased an AAirpass with American Airlines for $250,000.
In the years that followed, Rothstein added a companion for an additional $150,000.
Steven Rothstein certainly took advantage of the pass (Caroline Rothstein)
He was one of 66 people to buy the highly-sought after ticket and was said to have only been given one simple and straight forward rule when it came to using it.
What was the one rule for American Airlines’ lifetime AAirpass?
Rothstein told the Guardian: “When I bought the AAirpass, in no uncertain terms, they told me that there was only one rule: I couldn’t give anybody the AAirpass.
“And those were the days before they took identification from passengers.”
And while Rothstein stuck to the rule, turning down a colleague who offered $5,000 a week for use of the AAirpass, American Airlines claimed he had been ‘fraudulent’ in the way he used the pass
American Airlines lost millions of dollars worth of profit because of Rothstein (Joan Valls/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Why did American Airlines revoke Steven Rothstein’s AAirpass?
American Airlines claimed Rothstein made ‘speculative bookings’ for flights he never intended to board.
They also alleged he booked seats for non-existent passengers under names such as ‘Bag Rothstein’ and ‘Steven Rothstein Jr’.
He had his pass revoked in 2008 and American Airlines went on to sue him.
And this wan’t the only lawsuit to have occurred between Rothstein and the airline as in 2009 he went on to sue American Airlines for breaking its deal with him when they revoked is AAirpass, and asked for $7 million in damages.
Eventually the stockbroker and American Airlines settled out of court as Rothstein’s appeal dismissed and the airline’s counterclaims dismissed with prejudice.
Rothstein wasn’t the only AAirpass holder to have their ticket revoked either; Jacques E. Vroom Jr. also had his taken away from him for apparent ‘fraudulent activity’.
Over 23 years, Vroom racked up 38 million miles of flying and cost the airline an eye-watering amount of money.
American Airlines told the Guardian: “We are pleased to continue to provide AirPass benefits to eligible cardholders when enjoyed in conjunction with the appropriate program conditions.”
