As he entered the United Polaris Lounge, eyes turned as staff stood. Mr. Stuker was back, United’s most loyal customer in terms of miles traveled. He sat down at the table next to mine. We started chatting. Turns out we were heading to Cape Town together.
Flying to Cape Town With United’s Most Loyal Customer
Tom Stuker is world’s most frequent flyer. Many years he clocks in more than a million miles…all on United. Remember the movie Up In the Air? Yeah, that was based (loosely) on Stuker. He’s in the automative industry and mixes business and pleasure with every trip, often to the far-flung corners of the world for a quick meeting or meal before heading back to his home in Chicago.
In January 2019, Stuker passed 20 million lifetime miles on United. United recognized Stuker with the following video:
Recently he passed 22 million miles, underscoring just how much he travels:
While so much about 2020 might feel uncertain – one thing remains constant: MileagePlus member Tom S. is up in the air! ✈️
Tom – congrats and thank you for flying 2️⃣2️⃣,0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣,0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ miles with us. 🎉🌎 pic.twitter.com/OCTp9WHaK4
— United Airlines (@united) September 14, 2020
He and his friend Kitty, a prolific traveler herself, were heading to Cape Town…for an hour.
How was he onboard? A perfect gentleman. Charming with the flight attendants and generally low maintenance. We did chat a couple times during the flight and agreed the grilled cheese sandwiches out of Newark left much to be desired.
When we landed in Cape Town we proceeded through passport control and customs, then snapped the following picture:
Then he headed right back upstairs to check-in for his return flight home.
Keep in mind, this trip was in early March, just before the pandemic really went global. Stuker, like all of us, was grounded. But he’s actually really turned this pandemic into a life-changing event, in a positive way. His travel has now resumed again but in a more thoughtful way. As he shared on Flyertalk:
“I was on the ground for about 10 weeks. That hasn’t happened for over 40 years. Actually it was 40 years since I was on the ground/home for over two weeks let alone 10. I live in New Jersey just outside Manhattan. At one point it was the COVID-19 epicenter of the world. Over 25,000 people have died from the virus within 50 miles of my home.
As the lockdown progressed, I knew my weight would/could go either way. I chose to focus on my health. My health had deteriorated (mostly because of my weight). It’s going on about five months since the shutdown started in New Jersey. I have lost 52 pounds (now 214). I feel great.I try to keep my calories to about 1500 per day and I walk like crazy….800,000 steps in May/400 miles plus….over 1 million steps in August/500 miles plus.
I’m eating better, cooking more and having a five month “honeymoon” with my wife. I’ve flown about a dozen segments over the last two months; 10 domestic and a trip to Mexico. Travel is sooo different, but it is what it is.
I’ll look forward to international travel when it comes, but it looks like that won’t be soon. Our country seems to have more cases of STUPID than COVID. I am 6,000 miles short of my 22 million. This will be my first time in six years that I haven’t flown 1 million BIS. Might end up that it it won’t ever happen again. Even if it get’s back to some sort of normal, I have moved my focus to other directions. I’m writing a book, going on the speaker circuit and want to travel the USA visiting family and friends. I will check back in later, but in the meantime, stay safe everyone and I hope to see you in “The Friendly Skies” soon!!!”
I’m proud of him, because I could not help but to note that he consumed a lot of food in the Polaris Lounge and again onboard. Kudos to him for realizing that our metabolism slows down and dealing with it in a responsible way.
He also offers helpful advice to road warriors (like me) on finding the proper balance:
“As I put on the weight ,on so many occasions, people would give me flying as an EXCUSE. ‘It’s so hard with all that flying!!’
C’mon people,let’s get real. Skinny people fly too!! It all gets down to calorie intake. You want a few glasses of wine? Then pass on the ice cream! You want the ice cream? Then pass on those extra glasses of wine! I didn’t in the past. I WILL in the future!!! Let’s do this!
I know all this stuff is free……but really? Let’s all chose life and living longer over all those free calories!, Looking for a bargain? How about extra days,months and years with your loved ones for no extra charge. I’m in……..are you?”
I’m in too!
CONCLUSION
There’s rumor that Stuker purchased an unlimited flight pass in the 1980s and does not have to pay for each trip. Our conversation did not broach that topic, but I’ll find out at some point. We have stayed in touch and Stuker is a class act. Tom, it was a pleasure to fly to Cape Town with you!
Wait, so what was he doing in Cape Town? He didn’t even leave the airport.
I would think he’s the last person on earth that would need to do a mileage run… and certainly not in March
Sometimes he enjoys flying for the sake of flying…something I can certainly relate to.
@ Matthew — I am glad that he has come to his senses. Being forced to stay home due to COVID has definitely diminished our interest in flying 300-400k per year as we had done f0r the past 15 years. It was an addiction that now has been broken. I do expect that we will return to flying 150-200k post-pandemic, but that is much more reasonable compared to 300-400k. Now, I just need to work on the weight part…
I have flown more than 275,000 miles in the last three years pre-Covid on One World alone, not counting regional carriers in Europe and Asia. During that time, I had to learn to balance the calories with exercise and how to mix business with pleasure. Exercise on the road is a big deal and can be fun if planned well.
Since I am single and my kids are out of college now and are moving forward with there lives I have learned to arrive early and to extend through weekends as opposed to rushing home to meet family obligations.
Having said all of that, I cant imagine living Tom’s life. This story made it seem like he just wanted to take a friend to Cape Town and back. Similar to mileage runs that I have heard people do to achieve/maintain status.
22 million miles in 40 years works out to 500,000 miles a year! Just unfathomable!
The article says he was stoping there for one hour, I assume something business.
Great read, Matthew. But given your dinner choices on the last Wisconsin trip, are you really “all in?” LOL…
You saw my unorthodox breakfast at the Mar Monte! 😉
So…. he went to Cape Town, went back upstairs, and checked in? I often take trips for the sake of flights too, but for a flight that long, doesn’t he have a desire to enjoy Cape Town for a day, relax, and then head back to the United States?
I think it was his second Cape Town trip of the week.
He has to be on blood thinners…half-joking but he is a walking DVT.
The resemblance to George Clooney is uncanny. Hope the ladies were able keep their knickers on.
Good for him for focusing on his health! The last thing that fatass needs is more grilled cheese.
Did UA offer lifetime passes like AA?
No rumor about it, Mr Stucker is a lifetime PassPlus holder from the late 80’s or early 90’s…he gets unlimited lifetime travel in any cabin of service available. I believe it cost ~$550k at the time but as it stands now he provides no per flight revenue back to United though I’m sure his fantastic PR is worth something.
He looks great. Nice to see him healthier.
Thanks much for the story.
I do wonder what his reasons are for trying to hide the fact he has a lifetime pass. I would love to have one. I don’t think having one would diminish his milestones at all. The only thing I can think of is when he claims that companies pay for his flights, that maybe he would have less bargaining power in negotiating travel allowances.
I know I feel sorry for him. Just not sure if because of his lifestyle or for only flying United. What a miserable life anyway.
Good for him. He’s doing something he enjoys. Back in the days of People Express, I use to take a round trip flight just for the avgeek experience. This was when PE was still in the old EWR North terminal and I lived close to EWR. I’d just drive up park, Pick some random flight, same day return & cheap ticket and off I’d go. Usually ended up on either 727-200 ro 737-100.
I like the fact you don’t over-hype this ‘in-conversation’ with 2 great supporters of United. While you could have slanted it to matters of great importance, including the future of air travel, loyalty programs, risk minimisation, vaccines, etc…rather you leave us with the agreement that “ the grilled cheese sandwiches out of Newark leave a lot to be desired.” People are hankering for a return to something like the old ‘normal’ and the things we used to complain about…sadly still a long way off…
Very cool story! Thanks for sharing!
Curious, what did he do during the flight?
What is your source that “Up in the Air” “was based (loosely) on Stuker”?
Almost a year ago I was at the Lufthansa first class lounge in Frankfurt, from what I know and recall the FIDS in the first-class lounges only show the flights of the passengers that are actually checked into the lounge, so I was confused and surprised as to why a United flight was showing on the FIDS display when I thought only LH First/HON pax are allowed into the lounge. It was an off-peak time, and so only I and one other man were in the lounge. The other man wore a jacket that had all sorts of logos from United and confirmed “20 million miler” and from what I saw a UA boarding pass while he was looking for Mustard in the lounge, well I knew it was him. So I guess he is granted some kind of pass from United to access the lounge while in FRA, as even the Centurion Amex card requires you to fly LH metal to access the first-class lounge, anyway I guess a nice perk that United extends him unless there is another way to get in flying UA metal.
GS members in first class (when UA had international first) are allowed to access LH first class lounge.
Wonder if Chairman’s Circle members receive that special perk of accessing the LH FC lounge?
Slightly OT, in early 2019, I was on TG F, CDG-BKK. I was the only passenger in the *A F lounge at CDG. Another passenger finally arrived, I assume a US citizen, flying CDG-IAD on UA. I was curious as to why he was allowed in. I should note that he was escorted in and then later retrieved by two personnel in business suits that I don’t think I’d challenge; and no baggage. (I tried having a conversation with the guy, while he was polite, and that is how I got he was on CDG-IAD on UA. No further conversation.)
Maybe a politician?
So our politicians receive international F lounge access? Not being argumentative. I have seen politicians in the UA DCA lounge; I assume that they have either purchased passes or have the UA Club card from Chase!
Interesant. Die Reise war im März, Klasse das Du das bisher fuer Dich behalten hast. (not dropping names)
Very cool that you got to meet him. I’ve always thought that it speaks very well of him that the crews he flies with by all accounts love the guy.
I’d be very surprised if he’s holds a lifetime pass.
1. United continues to reward him for his loyalty. Why extend him extra benefits if they aren’t getting any revenue off him? Yes they do benefit from some publicity but stiff I’ve read indicates that they continue to add in new little perks as he reaches milestones. You certainly would do that for someone spending a lot of money with your company. But for a lifetime pass holder? I very much doubt it.
2. I saw an interview with him where he referenced that he doesn’t pay full fare but rather has a negotiated contract with United that specifies that he always flies first class. Note: this was before United removed International F.
3. He’s a global services member. As I understand it membership in that is based on revenue. Lifetime pass equals no revenue.