Frequent fliers will readily tell their friends that the only thing better than cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages is free travel. United recently honored its first passenger to earn 10 million miles in its frequent flier program, which started in 1981.
Tom Stuker is a Chicago based automotive sales consultant was determined to pass this milestone with butt-in-seat miles. Stuker said that he first got the mileage bug with hotel and car rental programs in the 1970s and became a member of Uniteds Mileage Plus program in 1982.
Stuker has flown almost 6,000 United flights, flying to all 50 U.S. states, making 200 round trips to Australia and 30 round trips to Asia.
His 10 million milestone was celebrated by United. There was champagne and other festivities during the flight that put him over the top. When his plane arrived at OHare International Airport, United CEO and other airline executives and employees greeted the plane with gifts.
The CEO presented Stuker with the airlines first titanium Mileage Plus membership card and Stukers name is being placed on the fuselage of a Boeing 747 airplane. His name was previously inscribed on a United 777. Stuker was given a shipment of his favorite wine and a commemorative book listing every single United flight he has flow since he joined Mileage Plus, along with personal messages from long time United employees and executives.
Stuker reports that he still enjoys flying: I love the solace and peacefulness at 40,000 feet. Thats where I do my best creative work writing my training materials.
It would be interesting to know how many free flights Stukers 10 million frequent flier miles have earned him. www.cheapfares.com