American Airlines sued over lifetime first class flying pass (merged)
Mar 11, 2009, 6:55 am
#1
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American Airlines sued over lifetime first class flying pass (merged)
From the Chicago Tribune- Associated Press
3:06 AM CDT, March 11, 2009
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/c...,5560484.story
CHICAGO - A man who paid about $400,000 to fly first-class anywhere in the world with a companion for the rest of his life is suing American Airlines for revoking that right.
Steven Rothstein, who lived in Wilmette at the time, paid nearly $250,000 in 1987 for the lifetime pass, and an additional $150,000 two years later to take a companion along with him during his flights.
Rothstein on Tuesday filed a $7 million lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court, claiming the airline illegally revoked the passes in December after alleging he fraudulently used the flight passes by making "speculative reservations" for companions
American Airlines no longer sells lifetime pass, and Rothstein claims the alternative cost of purchasing first-class tickets for the rest of his life would cost $7 million.
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--- I wonder how many of these are still around...
3:06 AM CDT, March 11, 2009
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/c...,5560484.story
CHICAGO - A man who paid about $400,000 to fly first-class anywhere in the world with a companion for the rest of his life is suing American Airlines for revoking that right.
Steven Rothstein, who lived in Wilmette at the time, paid nearly $250,000 in 1987 for the lifetime pass, and an additional $150,000 two years later to take a companion along with him during his flights.
Rothstein on Tuesday filed a $7 million lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court, claiming the airline illegally revoked the passes in December after alleging he fraudulently used the flight passes by making "speculative reservations" for companions
American Airlines no longer sells lifetime pass, and Rothstein claims the alternative cost of purchasing first-class tickets for the rest of his life would cost $7 million.
------------------------------------------------
--- I wonder how many of these are still around...
Mar 11, 2009, 7:10 am
#2
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If he was using them fradulently, then he deserves to lose them. I'm sure it was in the T&C.
That being said, I'm sure AA will do anything and everything to keep these from being used.
Let me add: I sincerely doubt his life will be rendered with hardship now that he is facing no longer being able to fly first class. My heart bleeds.
That being said, I'm sure AA will do anything and everything to keep these from being used.
Let me add: I sincerely doubt his life will be rendered with hardship now that he is facing no longer being able to fly first class. My heart bleeds.
Mar 11, 2009, 7:46 am
#3
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American Airlines sued over flying pass
duplicate entry
Last edited by MileageAddict; Mar 12, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Mar 11, 2009, 7:47 am
#4
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I never knew airlines did such a thing before! I wish I could do that now with a full-service carrier!
If I'm in a bad mood and want to escape for the weekend, I could take a red-eye outbound to Europe and return the same day, watch some movies, and get wined and dined.- Pat
Mar 11, 2009, 8:01 am
#5
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What does "red-eye" mean?
I never knew AA offered this either, but I'm guessing it is long over.
I never knew AA offered this either, but I'm guessing it is long over.
Mar 11, 2009, 8:05 am
#6
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A Red Eye is an overnight flight. Typically flying east into later time zones. A flight from LAX-JFK has approx 6 hour flight time PLUS 3 hour time difference=nine hours on your watch. In this example, a flight leaving LAX at 11pm arrives at JFK 8am. Seems convenient, however, they are called Red Eyes because thats what your eyes look like after such a flight.
Mar 11, 2009, 8:12 am
#7
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I wonder what the details of lifetime passes were - how many flights can you take in a year, etc.
Mar 11, 2009, 8:13 am
#8
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Good for him.
Sounds like AA looked for a way out, but I would like to get more details on what he actually did wrong
Sounds like AA looked for a way out, but I would like to get more details on what he actually did wrong
Mar 11, 2009, 8:13 am
#9
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Thank you!
Mar 11, 2009, 8:13 am
#10
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A man who paid about $400,000 to fly first-class anywhere in the world with a companion for the rest of his life is suing American Airlines for revoking that right.
Steven Rothstein, who lived in Wilmette at the time, paid nearly $250,000 in 1987 for the lifetime pass, and an additional $150,000 two years later to take a companion along with him during his flights.
Rest of the article can be found here:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/c...,5560484.story
Steven Rothstein, who lived in Wilmette at the time, paid nearly $250,000 in 1987 for the lifetime pass, and an additional $150,000 two years later to take a companion along with him during his flights.
Rest of the article can be found here:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/c...,5560484.story
Mar 11, 2009, 8:18 am
#11
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Like Deltahater said, there must be more to the story. I'm sure AA had him sign something when he purchased it giving them some conditions. IIRC, AA last sold these through Neiman Marcus in 2004
Mar 11, 2009, 8:24 am
#12
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20 years of unlimited first class for $400k is a hell of a deal
I'm sure AA has been looking for a way to get rid of this guy for a long long time
I'm sure AA has been looking for a way to get rid of this guy for a long long time
Mar 11, 2009, 8:30 am
#13
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Isn't that the name of the guy who was featured on the CNBC special in '06? He was the man who had nearly 31 million miles.
Mar 11, 2009, 8:33 am
#14
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Would one have to pay taxes/fuel surcharges on these flights?
Mar 11, 2009, 8:50 am
#15
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Definitely got to be more to the story.