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Published ua1flyer articles / interviews on ua1flyer {incomplete list}

The Real Tom Stuker, United’s 23-Million-Miler Flyer - Live and Let's Fly

http://time.com/money/5492210/a-simple-trick-for-getting-the-best-service-from-flight-attendants-according-to-the-worlds-most-frequent-flier/

http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/george-clooney-up-in-air-frequent-flier-movie-reality-true/story?id=9341566

https://consumerist.com/2009/12/17/h...-like-clooney/

http://video.foxnews.com/12679081/the-skys-the-limit

http://wanderingwarners.blogspot.com...air-flyer.html

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-relea...125216474.html

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/07/11...million.miles/

http://www.npr.org/2011/07/09/137725...millionth-mile

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/18/bu...2012.html?_r=0

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/trav...ear-f1C7661414

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z2dPHkOTRM

http://www.ibtimes.com/united-airlin...ompany-2526965

https://thepointsguy.com/2017/06/man...-miles-united/

https://thepointsguy.com/2018/02/tom-stuker-19-million/

The world's top frequent flyer's best tips to avoiding flight delays | CNN

Tom Stuker, United Airlines’ Most Frequent Flyer, Hits 24 Million Miles One Mile at a Time

His business website
https://www.stukertraining.com

ua1flyer - A "Real" Up-In-The-Air GS

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Nov 29, 2025 | 5:46 pm

#2956

bmwe92fan

Suspended

Join Date: Nov 2013

Location: NYC / TYO / RSW Up in the Air avoiding the Snowflakes

Programs: UA GS 1.8MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriott LT, Accor P

Posts: 8,058

Quote:

Originally Posted by porciuscato

Kirby is a vacuous panjandrum, who completely ignores compounded returns and default risk.

Suppose Tom (or United) had invested that $500,000 in UAL bonds in 1990. That would be worth around $29,000,000 today(!!). Anyone buying United bonds or a United flight pass was taking a huge risk that United might declare bankruptcy and the investment would be worthless. This is underscored by the fact that UAL debt was trading at a lofty 12% at the time.

I haven't calculated the value of Tom's flights, but I'd bet they're not much more than $29,000,000-- and actually could be a lot less.

I've enjoyed our relationship for many years -- don't believe any of the negative stuff here about Tom -- he and his family are truly great people....

Bottom line: Tom provided cheap financing for United when the debt markets were reluctant to; I'm not even sure Tom made that savvy of an investment considering the returns on alternatives and the possibility he could have lost the entire cost of the flight pass. He could have stuck his $500K in the S&P 500 and made $20 million with a fraction of the risk. Kirby is either being disingenuous or he's too ignorant of basic finance to understand this.

There is one other major inaccuracy in the reporting about the Walmart cards -- Tom only did that once a year -- at Christmas -- and those cards were only given to UA employees as a thanks for the amazing service they gave us - I know this because he asked me to contribute as well.... Kirby suggesting Tom flew all those miles for gift cards is just wrong....

I've known Tom and his family a long time -- don't believe all of the things you hear on the internet -- Tom and his family are great people.....

Rare, SPN Lifer, kb1992 and 20 others like this.

Nov 29, 2025 | 6:35 pm

#2957

Rasalon

Join Date: Feb 2003

Programs: AA 18MM, Hilton Lifetime Diamond

Posts: 341

Quote:

Originally Posted by WineCountryUA

Not to diminish an incredible flying history, but AA MM included more than just simple BIS.

I was flying from EWR to Saipan on UA, and was in the Polaris lounge. Normally I don't talk to people when traveling, but somehow ended up chatting with someone about MM status. When I showed him my AA MM tag, it was like he took insult at how many miles I had and started berating me on my MM status. So I am aware of the difference between UA and AA as I'd gotten a 15 minutes lecture on UA MM status. As long as my company keeps paying me to travel, I'm not concerned either way. But I've learned you don't discuss religion, politics, or MM status.

nmenaker, SPN Lifer, unitedbusiness and 15 others like this.

Nov 29, 2025 | 7:12 pm

#2958

WineCountryUA

Moderator: United Airlines

Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: SFO

Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat

Posts: 72,969

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rasalon

.... But I've learned you don't discuss religion, politics, or MM status.

Regardless of the differences, 18MM AA is a impressive accomplishment.

Rare, SPN Lifer, kb1992 and 7 others like this.

Nov 29, 2025 | 9:40 pm

#2959

SPN Lifer

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Mar 2002

Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)

Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .60 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum

Posts: 17,939

Quote:

Originally Posted by char777 (Post # 2942)

Kirby seems to have indirectly addressed Tom without naming him by name.

Quote:
Kirby: There’s even one person who flies, who flew just to collect miles – after that we stopped that part of the program – just to collect miles and would turn them into Walmart gift cards. His income was, he’d fly to Europe and take the same airplane home, just fly back and forth to get a lot of miles to turn them into Walmart gift cards.
Miller: That’s an entrepreneur if I’ve ever heard one.
Kirby: I wouldn’t call it entrepreneurial (laughs) let’s do something productive for society.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmwe92fan (Post # 2956)

It is sad that the UA CEO is defaming Tom like that, though he may be somewhat protected by not naming names.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rasalon (Post # 2957)

I hope your trip once your reached SPN made up for that guy's rudeness.

🌴 🇺🇳 🇺🇸

nmenaker, UA_Flyer, kb1992 and 6 others like this.

Last edited by SPN Lifer; Nov 29, 2025 at 9:53 pm

Nov 29, 2025 | 10:29 pm

#2960

zombietooth

Join Date: Oct 2009

Programs: UA LT 1K/DL Plat/Hilton LT ♦/Hyatt Carbonado/Wyndham ♦/Marriott PE .

Posts: 5,718

Quote:

Originally Posted by nmenaker

Every time Scott Kirby opens his mouth I have less and less respect for him, and it wasn’t a high bar to begin with.

Kirby is a loathsome creature. The goodwill and positive publicity that Tom generated for UA more than made up for any lost revenue that Kirby thinks Tom may've cost the airline. Tom always said nice things about UA and its employees and was a wonderful ambassador for UA.

nmenaker, iluv2fly, Rare and 18 others like this.

Nov 29, 2025 | 10:51 pm

#2961

meijiem

Join Date: Dec 2023

Location: 🛫🌷🛬

Posts: 1,002

I'm kind of uncomfortable with the CEO speaking so personally about a customer, even if it is such a high-profile and exceptional one.

nmenaker, SPN Lifer, oiRRio and 14 others like this.

Nov 30, 2025 | 6:08 am

#2962

benewr

Join Date: Nov 2017

Location: New York City

Posts: 511

Quote:

Originally Posted by meijiem

I'm kind of uncomfortable with the CEO speaking so personally about a customer, even if it is such a high-profile and exceptional one.

100%, especially after having his company celebrate him every step along the way for all these years.

Reminds me of someome’s MO.

jpezaris, PATRLR, ContinentalFan and 3 others like this.

Nov 30, 2025 | 7:44 am

#2963

abaheti

Join Date: Oct 2011

Location: Los Feliz-Los Angeles (BUR/LAX) Arun Baheti

Programs: UA MM/Gold; HH something depending; Marriott Gold; other opportunistic statuses

Posts: 1,937

Not completely the same, I know, but I believe Kirby has lifetime travel on AA, and Smisek got same from UA confirmed vs space available -- I think for family too. Theirs would be taxable I assume and not come with miles, but still wonder how many airline employees get this and what it costs the airlines.

If the company made a bad business decision (in retrospect) that's on them. Why blame the person who accepted their bargain? That's capitalism.

Rare, SPN Lifer, respectable_man and 5 others like this.

Nov 30, 2025 | 7:55 am

#2964

halls120

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Jun 2005

Posts: 71,864

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPN Lifer

It is sad that the UA CEO is defaming Tom like that, though he may be somewhat protected by not naming names.

Avoiding a defamation action is exactly why Kirby isn't naming names.

Quote:

Originally Posted by meijiem

I'm kind of uncomfortable with the CEO speaking so personally about a customer, even if it is such a high-profile and exceptional one.

Well, consider the source, and you have your explanation.

Nov 30, 2025 | 11:33 am

#2965

Mike Jacoubowsky

Join Date: May 2003

Location: Redwood City, CA USA (SFO/SJC)

Programs: Various between 2p & 1K, currently Gold

Posts: 8,888

Quote:

Originally Posted by meijiem

I'm kind of uncomfortable with the CEO speaking so personally about a customer, even if it is such a high-profile and exceptional one.

While I agree with this, Kirby is also making it clear to his own marketing team, and the company in general, of his (Kirby's) own expectations for how the airline operates going forward. It would have been better, in that regard, if he'd done a better job of pointing out "That was then, this is now" and talked not only about the offer Tom was able to take advantage of, but also the way miles and elite qualification were given out like candy for the slightest issues. In my opinion, what Kirby SHOULD be saying, is that the United of today is a product that shouldn't need to do such things. "Desperate times call for desperate measures" is not a long-term healthy strategy.

But hey, at least Kirby is bashing something he has some control and responsibility for, as opposed to his frequent insults towards American Airlines.

NJSwamplands likes this.

Nov 30, 2025 | 1:09 pm

#2966

UAflyerwhoflystomuch

Join Date: Jan 2024

Location: SFO

Programs: United 1K Member

Posts: 1,173

Quote:

Originally Posted by WineCountryUA

Not to diminish an incredible flying history, but AA MM included more than just simple BIS.

How does it work? Is it like how many miles you earn + BIS?

Nov 30, 2025 | 1:33 pm

#2967

nmenaker

Join Date: Feb 2000

Location: Menlo Park, CA, USA

Programs: UA 1MM 0P, AA, DL, *wood, Lifetime FPC Plat., IHG, HHD

Posts: 7,174

Quote:

Originally Posted by zombietooth

I won’t be surprised to see Kirby quietly move to remove TS name from aircraft.. it its not already.

Mike Jacoubowsky and NJSwamplands like this.

Nov 30, 2025 | 1:40 pm

#2968

WineCountryUA

Moderator: United Airlines

Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: SFO

Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat

Posts: 72,969

Quote:

Originally Posted by UAflyerwhoflystomuch

How does it work? Is it like how many miles you earn + BIS?

At one time AA counted all miles earned; from partners, from class of service bonus, from credit cards, ....This is why it took 2 MM AA to get the same benefit as 1MM UA. But we are getting off-topic and things have changed, so this is a topic better suited for the AA forum.

SPN Lifer, Mike Jacoubowsky and wrp96 like this.

Nov 30, 2025 | 2:45 pm

#2969

CX HK

Join Date: Jan 2011

Posts: 2,654

Quote:

Originally Posted by nmenaker

I won’t be surprised to see Kirby quietly move to remove TS name from aircraft.. it its not already.

I think it has been long removed if I am not mistaken, it was more of a temporary gesture?

Nov 30, 2025 | 3:05 pm

#2970

PTahCha

Original Member

Join Date: May 1998

Location: CT/NY

Programs: UA Plat/1.5MM, AA PltPro, B6 M4 25for25, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Amb

Posts: 7,273

Quote:

Originally Posted by UAflyerwhoflystomuch

Dang do you have a lifetime pass? 18M on AA is A LOT!

Quote:

Originally Posted by nmenaker

I won’t be surprised to see Kirby quietly move to remove TS name from aircraft.. it its not already.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CX HK

I think it has been long removed if I am not mistaken, it was more of a temporary gesture?

Both of those aircrafts were retired through normal course.

wrp96 likes this.

Last edited by WineCountryUA; Nov 30, 2025 at 11:48 pm Reason: split post