Man With 'Golden Airline Ticket' Flies So Often That The Airlines Had To Stop Him

Steven Rothstein had something we all wish we had: a "Golden Airline ticket." Yes, that's right, and it's exactly what it sounds like. Mr. Rothstein could travel anywhere in the world... for free. After years of enjoying the super-rare perk, however, a scandal fell upon him like a ton of bricks. The airlines accused him of fraud and took immediate action, sparking a feud that would go straight to court. But it was a certain betrayal that would result in a major decision that has affected all airlines to this day. 

Lifetime of air travel

“Dad has loved to travel for his entire life,” Steven’s daughter Caroline told The Guardian. And according to her, that’s actually a bit of an understatement. But getting married, starting a family, and becoming a successful stockbroker didn’t slow Steven Rothstein down. In fact, these milestones may have motivated him to do something a little crazy: invest in a lifetime of air travel.

AAirpass

While Steven’s plane ticket wasn’t exactly “one in a million,” he was one of just 66 people on earth to bag up the $250,000 unlimited ticket that was supposed to last him a lifetime. Yep, he first bought his AAirpass from American Airlines in 1987.

Family along for the ride

Two years and an additional $150,000 later, Steven upgraded his AAirpass. He no longer had to fly alone and could bring one guest with him on every plane journey. As you can imagine, this opened up a whole new world of possibilities.

Steven traveled the world

Steven made the ticket worth the cost. The family jetted all over the country and the world, and despite Steven's constant travel for work, the family grew closer. They knew their dad would always be back — despite the fact that he’d found a second family of sorts.