american airlines lifetime travel pass

The rise and demise of the AAirpass, American Airlines’ $250k lifetime ticket

In the 1980s, american airlines sold an unlimited lifetime ticket, called the aairpass. they had no idea what they’d gotten themselves into..

Published: April 07, 2018

Updated: March 21, 2024

Three decades ago, 28 lucky bastards managed to snag the greatest travel deal in history, courtesy of American Airlines. It was dubbed the “unlimited AAirpass.

For a one-time fee of $250k ($560k in 2018 dollars), this pass gave a buyer unlimited first-class travel for life. A companion pass could be purchased for an additional $150k, allowing the pass holder to bring along anyone for the ride.

Mark Cuban, an early AAirpasser, tells us it was “one of the best purchases [he’s] ever made.”

But the unlimited AAirpass had a fatal flaw: it was such a good deal that it ended up costing American Airlines millions of dollars per year — and the company set out to revoke the contracts of its top customers by any means necessary.

It was 1981, and American Airlines was in deep sh*t…

American had been hit hard by the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 . They’d posted a $76m loss in 1980, and were grappling with new competition, reduced ticket prices, and a changing industry that threatened to sink them into irrelevancy.

The airline’s newly-elected president, Robert Crandall, was on a mission to “cut American down to the bone” and lead a massive expansion from the ground up.

American needed cash, but interest rates were at a record-high. So, they came up with a different plan: they’d raise capital from their own customer base by selling its wealthiest customers the “ultimate travel perk” — an unlimited first-class ticket for life. The cost: $250k.

“The idea was that firms would buy this for their top performers,” Crandall tells us over the phone. “But as usual, the public is way smarter than any corporation. People immediately figured out we’d made a mistake pricing-wise.”

By 1994, American had discontinued the unlimited AAirpass — but not before 28 people got the deal of a lifetime.

Life with unlimited travel

Steve Rothstein, then an investment banker in Chicago, was already one of American Airlines’ top fliers when he was approached to buy the AAirpass in the early ‘80s.

“American Airlines contacted me and said that, based on the amount I traveled, the AAirpass would be a great purchase,” Rothstein tells us. “It was like a bond: instead of paying me dividends in cash, they were paying dividends in air travel. They needed cash, and they could pay me in miles.”

For a total of $383k, Rothstein purchased both the AAirpass and companion pass — and over the next 25 years, he proceeded to book more than 10k flights.

He took hundreds of trips to NYC, LA, and SF. He went to London — sometimes a dozen times per month. He flew up to Ontario just for a sandwich. On occasion, he’d offer his companion pass to a complete stranger at the airport.

“The contract was truly unlimited,” he says. “So why not use it as intended?”

Over in Texas, a direct marketing catalog consultant by the name of Jacques Vroom also decided to shell out the $400k for an AAirpass and companion pass.

“I had never bought anything for $400k in my life,” he tells us. “But I took out a loan for 12% for 5 years and did it, because I thought it would give me a competitive advantage for life.”

Over the next 2 decades, Vroom flew an average of 2m miles per year.

He used his pass to catch all of his son’s football games on the East Coast. He popped over to France or London just to have lunch with a friend. When his daughter had a middle school project on South American culture, he took her to Buenos Aires to see a rodeo and flew back the next day.

Like Rothstein, Vroom trusted the sanctity of the contract he’d signed with American Airlines: “They used the word ‘unlimited,’ and ‘lifetime,’” he says. “And then, the motherf*ckers took it all away.”

Yeahhh, about that promise…

Decades later, in 2007, American once again found itself in financial straits.

The company’s “revenue integrity team” found that AAirpass users cost the company big bucks — and they homed in on the program’s two most prolific users: Steve Rothstein and Jacques Vroom.

American calculated that Rothstein and Vroom were each costing the airline $1m per year in taxes, fees, and lost ticket sales.

It didn’t take long for the airline to find reasons to revoke the duo’s passes.

According to documents unearthed by Los Angeles Times reporter Ken Bensinger , Rothstein had made 3k reservations in a span of 4 years and canceled 2.5k of them; Vroom booked flights for strangers and allegedly accepted payment for tickets on certain occasions.

Neither of these practices was barred in the original contract. Nonetheless, American Airlines categorized them as “fraudulent activity,” and formed an elaborate  operation  to “take down” Rothstein and Vroom.

In July of 2008, Vroom was cornered by agents at London’s Heathrow airport; several months later, Rothstein was stopped while boarding a flight at Chicago O’Hare. Both men were stripped of their passes and told they’d never fly on the airline again.

Rothstein and Vroom both filed lawsuits against American Airlines for the wrongful termination of their contracts — but were outmatched by the airline’s “bazillion lawyers.” Then, in 2011, American filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, catapulting them into an indefinite legal limbo.

The corporation versus the measly millionaire

Neither Rothstein nor Vroom has recovered his AAirpass. A third customer also had his pass revoked; the other 25, including Mark Cuban’s, are still valid.

Now a substitute teacher in Dallas, Vroom has a theory. “American was hurting, and went after the most vulnerable AAirpass holders to free up cash — people they knew couldn’t fight back,” he says.

American Airlines declined to comment on this theory, or the program in general.

For Rothstein is a bit more conclusive about the whole thing: “I wish I’d never bought the thing,” he says.

On the walls of his New York office sits a 1998 letter from Robert Crandall, the ex-President of American Airlines: “You can count on us… to honor the deal far into the future.”

Today, Crandall has a different outlook on the situation: “I assume they were cheaters,” he tells us. “If they were cheaters, they deserved it.”

The desperation of the airline industry

Looking back, the AAirpass saga was a fledgling in the airline industry’s race to the bottom.

When the pass debuted in the ‘80s, we were entering a decade of decadence. Brands were competing for customers with amenities, luxuries, cushy promotions — hell, even hot meals.

Now, we’re in the era of begging for peanuts and a few inches of legroom. Flying is just another commodity, stripped to the bare bones by a market struggling to reduce overhead.

And in that market, there’s no room for men who fly to Paris just for lunch.

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Do you know the story of the American Airlines Airpass? Until it ceased accepting new applications in November 2022, this was an all-inclusive membership program that offered elite status, flight discounts, and other perks, for an annual fee. However, back in the early 1980s, American Airlines unveiled a special unlimited version of its AAirpass, whose name was stylized with two As back then.

How did the scheme come about?

The decision for an unlimited AAirpass came about after the Fort Worth, Texas-headquartered US legacy airline posted a $76 million annual loss in 1980. This was due to the 1978 Airline Deregulation Act, which had the effect of bringing about new competition and reduced ticket prices. In today's money, such a loss would equate to approximately $284 million, representing a considerable dent in the accounts.

With this in mind, and in an attempt to quickly raise some badly needed funds, American Airlines dreamt up its AAirpass offering. The 'big three' carrier sold this unlimited first class product as either a five-year or lifetime pass. While this would hardly appeal to the average passenger, the airline was counting on there being sufficient demand from rich frequent flyers to make it a worthwhile investment.

Love aviation history ? Discover more of our stories here!

However, the decision to offer this type of unlimited AAirpass ultimately went down as one of the worst marketing disasters in human history. There were various factors at play, so, with the benefit of hindsight, let's take a look back at the story of the AAirpass, and see why it failed. We'll start by examining the prices and conditions.

What did the unlimited AAirpass offer its owners?

While the price of the five-year unlimited AAirpass has been hard to come by, it has been well-documented that the lifetime version was a one-time purchase of $250,000 in 1981. Today, that's equivalent to more than $933,000, underlining the elite nature of the pass and the exclusivity and rarity of its holders.

By completing this one-time purchase, travelers were entitled to unlimited first-class travel onboard American Airlines flights for life. Moreover, a companion pass could be purchased for an additional $150,000 ($560,000 in today's money), allowing the pass holder to bring a friend, a relative, a colleague, or even a total stranger along for the flight. As such, AAirpass holders were useful people to know!

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According to The Hustle , billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban said it was " one of the best purchases [he's] ever made. " Of course, Cuban is no stranger to spending money on aviation, given his penchant for private jets . Texas Monthly reports that over the program's life, the airline sold 65 just examples of the unlimited version of the AAirpass. Other notable customers included Michael Dell and Willie Mays.

Speaking with The Hustle, American's President at the time, Robert Crandall, commented on the pass, saying that " t he idea was that firms would buy this for their top performers. But, as usual, the public is way smarter than any corporation. People immediately figured out we'd made a mistake pricing-wise." Crandall's sentiments are reflected by notable individuals who made full use of the pass.

Why the unlimited AAirpass was terrific (for flyers)

The three examples below are among the most notable in the history of the unlimited AAirpass in terms of making the best possible use of the ticket. The first concerns investment banker Steven Rothstein, who purchased the AAirpass in 1987, flying over 10,000 flights in 25 years. Living in Chicago, Rothstein was known to fly to London to have lunch with a friend, among other incredible itineraries.

Rothstein's incredible unlimited AAirpass story was documented by his daughter Caroline via Narratively back in the summer of 2019. Among other things, she explained to the publication that "Steven got on a plane like most people get on a bus. The thought of him going to LA from Chicago for the day, or Tokyo from Chicago overnight, or London overnight, for one night (...) was not unheard of."

Second on the list of well-traveled holders of the unlimited AAirpass is Jacques Vroom, a former mail-order catalog consultant living in Dallas. Vroom used the pass to attend his son's college football games in Maine, and crew members even knew him by name. AAirpass flights accumulated frequent flyer miles, and he would give them away, often to people living with AIDS so they could visit family.

"There was one flight attendant, Pierre, who knew exactly what I wanted," Vroom told the Los Angeles Times in 2012. " He'd bring me three salmon appetizers, no dessert and a glass of champagne, right after takeoff. I didn't even have to ask."

Also from Chicago, the third notable holder of the US airline industry's 'golden ticket' was Mike Joyce, who bought his unlimited AAirpass in 1994 after winning a $4.25 million settlement from a car accident. The Los Angeles Times reports that within 25 days in 2012, Joyce flew round-trip to London 16 times. The flights in total would have generally sold for more than $125,000 at the time.

Why it was a blunder (for American Airlines)

If it hasn't become abundantly clear from the examples above, American Airlines ultimately ended up losing vast sums of money from its unlimited AAirpass program, primarily due to the habits of a few 'super travelers.' On a more general level, the following aspects also played a key role in the AAirpass being a loss-maker:

• Passholders could make last-minute cancelations without consequence.
• Bookings by pass holders took up seats that other travelers would have paid for.
• The airline still had to pay for per-passenger taxes and fees imposed by airports and other countries.

In fact, Bridget Cade, an American Airlines employee tasked with abuse and fraud investigation, calculated that 'super travelers' such as Joyce, Rothstein, and Vroom were costing the airline more than $1 million a year. With this in mind, the US legacy carrier decided that enough was enough, and made alterations to the scheme.

Subsequent policy changes

Realizing the blunder, in 1990, American Airlines opted to raise the price of an unlimited AAirpass (with a companion) to $600,000 (worth just over $1.4 million in today's money). Not wanting to cancel the program outright, they further increased the cost to $1.01 million in 1993 (equivalent to $2.15 million in 2023).

Finally, another year down the line, American Airlines eventually stopped selling its infamous unlimited passes altogether back in 1994. That being said, the company did revive it as a one-time sale in the pages of the 2004 Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog for $3 million ($4.9 million today), but there were no takers.

The airline also took action by terminating passes due to what it says equated to fraud. This included Vroom, who had received money from several of his companion flyers. His lawyer said that no offense was committed as Vroom's contract didn't prohibit the practice at the time. Separately, in 2011, a judge ruled that Rothstein had violated his contract by booking empty seats under false names.

In the end, it's quite shocking that American Airlines' unlimited AAirpass program continued to exist for as long as it did, namely for 13 years until 1994. However, having only ever sold 65 examples of the pass, it's clear that the program (and indeed its termination) represented a financial failure for the one world carrier.

Such passes are now a rarity

Perhaps due to the scale of American Airlines' commercial blunder with the AAirpass program, you rarely hear of airlines offering unlimited flight passes nowadays. This is especially pertinent for tickets offered on a lifetime basis. That being said, one shorter-term equivalent in recent years could be found in Norway.

Known as the Explore Norway pass, this £450 ($570) ticket allowed holders to make unlimited flights with regional carrier Widerøe over a two-week period. As its name suggests, the intention was that passengers would use the ticket to see different parts of the country, but keen avgeeks could also use it to rack up flight cycles. You can read a review of a series of flights taken with the pass here .

More recently, American ultra-low-cost carrier Frontier Frontier Airlines has also rolled out an unlimited yearly pass for its flights known as the GoWild! All-You-Can-Fly annual pass. Holders merely have to pay $0.01 plus fees and taxes when traveling with the carrier, and last month saw its price lowered to just $499 .

What do you make of the American Airlines AAirpass? Could it have worked if the airline had put more restrictions in place? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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American Airlines’ $250K Lifetime First Class Travel Pass Was A Jetsetter’s Dream

If you ever needed definitive proof that the glory days of air travel are well and truly behind us, look no further than American Airlines’ AAirpass program — which has recently been enjoying a renewed sense of attention thanks to billionaire Shark Tank investor Mark Cuban.

Launched in 1981 as a means of raising capital while interest rates were sky high, for the relatively reasonable one-time price of $250,000, pass holders were granted unlimited first-class travel on any of the prolific carrier’s flights worldwide while still earning frequent flyer miles; with companion passes available for just another $150,000.

RELATED: The Greatest Frequent Flyer Scam Of The 21st Century

“As usual, the public is way smarter than any corporation,” former American Airlines president Robert Crandall told The Hustle.

While the AAirpass did attract an elite class of clientele exactly as intended — ranging from businessmen like the aforementioned Mark Cuban, and computing don Michael Dell; to baseball great Willie Mays, and America’s Cup winner Dennis Conner — what American Airlines hadn’t anticipated was the millions they’d lose from motivated consumers in the ensuing years.

One pass holder booked 16 round trips to London in just 25 days, racking up an estimated total of $125,000. Another boarded 373 flights in a single year, amounting to approximately 1.46 million miles or $2.4 million.

• 1,000 flights to New York City
• 500 flights to San Francisco
• 500 flights to Los Angeles
• 500 flights to London
• 120 flights to Tokyo
• 80 flights to Paris
• 80 flights to Sydney
• 50 flights to Hong Kong
• and roughly 7,000 flights to the rest of the world

He’d even catch a flight from Chicago, where the financier was based, to Ontario just to smash a sandwich at his favourite restaurant .

Rothstein, alongside marketing exec Jacques E. Vroom incurred estimated annual costs of over $1 million.

In 2008, Steven Rothstein checked in at Chicago O’Hare International Airport with a mate when American Airlines hand-delivered a letter to inform him that his AAirpass had been terminated due to “fraudulent behaviour.”

Apparently, the boardroom suits weren’t exactly cool about his history of approaching passengers at the gate and offering them his companion seat in exchange for cash; nor his habit of using the companion pass to purchase adjacent seats under a fake name for a bit of privacy or extra carry-on luggage (the man not-so-subtly used the alias “Bag Rothstein” for such occasions).

Rothstein would sue over the membership termination (you can read about the fascinating saga penned by his daughter via The Guardian ); as would Vroom when his unlimited flight privileges were similarly revoked. Both were unsuccessful in their campaign to reinstate what they deemed to be a broken contract in the face of the airlines’ “bazillion lawyers.”

RELATED: The American Express Black Card Exists Because Of… Jerry Seinfeld?

“They used the word ‘unlimited’ and ‘lifetime’ and then, the motherf***ers took it all away,” said Jacques E. Vroom Jr.

To cauterize the financial wound, the cost of an American Airlines AAirpass was gradually increased. The $250,000 price tag was bumped up to $600,000 in 1990 and $1.01 million in 1993 before it was officially axed the following year.

That was with the exception of a one-time offer featured in the 2004 Neiman Marcus Christmas catalogue: $3 million for the AAirpass, and $2 million for a companion pass. Nobody ponied up.

In total, American Airlines sold 66 AAirpasses with unlimited travel conditions.

NOTE: ALL $$$ = USD (not adjusted for inflation)

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The $250,000 Airline Pass That Was Worth Every Penny

In the early 1980s, American Airlines started selling the AAirpass, which granted the holder unlimited first-class travel with the carrier—for life. At first, the pass cost $250,000. Sounds like a lot of money (especially three decades ago), but it’s a bargain considering that pass holders have been known to take $125,000 worth of flights in less than a month’s time.

First off, you can’t buy an AAirpass any longer. Not the pass as it was first envisioned anyway. American still does sell something called the AAirpass , but it’s a shell of the original product. The current pass is available only to customers who spend a minimum of $10,000 annually on American Airlines’ flights. The main benefit for pass holders is access to fixed rates that aren’t all that cheap, but that at least ensure travelers won’t get gouged as badly as the masses when booking flights at the last minute. For example, a flight from Chicago to Dallas costs a bit over $500 for a pass holder; the same trip, if booked on the day of travel by an average Joe, probably runs around $900. Today’s pass holders also get to check two bags free of charge, a perk that used to be standard for all travelers.

The original AAirpass, as the Los Angeles Times explains in an enlightening piece that describes the experiences of several pass holders, was something else entirely. Introduced in 1981, it cost $250,000 and was a lifetime pass guaranteeing unlimited first-class travel. A companion pass cost another $150,000.

( MORE: See That Flight Price? Add $103 to It )

What American discovered over the years is a lesson that every restaurant owner who offers an all-you-can-eat buffet must know: For some customers, “unlimited” really does mean unlimited.

How else can anyone explain the guy who flew 16 round trips to London in a 25-day period—flights that would have cost over $125,000 at full retail price? Or the pass holder who flew to 18 times in a single month in 2004? Or how travelers could have accumulated well over 30 million frequent flier miles, blowing away the 10-million-mile mark reached by George Clooney’s character in “Up in the Air”?

American started selling the passes as a means to raise big bucks on the quick, but over the years certain pass holders have gotten more out of the airline than the airline has gotten out of them. So said one former executive to the LA Times :

“We thought originally it would be something that firms would buy for top employees,” said Bob Crandall, American’s chairman and chief executive from 1985 to 1998. “It soon became apparent that the public was smarter than we were.”

( MORE: Why I’ll Never Spend the Night in a Straight Hotel Again )

Pass prices were raised over time—to $600K in 1990, and up over $1 milllion by 1993. The pass was discontinued soon thereafter, but then made a brief reappearance in 2004, when it was available via the Neiman-Marcus catalog for $3 million. (Not a single person bit.)

As for the seriously frequent fliers who snagged passes in the early days at what now appear to be bargain-basement prices, American Airlines has lost millions of dollars on them. A few years ago, the airline went so far as to start investigating customers who take the most advantage of their passes for fraud, eager for any reason to cancel their passes and stop the flight free-for-all.

In what may seem like sour grapes over selling a product that ultimately caused American to lose big bucks, passes have been revoked from customers accused of selling usage of their passes to other travelers, and multiple lawsuits have been filed.

( MORE: Airlines’ Same Old Story: More Fees, Higher Fares, Fewer Perks, Tougher Restrictions )

American doesn’t have to worry about members of the modern-day AAirpass system taking too much advantage of their passes. The airline collects money each time a pass holder flies, so it actually encourages these fliers to fly as frequently as possible.

Brad Tuttle is a reporter at TIME. Find him on Twitter at @bradrtuttle . You can also continue the discussion on TIME ’s Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIME .

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Inside American Airlines' $250,000 lifetime pass: How ticket that granted unlimited first class flights became a DISASTER for airline, after customers including Mark Cuban took thousands of trips and cost company millions

• Launched in 1982, the AAirpass was any traveler's dream, granting a lifetime of limitless first class travel to the holder, who could add a companion for $150,000
• Customers including billionaire Shark Tank investor Mark Cuban and MLB Hall of Famer Willie Mays took thousands of trips and some saved millions of dollars
• Some holders traveled tens of millions of miles and the most prolific cost AA up to $1 million per year - leading execs to revoke some passes over fraud claims 

By Lewis Pennock For Dailymail.Com

Published: 09:49 EDT, 1 July 2023 | Updated: 11:23 EDT, 1 July 2023

View comments

It didn't take long for American Airlines execs to realize that offering a pass which granted unlimited first-class travel for life was a bad idea.

Launched in 1982 as a way to raise quick cash during a company crisis, the $250,000 AAirpass was any traveler's dream. It allowed limitless first class tickets for the holder, who could fork out a further $150,000 for a companion pass.

Billionaire Shark Tank investor Mark Cuban bought one with his first business windfall. Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays snapped up a pass, along with computer magnate Michael Dell.

What AA bosses failed to realize was just how much the few-dozen customers who bought the passes would use them.

One took 16 round-trips to London in just 25 days, worth $125,000. Another racked up 10,000 flights in 25 years. A third took 373 flights in a single year which amounted to 1.46 million miles and would have cost $2.4 million, had they been paying for them like a regular customer. 

@beyondmajority From Coach to Private Jet: Mark Cuban's Lifetime Air Pass Story #investing #markcuban #finance #wealth ♬ original sound - Beyond Majority - Beyond Majority

Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays has an AAirpass for limitless first class travel

Michael Dell, the billionaire founder of the computer firm which bears his name, has a pass

The top-tier AAirpass granted unlimited first class travel for life

As the AAirpass paid for itself several times over - and holders even earned frequent flier miles on their trips - American Airlines footed the bill. Draining cash and desperate to crack down on the scheme, it launched an investigation into the most prolific users.

What followed were accusations of fraud, bitter lawsuits and ultimately, the withdrawal of the scheme.

Now, only a few lucky customers still hold a valid AAirpass .

'THE PUBLIC WAS SMARTER THAN US' 

The AAirpass program was launched in 1981 as American Airlines struggled with rampant inflation rates and sought to raise cash.

It offered several tiers to frequent fliers that ranged from limitless travel for several years, right up to a lifetime of first class flights.

The $250,000 price of the top-tier AAirpass is equivalent to about $800,000 today, accounting for inflation. A lot of money, but consider that a last minute first class return from London to New York is around $21,000. Forty of those trips would cover the cost. 

Mark Cuban, the Shark Tank star and owner of the Dallas Mavericks, who bought an AAirpass with his first business windfall, said he 'went everywhere' and 'partied like a madman'

Bob Crandall, AA's chairman and CEO from 1985 to 1998, told the LA Times in 2012 the company 'thought originally it would be something that firms would buy for top employees'.

'It soon became apparent that the public was smarter than we were,' Crandall admitted.

American no longer sells the AAirpass after it wound up costing the airline millions 

Mark Cuban said getting one was one of the 'most fun, best business decisions I ever made'.

He bought an AAirpass in 1990 when the combined cost with a companion pass was a reported $600,000. Cuban said in one interview he spent $125,000 for the pass and voucher.

Cuban 'went everywhere' and partied 'like a madman'. The pass carried so much prestige that it reportedly allowed the holder to replace another passenger on a full flight. Cuban is rumored to have had basketball great Magic Johnson bumped off a flight by using his pass.

The entrepreneur calculated the cost of the pass meant he could fly for 12 cents per mile on a lifetime of use. He's now worth an estimated $5 billion, has his own private jet - and is said to have given the pass to his father or a friend. 

AMERICAN CRACKS DOWN 

Former Bear Stearns stockbroker Steven Rothstein bought his AAirpass in 1987. Already an avid jetsetter, the ticket was a no-brainer. He added the companion pass two years later.

Across a 25 year period, he booked 1,000 first class flights to New York City, 500 each to San Francisco, Las Angeles and London, and hundreds more to destinations like Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney.

Steve Rothstein bought an AAirpass in 1987 and the airline estimated it was costing $1 million per year to cover his flights. He later had it terminated over claims of 'fraudulent use'

Rothstein took relatives away, offered his companion ticket to strangers in the airport, and used it to reserve a seat for his bags - or simply so he didn't have to sit next to someone else. In total, he clocked up more than 30 million miles - equivalent to more than 40 return trips to the moon.

Texas marketing guru Jacques Vroom bought his in 1990 for $356,000 and also added a companion voucher. 

Vroom racked up more than 40 million miles on the pass. His journeys include round trips to Japan and Europe without even staying the night, cross country flights to visit family for the day and, like Rothstein, he booked trips for strangers.

READ MORE: Travel tips from AAirpass holder who's flown 23 million miles since buying lifetime ticket: 'NEVER check a bag and pretend to know the flight attendant'

As Vroom, Rothstein and others gave a new meaning to 'jet-set lifestyle', airline chiefs realized the pass had become a very costly blunder.

In 2007, AA launched an investigation into the most prolific AAirpass users, who they estimated cost the company more than $1 million each per year, and zeroed in on Rothstein and Vroom.

Both had their passes revoked for  'fraudulent use'. AA claimed this included booking onto flights they never intended to take, inventing fake passengers on the companion ticket, or letting others use their AAirpass in exchange for cash.

Rothstein's pass was revoked on the spot in 2008 when he was ambushed with a letter during check-in at Chicago O'Hare airport which accused him of 'fraudulent behavior'. He said the decision 'stole my personality... my love'.

Vroom's was terminated in a similar manner after he arrived to take a flight from Heathrow Airport in London in 2008.

BITTER LAWSUITS AND THE END OF AAIRPASS

In the face of losing their most treasured possession, Rothstein and Vroom fought back.

Both filed separate lawsuits against American Airlines and argued they hadn't breached the contracts they signed when they bought the passes. 

Rothstein - whose alleged tricks included booking companion seats for fake people named 'Bag Rothstein' for his luggage - claimed all of his bookings were made through AA agents by phone. 

He'd grown so close to some of them that they became friends - even thought he'd never met them in person. 

Tom Stuker, 69, from New Jersey, racked up 23 million frequent flier miles using his AAirpass

Stuker, a married father-of-two, purchased  a lifetime pass with United for $290,000 in 1990. He still holds a valid pass despite other customers losing theirs over fraud claims

'When I bought the AAirpass, in no uncertain terms, they told me that there was only one rule: I couldn’t give anybody the AAirpass,' Rothstein said in an article about his AAirpass, written by his daughter, Caroline.

Vroom told the LA Times that he did take money from some companions but it was for 'his business advice'. 

Lawyers for Vroom and Rothstein argued they didn't commit fraud and suggested the loose contracts did not prohibit the ways they used the passes.

'It sure seems like the airline was looking for an excuse to be rid of my client,' Rothstein’s attorney, Gary Soter, added to the Times.

Not every customer who bought a pass fell foul of their contracts with American.  

American stopped selling the unlimited AAirpass in 1994. Tom Stuker, 69, from New Jersey, racked up 23 million frequent flier miles using his AAirpass and continues to document his journeys on Instragram.

He recently shared his top tips for air travelers - including never checking baggage and pretending to know flight attendants. 

The program continued in other forms for nearly three decades, offering perks and discounts to frequent fliers, before the airline stopped accepting memberships in November 2022.

Share or comment on this article: Inside American Airlines' $250k lifetime pass that grants unlimited first class travel

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How American Airlines’ New Instant Status Pass Works

As a digital nomad for nearly five years, JT is a freelance writer that proves through experience that credit card rewards can drastically reduce the cost of travel. After working as a tax accountant for a decade, JT turned his analytical skills to points, miles and credit cards. He published over 2,000 articles as a writer for The Points Guy.

Meghan Coyle started as a web producer and writer at NerdWallet in 2018. She covers travel rewards, including industry news, airline and hotel loyalty programs, and how to travel on points. She is based in Los Angeles.

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Table of Contents

How American Airlines Instant Status Pass works

Who's eligible for american airlines' new instant status pass, which loyalty points are eligible for instant status pass, if you're considering an american airlines instant status pass ….

American Airlines just introduced a new way of earning AAdvantage elite status. American is calling its new status challenge program "Instant Status Pass." As the name implies, targeted members can get AAdvantage elite status immediately just by registering. Then you can keep that elite status by reaching set Loyalty Point earning thresholds over the next few months.

This unique airline elite status challenge works a bit differently from other airline status challenges. So, let's dig into the details to show you how American Airlines Instant Status Pass works and how to check if you're eligible for this new elite status shortcut.

Targeted members who accept an Instant Status Pass offer from American will start with AAdvantage elite status — but only for four months. To extend your status, you'll need to reach set Loyalty Point thresholds in subsequent four-month phases.

If you run the gauntlet through three phases, you'll keep your AAdvantage elite status through the end of the membership year — which ends on March 31.

» Learn more: The complete guide to the American Airlines AAdvantage program

Earning elite status through Instant Status Pass

Your Instant Status Pass offer determines your initial status level. However, don't worry if you're targeted for a lower elite status than you desire. That's one ingenious aspect of this new offer: You can earn a higher elite status tier by earning more Loyalty Points during the first four-month challenge period — all the way up to top-tier Executive Platinum .

For example, let's say American Airlines offers you an Instant Status Pass for AAdvantage Gold. This elite status level typically requires earning 30,000 Loyalty Points in a qualification year (which is typically from March 1 to the end of February in the next calendar year).

American requires that you earn 10,000 Loyalty Points in the first four months to unlock the next phase of the challenge. Doing so will let you keep Gold status for the next four-month phase.

Say that you earn 30,000 Loyalty Points in the first four-month phase. Assuming all 30,000 Loyalty Points were earned in the same qualifying year, you'll earn AAdvantage Gold through the standard elite status qualification. That means you won't need to worry about earning Loyalty Points for the rest of the qualifying period to keep Gold.

However, to keep you engaged in Instant Status Pass, American Airlines automatically elevates you to AAdvantage Platinum for the second phase. To keep Platinum into phase three, you'll need to earn a total of 50,000 Loyalty Points from the start of the challenge.

» Learn more: The best hotel credit cards right now

How Instant Status Pass works after the first phase

Break out your calculators because this is where things get a little complicated. The good news: American Airlines made this as fair as possible. But, you may need to do a bit of math.

As we covered above, your elite status after the first phase is determined by how many Loyalty Points you earned in the first four months of the challenge. However, the counter does not reset when you enter the second phase. Instead, the requirements in the second phase depend on how many Loyalty Points you earned in the first phase.

Say you got an Instant Status Pass for Gold and earn 18,000 Loyalty Points in the first phase — blowing past the 10,000-point requirement. Those extra earnings aren't lost. Instead, the extra 8,000 points roll over, reducing the 10,000 points you need in your next phase. That means you'll only need to earn 2,000 more Loyalty Points in phase two to keep Gold status.

This also makes it fair for travelers with an expensive flight or other large point-earning activities in the first period. Say you earn 45,000 Loyalty Points in your first four months. That would earn you Platinum Pro for the second phase.

However, if you earn just 25,000 Loyalty Points in phase two, you won't flunk out of the challenge. Instead, American considers your 70,000 points of accumulated earnings and rewards you Platinum for the third phase.

» Learn more: The guide to American Airlines elite status

American Airlines is initially testing this new elite status challenge program with targeted AAdvantage members. Starting today, you can check if you're targeted for this elite status shortcut by logging into your AAdvantage account and checking your promotions .

Alternatively, American Airlines representatives told NerdWallet that members can call AAdvantage to see if they are eligible for an Instant Status Pass challenge.

Once you're targeted with an Instant Status Pass offer, you only have 30 days to register. That gives you a little flexibility to determine when to start your first four-month phase. Consider waiting until right before the deadline if you aren't flying American or don’t have a way to earn Loyalty Points through another method before that registration deadline.

American Airlines clarified to NerdWallet that all Loyalty Points are eligible for Instant Status Pass. And there are no segment requirements for Instant Status Pass. That means you can earn enough Loyalty Points to extend your elite status without taking a single flight.

You can earn Loyalty Points toward keeping your status by flying on American Airlines, JetBlue , GOL or Oneworld partners . Or earn miles while on the ground by spending on an American Airlines credit card , shopping online through SimplyMiles or the AAdvantage eShopping portal, booking an AAVacation package or earning miles through other Loyalty Point-qualifying partners.

Just keep in mind that not all AAdvantage mileage-earning options qualify as Loyalty Points. Excluded earning methods include bonuses earned through credit cards, points purchases, conversions from another loyalty program or earning miles through Bask Bank .

» Learn more: American Airlines Loyalty Points aren’t as easy to earn as you might think

American Airlines offers lucky targeted AAdvantage members a new path to elite status through Instant Status Pass. This unique multi-phased status challenge keeps members engaged in the AAdvantage program longer than a typical status challenge.

Check the promotions tab in your AAdvantage account to see if you're targeted. Alternatively, you can give an American Airlines agent a call.

If you're targeted for an Instant Status Pass, don't enroll immediately. Instead, check the enrollment deadline and consider whether you should delay enrollment until closer to when you fly American Airlines or can start earning Loyalty Points.

Featured image courtesy of American Airlines.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Is it worth pursuing lifetime elite status?

If you're trying to qualify for airline or hotel elite status, you can use plenty of tricks and tools to get there faster. Maybe you can leverage a status match or challenge or use the right credit card to unlock the next tier of elite benefits. Unfortunately, no matter how you qualify, your status will almost always be short-lived. Within a year or two, you'll return to the grind of trying to requalify.

This is why many major airlines and hotel chains offer some form of lifetime elite status (frequently dubbed "Million Miler status" by airlines). These programs reward elite members who've stayed loyal to the same airline or hotel for years — often a decade or more — with the incredible gift of automatic status, regardless of your flight/stay activity in a year.

This freedom to plan your travel for the year without tracking your elite-qualifying progress sounds seductive, but getting there requires a long-term commitment in an environment that's constantly changing. Today we'll look at if and when it makes sense to pursue lifetime elite status and long-term loyalty.

If you're not familiar with the various lifetime status programs, you can check out our guides here:

• Your guide to American Airlines lifetime elite status .
• Your guide to Delta Air Lines lifetime elite status .
• Your guide to United Airlines lifetime elite status .
• Your guide to Hilton Honors lifetime elite status .
• Your guide to World of Hyatt lifetime elite status .
• Your guide to Marriott Bonvoy lifetime elite status .

Million Miler airline status

Frequent flyer programs take the cake for having the highest number of metrics and counters on your account dashboard — but each one means something different.

The simplest number is your mileage account balance. These are typically called redeemable miles, as they're the ones you use to book award tickets.

Then you have your miles, dollars and segments determining your eligibility for elite status in a single calendar year. Last is your Million Miler balance, which is an entirely separate number.

You can pad your redeemable mileage balance with a welcome bonus on a new cobranded credit card and you can earn elite-qualifying miles faster by flying in a premium cabin. Still, those two activities won't always impact your march towards lifetime elite status.

American , for one, only counts the distance flown on American-marketed flights along with the base miles earned from partner flights. United , meanwhile, only considers the distance you've flown on United flights and excludes trips on partners. Delta is the simplest, as all Medallion Qualification Miles will count towards Million Miler status.

Related: What is Delta elite status worth ?

Bottom line: It takes a lot of actual flying to qualify for lifetime airline elite status.

Let's look at my nascent lifetime activity with American Airlines as an illustrative example. I've easily managed to qualify for AAdvantage Gold status for the last couple of years by earning 40,000 Loyalty Points each calendar year. What do I have to show for that? Just over 80,000 miles in my Million Miler balance. That's because not all Loyalty Points count toward lifetime status.

At this rate, it would take me years to reach a million qualifying miles. And what's waiting for me at the end? The same Gold status I already have along with a one-time bonus of 35,000 miles ( worth $619 based on TPG's current valuations , though who knows how much they'll be worth after almost four decades).

Maybe I'm not the ideal candidate for this status, so let's look at top-tier Executive Platinum elites. Despite logging 100,000 miles or more in a year, it would still take them a full decade to reach Million Miler status. Plus, rewarding an Executive Platinum elite with lifetime Gold status is about as meaningless as giving Emirates first-class passengers access to leftover drinks from the economy meal service.

Even at 2 million miles or 20 years of commitment, the highest elite status you can lock in with American Airlines' lifetime elite status program is Platinum. That would be a nice gift if it happened organically, but hardly enough of a reward to fly 2 million revenue miles with the same airline.

Related: What is American Airlines elite status worth ?

United's lifetime elite status program is potentially the only exception. Even though it only counts United flights towards qualification, your initial 1 million flight miles already gets you to Premier Gold, a mid-tier status equivalent to the highest tier you can possibly get with American. After 4 million lifetime flight miles, you'll lock in the carrier's exclusive Global Services tier , normally an invitation-only status reserved for the highest spenders.

To sweeten the pot even more, every United lifetime elite can designate a companion living at the same address to enjoy the same, current status. This means that if you're a lifetime Premier Platinum who's currently Premier 1K, your companion will also enjoy Premier 1K status. With United's shift towards revenue-based elite qualification , the ability to lock in a higher tier of status forever and not have to consistently spend thousands of dollars a year sounds pretty appealing.

I still wouldn't view United's Million Miler program as sufficient in and of itself to choose it as your primary carrier. Again, flying a million miles is a long-term commitment. I'd argue that short-term considerations are more important, like how well the route map of United and its partner airlines meets your travel needs, how competitive the fares are and even how modern and comfortable the cabins are on the routes you fly most.

Related: What is United Airlines elite status worth ?

Lifetime hotel elite status

Hotel status is a tougher question, since 10 to 15 years can be enough time to lock in a lifetime of top-tier status with major programs.

As an example, a Marriott Platinum Elite who stays 60 nights a year for 10 years will have no problem locking up lifetime Platinum, as this requires 600 total nights plus at least 10 years with Platinum (or higher) status. Lifetime Platinum includes perks like free breakfasts and space-available upgrades, including suites.

This is even accelerated for holders of Marriott's cobranded credit cards, like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card , Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card , as they offer 15 nights of elite credit each year. Ten years with any of those cards alone will get you 25% of the way to lifetime Platinum, though be aware that lifetime Platinums do not get Choice Benefits each year .

Alternatively, you can simply get the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card , which awards 25 elite-qualifying nights every year and comes with automatic Platinum status.

Related: How to choose the best Marriott Bonvoy card for you

Hilton lifetime elite status is a bit harder but still doable in a faster timeframe than airlines. If you hit 60 nights a year (the minimum threshold to qualify for Diamond each year), you'll snag lifetime Diamond status in less than 17 years. Of course, this status is also available to holders of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card , but completing 1,000 nights and accruing 10 years of Hilton Diamond status is the only way to guarantee your top-tier status for life.

The information for the Hilton Aspire Amex card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: How to choose the best Hilton credit card for you

Bringing up the rear in terms of ease of attainment is Hyatt Lifetime Globalist status , which requires 1 million base points ($200,000 in spending). There's no way to sidestep this threshold; you must spend that amount to lock in the program's top-tier status for life.

Which hotel program should you pursue lifetime status with?

This is a strong argument to stick to either Marriott or Hilton year after year if you can, but as with any elite status qualification, make sure you understand the value of what you're getting (a decade down the road) and how much you're willing to spend now to make that happen.

Marriott Bonvoy arguably has the most generous lifetime status policy of any major hotel chains, but that isn't reason enough to throw your loyalty at them. You must accrue multiple years of Marriott loyalty and everything that entails. If that's not the best fit for your travel needs, no amount of lifetime status can justify sticking by a program for a decade or longer.

Related: How I earned Hyatt Globalist status for $0 out of pocket

Bottom line

So, should you deliberately go after lifetime elite status? In general, it's probably not worth going out of your way, as Million Miler and lifetime hotel status programs have been carefully designed so you can't "pursue" them any other way than being totally loyal to that brand. Sure, you might use a Marriott Bonvoy credit card for some nights or even a year or two of elite status instead of staying at Marriott properties. However, you're still engaging with the Bonvoy rewards program and creating revenue for Marriott. There's no way you'll earn lifetime elite status if you aren't willing to devote your business to the same brand for a long time.

That said, if you're loyal and happy with the value you're getting now, lifetime status can be a nice bonus in the future. Just remember that a lot can change in 10 years and many people who earned lifetime status with SPG aren't thrilled with what their benefits look like today. If you've run the numbers on your future travel and think you might be able to qualify for lifetime status, you should keep that in the back of your mind. Just remember how far in the future that will be, and don't let it overly inform your decisions today.

Additional reporting by Ben Smithson.

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More than 3 million pass through US airport security in a day for the first time as travel surges

A traveler walks through the departure area as airline catering workers who are employed by Gate Gourmet picket with their supporters, calling for a new union contract with raises and affordable health insurance, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at Miami International Airport in Miami. A long Fourth of July holiday weekend is expected to create new travel records. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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More than 3 million people passed through U.S. airport security on Sunday, the first time that number of passengers have been screened in a single day as travel surges , according to the U.S. Transportation Security Administration.

The record, which was widely predicted to happen at some point over the July Four holiday weekend, topped the June 23 mark of more than 2.99 million screened passengers. Eight of the 10 busiest days in TSA’s history have come this year as the number of travelers tops pre-pandemic levels.

TSA was created after the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and replaced a collection of private security companies that were hired by airlines. The agency operates under the Department of Homeland Security, which said that agents on Sunday checked 35 passengers every second.

While Americans continue to grapple with inflation, travel costs including airline tickets and hotel prices have eased significantly from a year ago. Hotel rooms were 1.2% cheaper in May compared with a year ago, according to recent government inflation data. Those costs have been trending lower since the beginning of the year.

While most U.S. airlines lost money in the first quarter — traditionally the weakest time of year for travel — they were all expecting a summer of full planes.

This spring, American and Southwest said they expected solid second quarter profits. They joined Delta Air Lines and United Airlines in giving an upbeat outlook for the April-through-June period, which includes the start of peak season for carriers.

Delta reports its second-quarter earnings on Thursday, with analysts predicting sales of $15.5 billion, nearly $1 billion more than the same period a year ago. Next week, United and American issue their quarterly results, with Wall Street forecasting higher revenue from a year ago for both carriers.

Increasingly full planes since the pandemic shut travel down four years ago has brought some downside for airlines: complaints .

The Transportation Department said last week that it received nearly 97,000 complaints in 2023, up from about 86,000 the year before. The department said there were so many complaints that it took until July to sort through the filings and compile the figures.

That’s the highest number of complaints about airlines since 2020, when airlines were slow to give customers refunds after the coronavirus pandemic shut down air travel.

The Transportation Department said the increase in complaints was partly the result of more travelers knowing about their rights and the ability to file a complaint. Airlines receive many more complaints from travelers who don’t know how or don’t bother to complain to the government, but the carriers don’t release those numbers.

Associated Press Airlines Writer David Koenig contributed to this story.

How to Fly for Free, According to Frequent Travelers

D avid Ocamb and his wife, Dorene, are avid international travelers. But with pandemic travel restrictions still in place for much of 2021 and 2022, they felt it was safer to fly to destinations within the United States and surrounding area. That led them to a tool that saved them thousands of dollars: the Southwest Companion Pass.

It's a deal that allows two people to fly for the price of one, though if you factor in the couple's toddler, who, at the time, flew for free in their laps, the family often got three people on planes for the price of one. Their savings climbed as they visited one U.S. destination after another and even took trips to some of Southwest's Caribbean destinations, including the Dominican Republic and Jamaica.

"It was a fantastic tool for us," Ocamb says. "If it fits your travel style, it is a phenomenal deal absolutely worth pursuing."

Along with savvy tactics like using a flight price tracker and knowing the best time to book a flight , companion passes are among the tools budget-conscious travelers covet the most. Intrigued? You should be. Read on to find out how to travel for free on Southwest and other airlines.

Get  Reader's Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter  for more travel, tech, humor, cleaning and fun facts all week long.

What is a companion pass, exactly?

A companion pass is essentially a "buy one, get one free" deal. You purchase an airline ticket for yourself and can add a family or friend as your flying companion to your reservation, free of charge, as long as there's a seat on the plane. The deals are typically offered as either a high-level reward of airline loyalty or as a perk of carrying an airline-affiliated credit card.

The Southwest Companion Pass is perhaps the most prominent example of such a program in the United States, because it allows qualified members who meet its qualifying benchmarks to use it on an unlimited number of flights. Though other airlines do have variations of the buddy-pass setup, they often take the form of an annual, single-use coupon as part a travel credit card perk. This includes certain Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines and American Airlines credit cardholders. For many of these certificates, though, there are dollar limits on the discount.

Why the Southwest Companion Pass is such a great deal

Customers who qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass can save a lot of money. If you fly frequently with a significant other, spouse, child or co-worker, it's a way for them to fly with you, virtually for free, an unlimited number of times while you have the pass.

Another perk? It's easy to use. The first step is going into your airline account and designating who your companion is. From there, "it's absolutely seamless," Ocamb says. "When you book a ticket, you literally just book the ticket for yourself. It has a button that says 'add companion' and you click that button, and you now have your companion's pass."

Members just have to pay the nominal taxes and fees, which comes to $5.60, one way, for a domestic flight. (That's also what you pay in cash when booking a flight using points or miles.) Even after Southwest's holiday 2022 meltdown, you can see why this airline was rated No. 1 for customer satisfaction .

How much you can save with a Companion Pass

Generally speaking, your savings are virtually unlimited. You can add a Companion Pass flier to cheap fares and expensive fares. That means however much you spend on the first ticket is, essentially, how much you're saving on the second ticket.

"For us, it saved thousands of dollars, without a doubt," Ocamb says, noting that having this cost-saving opportunity led him and his wife to book regular weekend trips . "But you have to want to travel a lot for it to be valuable."

He notes that it can come in handy for business purposes too. His colleague, who owns a small business, regularly uses it to transport an employee, free of charge, to reduce the company's business expenses.

How to get a Southwest Companion Pass

Now here's the hard part. Earning the Southwest Companion Pass is the highest level you can reach in the airline's Rapid Rewards loyalty program, and to qualify, members have to fly 100 qualifying one-way flights or earn 135,000 Companion Pass Qualifying Points in a calendar year. Those points can come from flying Southwest or in a couple of non-travel ways, like spending on Southwest credit cards.

The airline previously awarded one-year Companion Passes as a welcome bonus for members who added certain Southwest credit cards to their wallet. This is how Ocamb and his wife got their pass. The airline has since discontinued this offer, though.

However, having a Southwest credit card makes it a lot easier to reach the Companion Pass qualification benchmark though everyday credit card spending. Just about every dollar you spend on qualifying purchases charged to a Southwest card counts toward the 135,000-point benchmark you have to reach. New card members who reach spending requirements can also earn a one-time bonus (often tens of thousands of points) that can put you nearly halfway to the threshold. Additionally, a number of Southwest's cards provide an annual 10,000-point "boost" toward your Companion Pass qualifying progress.

Is the Southwest Companion Pass for life?

Sadly, the Southwest Companion Pass doesn't last forever. Once you qualify for the Companion Pass, you'll have it for the remainder of that calendar year as well as the next year. So, if you earned the pass in August 2023, you'd have it through the rest of 2023 and 2024. In order to keep it for another year, you'll have to meet the qualification requirements again.

If you're looking to save in other ways when traveling (and who isn't?), here's what you need to know about hotel rewards programs.

Be aware of Southwest Companion Pass restrictions

There are a few restrictions you need to know about when it comes to Southwest's Companion Pass. Here are the most important:

• You have to designate your companion before booking a flight. You're only allowed to change your companion three times in a calendar year.
• Once you change your companion, any existing reservations for your previous companion will be canceled.
• Your companion will not earn Rapid Rewards points or make progress toward A-List elite status when flying with you.
• Converting points from a partner company, like a rental car company or hotel, into your Rapid Rewards account will not count toward your progress to earn the Companion Pass.

Other airline companion passes worth checking out

While it's clear why Southwest's buddy pass stands out among U.S. airlines, other carriers also offer their own programs. Here's where to look and what you can expect from them.

Delta Companion Certificates

Delta awards companion certificates once annually to members of its SkyMiles loyalty program with certain airline-affiliated American Express cards. Though terms vary depending on the specific card, the general idea with the Delta companion pass is that you get one each year after renewing your card. This allows a partner to tag along for free on one flight. Some higher-end cards get domestic First Class or extra legroom (Comfort+) certificates, while others are limited to main cabin fares. Most often, these tickets must be used for travel within the 48 contiguous states.

Alaska Airlines Companion Fare

Alaska Airlines also gives companion passes to its Mileage Plan loyalty program members who carry certain airline credit cards. Each year after opening a card, members who reach a minimum spending requirement will receive the pass. It's good for a round-trip coach ticket valued at up to $122. It's worth noting, though, that members and their companions eligible for upgrades can still be upgraded when traveling using the Companion Fare.

American Airlines Companion Certificate

Credit card holders with certain American Airlines AAdvantage credit cards through its line of Barclay's Aviator cards can earn a Companion Certificate annually. This is good for one guest on a ticket valued at $99 for members who meet minimum spending requirements and keep their account open 45 days past their card anniversary date. These certificates can be used for a companion on a domestic flight in the main cabin.

Hawaiian Airlines Companion Discount Codes

Hawaiian Airlines also gives its credit card holders annual discounts for a companion. Certain cardholders can receive a $100 companion discount as well as a 50% companion discount—both for round trips booked in coach.

Advice for using companion passes

If there's one piece of advice Ocamb would offer to fellow Southwest fliers hoping to get the Companion Pass, it would be to take full advantage of its potential cost savings. "You have to be someone who is going to use it and do a ton of weekend flights," he says. "My best advice is: Book early, book often. If you think you want to book the flight, book the flight."

After all, Southwest's cancellation policy allows all customers to get full trip credit or, for certain fares, a full refund, as long as they cancel at least 10 minutes before departure. (Yes, you read that right—just 10 minutes before departure.)

"Even if you don't know whether you have off a weekend, book it anyway," Ocamb says. "Just book it, and worst thing is you have to cancel." Ready to start racking up those rewards points? Check out these affordable family vacation ideas around the country and book that first trip.

• Southwest : "More Status Benefits: Companion Pass"
• Southwest : " 2023 Rapid Rewards Qualifying Transactions for 2023–2024 Status"
• Delta : "About Companion Certificates"
• Alaska Airlines : "Alaska's Famous Companion Fare frequently asked questions"
• American Airlines : "Explore the benefits of your AAdvantage Aviator Red Mastercard"
• Hawaiian Airlines : "Terms and Conditions: Credit Card Companion Discount Codes"

The post How to Fly for Free, According to Frequent Travelers appeared first on Reader's Digest .

Impacts may be 'catastrophic' as Hurricane Beryl pounds Jamaica: Live updates

Editor's note: This page reflects news on Hurricane Beryl from Wednesday, July 3. For the latest news on Hurricane Beryl please follow USA TODAY's live updates on the storm for Thursday, July 4 .

Hurricane Beryl was retreating from Jamaica late Wednesday and is expected to pass just south of the Cayman Islands overnight as a major hurricane, bringing intense winds and heavy rain, the National Hurricane Center said.

As of 2 a.m. ET Thursday, Beryl was downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 125 mph and was about 110 miles southeast of Grand Cayman — the largest of the Cayman Islands. After roaring by Jamaica's southern coast, the hurricane was expected to unload "devastating hurricane-force winds, life-threatening storm surge, and damaging waves" across the Cayman Islands, according to the hurricane center.

The Cayman Islands could get up to half a foot of rain through Thursday. Weather officials are also warning about life-threatening surf and rip currents along parts of western Cuba, the Yucatan Peninsula, and the coast of Belize.

Beryl was on track to approach the Cayman Islands on Wednesday night and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula about 24 hours later, still as a hurricane but weakened by expected wind shear.

In Jamaica, emergency crews evacuated people living in flood-prone communities and nearly 500 people were in shelters by Wednesday afternoon, according to Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

“We’re concerned about widespread damage and potentially catastrophic impacts in Jamaica,” said Bernie Rayno, AccuWeather's chief on-air meteorologist. "Flooding may last days to even weeks. Widespread power outages are expected. Beryl will likely damage many homes and businesses and cause severe coastal inundation."

The chances of Beryl impacting part of the Texas Gulf Coast have increased with the projected path veering northwest, AccuWeather reported , although it would not bring anywhere near the ferocity of its devastating assault on the southern Windward Islands earlier this week. The current track calls for Beryl to weaken to a tropical storm as it crosses the Yucatan and then becomes a hurricane again before making landfall along the coast near the border of Mexico and Texas.

The storm is projected to drench Jamaica with 4 to 8 inches of rain, and 12 inches are forecast in some places, which could cause "life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides," the NHC said. Holness declared all of Jamaica a "disaster area" and imposed an islandwide curfew Wednesday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

On Monday, Beryl made landfall in Grenada's Carriacou island as a Category 4 hurricane, ravaging the southern Caribbean Islands, flattening hundreds of buildings and causing the deaths of at least seven people. On Monday night, Beryl became the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record. Driven by record-hot ocean temperatures, Beryl's rapid strengthening has stunned experts.

Amazing drone footage: As Hurricane Beryl tears through Caribbean, a drone sends back stunning footage

Developments:

∎ The death toll from the powerful hurricane rose to at least 10, according to Reuters. But that figure is expected to increase as communications come back online across islands damaged by flooding and intense winds.

∎ The Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, Jamaica posted on X that a small section of the roof of its passenger boarding pier was damaged by Beryl. "Once the storm has completely passed, a full assessment of damage will be done," the airport stated on X.

∎ The Meteorological Service of Mexico issued a hurricane warning for the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula from Puerto Costa Maya to Cancun, a popular tourist destination, according to the NHC. Tropical storm warnings were also issued for other parts of the Yucatan Peninsula.

∎ Venezuela's vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, and senior officials in her traveling party were injured by a falling tree Tuesday night while surveying an area near the country's Caribbean coast where the Manzanares River overran its banks after heavy rainfall caused by Beryl.

Hurricane Beryl tracker: See projected path of storm

Will Hurricane Beryl hit Texas?

Portions of South Texas are now within the forecast cone of Hurricane Beryl , which meteorologists say could arrive in the state over the weekend or early Monday.

However, forecasters remain unsure of what Beryl will do and how strong it will be as it approaches the Gulf Coast after hitting Mexico: "High uncertainty remains with both the track and intensity of Beryl," the  National Weather Service said Wednesday.

"From Panama City, Florida to New Orleans, there is a low risk of direct impacts from Beryl, but from about Corpus Christi to Brownsville, Texas, the risk increases significantly due to the potential for Beryl to have more direct impacts,"  AccuWeather  meteorologist Jonathan Porter said. "That southern portion of the Texas coast is the zone we have to really watch."

Coastal threats could begin this weekend, Weather.com warned: "Well ahead of Beryl, onshore winds could lead to increasing surf, rip currents and coastal flooding along parts of the Gulf Coast from eastern Mexico to Texas and western Louisiana beginning as soon as Saturday, and continuing until just after Beryl's final landfall, Weather.com  said. The rip current threat could also even extend farther east along the northern Gulf Coast.

Brennan said Tuesday that "folks in the Texas coast, as we go into the holiday weekend, you're going to want to make sure you check back on the forecast and make sure you're ready for any potential impact. If we were to see tropical storm conditions affect those areas in the far western Gulf of Mexico, it could be during the day Saturday."

– Doyle Rice

More than 90% of the homes, buildings destroyed

More than 90% of homes and buildings across at least three islands were destroyed or severely damaged after Beryl tore through the southeast Caribbean, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency reported Wednesday. The agency was assisting with the disaster response in Grenada, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines.

Beryl struck the islands with winds of 150 mph and higher gusts on Monday, causing significant impacts to the islands, according to Elizabeth Riley, the disaster management agency's executive director. In addition to infrastructure damages, some islands have also faced power outages and disruptions to communications.

In a briefing late Tuesday, Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell described "total destruction" on the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

"There's really nothing that can prepare you to see this level of destruction," Mitchell said. "It is almost Armageddon-like, almost total damage and destruction of all buildings. Complete devastation and destruction of agriculture. Complete and total destruction of the natural environment."

— Dinah Voyles Pulver

Airlines waive fees for some in Hurricane Beryl's path

Six major U.S. airlines said they're waiving various fees for travelers who have flights booked in Beryl's path. In most cases, flights booked before July 1 are eligible for the changes. The listed flights include departures from or arrivals in airports in Mexico, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and Belize.

American , JetBlue , United , Delta , Southwest , and Spirit Airlines are offering a variety of fee waivers because of the hurricane. Passengers are encouraged to check directly with the airlines on what amended policies apply to them.

The U.S. Department of Transportation said on its website travelers on international flights may be able to recover expenses from a delayed or canceled flight by filing a claim with the airline.

"If the claim is denied, you may pursue the matter in court if you believe that the carrier did not take all measures that could reasonably be required to avoid the damages caused by the delay," the agency said. 

− Krystal Nurse

Resort manager in Jamaica maintains composure as Hurricane Beryl approaches

The coming hurricane doesn't scare Tamar Atkinson, the manager of a small resort in Hanover, a community on Jamaica's northwest coast.

"The way I look at it, I can't stop it," she told USA TODAY. "If the hurricane is going to blow your house down, it's going to blow the house down."

Atkinson, 42, who moved back to Hanover a year ago after she lived in the U.S. for 20 years, already has her sea legs in weathering Jamaica's hurricanes. She remembers facing Hurricane Gilbert, a Category 5, as a little girl – the storm blew the roof off her aunt's house, where she sheltered, but left her mother's house in "perfect condition."

When Hurricane Ivan hit two decades ago, Atkinson sheltered at a nearby school. Once again, the storm blew out the school's windows but left Atkinson's house untouched. "I'm not leaving my house, and I'm not going to go crazy like the rest of the people," she said, adding that she's told her guests to "relax their nerves."

Jamaica closes all international airports as Hurricane Beryl nears island

The Jamaica Tourist Board announced Wednesday that the Sangster, Norman Manley, and Ian Fleming international airports were closed as Hurricane Beryl approached the island.

Jamaica's travel website, VisitJamaica.com, doesn't list a reopening time for the airports and encourages travelers to contact their travel agents and/or airlines for flight updates. The website also encourages travelers to heed any instructions from their hotel or private accommodation on sheltering.

"We also encourage you to register with your Embassy for country-specific guidance and support," the board said on the website.

The U.S. Embassy in Jamaica is open on a limited basis and encourages Americans to not visit the embassy for shelter and instead seek a government-run shelter. Citizens in Jamaica are encouraged to call the embassy at (876) 702-6486 if they need assistance. 

– Krystal Nurse

Ahead of Hurricane Beryl, Jamaicans prepare their homes

Donae Maye stocked up on water, candles, and food earlier this week, before supermarkets across her hometown of Montego Bay, a city on Jamaica's northern Coast, emptied.

"There was no bread, no essentials that you actually need, no candles, very few tin products," she said on Wednesday, after a recent visit to some local grocery stores.

Maye, 27, also prepped her home, where she will shelter with her fiance, her son and his father. "We cleared away any trees that might be blocking any electrical wires and stuff like that that might fall and break the window," she said.

She's confident that her house, which is made of concrete, will stand up to the storm better than many buildings did to Hurricane Ivan 20 years ago. Back then, more structures were made of board, which didn't fare well in the storm, she said. Today, "most structures are built to withstand the winds and the hurricane," she said.

Humanitarian groups rally relief for impacted countries

Global Giving and Americares are among the humanitarian organizations collecting money for those affected by Hurricane Beryl. Both promise donations to support various impacted communities, focusing on those who are disadvantaged and on decimated medical facilities.

Cora Nally, international emergency response director of Americares, said the organization focuses on restoring damaged medical facilities and expects to deploy its workers to Jamaica soon after Beryl leaves.

"That is really going to serve as a home base for them, and we are asking them to do an assessment of all the impacted islands in the Caribbean, and we are going to be keeping an eye on the storm as it moves towards Mexico and the United States," she said.

Is Cancun in the path of Hurricane Beryl?

Among the parts of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and surrounding areas under hurricane warnings were Cancun and the island of Cozumel, two popular tourist destinations packed with luxury resorts and cruise ship ports.

The hurricane warnings were issued by the Meteorological Service of Mexico as forecasters warned residents and tourists of the projected impact of Hurricane Beryl.

Brennan, the director of the NHC, said in a YouTube livestream on Wednesday that the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, including Cancun, faces 3 to 5 feet of storm surge as well as up to 8 inches of rain.

The record-breaking hurricane is expected to make landfall along the Yucatan Peninsula on Thursday night or early Friday, NHC said.

In Jamaica, tourists shelter in hotel ballroom from Hurricane Beryl

Cecilia Garcia and her family initially planned to weather the beginning of the hurricane in the bathroom of their hotel room in Ocho Rios, on Jamaica's northern coastline. "We do have windows in our room, so I think the safest option would probably be to go in our restroom," she said.

Moon Palace Jamaica, where Garcia, 25, is staying with her parents, brother, sister and two kids, told hotel guests to evacuate to a ballroom. When Garcia and her family first visited the shelter, they found it too chaotic. "We ended up back in our room because it was very crowded," she said. "It was very hot in there."

But later on Wednesday morning, as the winds picked up, the family returned to the packed ballroom, where thin cots were arranged in rows, according to a video Garcia shared with USA TODAY.

Garcia and her family's flight back to their home of Houston, Texas, isn't until Saturday – the hurricane will strike at the midpoint of their week-long vacation. Garcia said if they chose to end their stay earlier, they wouldn't get a refund. 

Looking out at skies still partially clear on Wednesday morning, Garcia said the family was keeping calm ahead of the storm. "We're kind of used to bad weather and floods like that in Houston," she said. "But again, it's different when you're not at home, so that's the only scary part."

Hurricane Beryl spoiling graduation trip

Mona Parhar, 23, and Arezoo Rafkhani, 24, didn't start searching for early return flights from their vacation to Jamaica until Tuesday night, less than 24 hours before Hurricane Beryl was expected to sweep across the island. By then, they learned airports had closed.

"We really have no choice but to stick it out," Parhar said Wednesday from their hotel room at the Hotel Riu in Montego Bay on the island's northern side.

The two Toronto natives booked their trip to celebrate their recent graduations – Rafkhani from Toronto Metropolitan University and Parhar from York University. "We've never experienced something like this as Canadians," Rafkhani said. "It's kind of nerve-wracking."

The pair were comforted by the hotel staff, who kept guests informed and safe. "Since last night, they've been sending us messages about how to get prepared, what they're doing and will be doing this morning," Rafkhani said. "They've been keeping us calm," Parhar said.

Jamaica braces for Hurricane Beryl

Jamaican officials warned residents to stock up on food, batteries, candles, and drinking water. Residents in flood-prone areas were also advised to prepare for evacuation.

"Secure your critical documents and remove any trees or items that could endanger your property," the Office of the Prime Minister in Jamaica said on X on Tuesday. "Everyone, including those living alone, should take these necessary steps now."

As a precaution, Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness said Tuesday night that electricity and water services will likely be shut off "if the storm reaches a serious threshold" to prevent fires and protect equipment.

"Only one hurricane has ever affected Jamaica during July," according to AccuWeather meteorologist Jesse Ferrell. "Category 4 Hurricane Dennis in 2005 did not make landfall but killed one person and caused a lot of damage."

Record-breaking path: Hurricane Beryl tears through the Caribbean

Hurricane Beryl breaks records

Forecasters have projected 2024 to be one of the busiest hurricane seasons on record. Beryl has already surprised forecasters and broken records since it formed, including becoming the earliest Category 4 or 5 storm on record.

Beryl broke the previous record set by Hurricane Emily on July 17, 2005, for the strongest Category 5 hurricane. Beryl rapidly strengthened from a tropical storm to a major hurricane in about 48 hours.

The storm is also the earliest Category 4 or larger storm by more than a week, breaking the record set by Hurricane Dennis, a Category 4 storm on July 8, 2005.

It was fueled by  much warmer than normal  ocean temperatures in the Atlantic and aided in that development by light winds that allowed it to build a strong inner core.

— Jennifer Borresen, Dinah Voyles Pulver and Ramon Padilla

Hurricane Beryl tracker: See projected path of Category 5 storm

Smaller islands hit hard by Beryl

Beryl hit St. Vincent and the Grenadines especially hard, according to Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves.

"The hurricane has come and gone, and it has left in its wake immense destruction," he said, adding that Union Island had 90% of homes "severely damaged or destroyed."

After making landfall in Grenada's Carriacou Island on Monday, strong winds and high water levels smashed fishing boats in Barbados, downed power lines in Grenada and St. Vincent, and knocked out drinking water in St. Lucia, according to officials.

Grenada's Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell noted on Tuesday that the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique were significantly impacted by the hurricane. In addition to downed power lines, roads remained impassable and fuel stations were destroyed.

"The situation is grim. There is no power. There is almost complete destruction of homes and buildings," Mitchell said.

Contributing: Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY Network-Florida ; Reuters