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How one man bought a golden ticket granting a lifetime of unlimited travel, only to find out that forever doesn't always mean forever
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Meant happy damn plane just at a whim to to go to ball game and some faraway city perhaps even let's say New York.
Or how about this one a freedom -- offer a quick trip to a museum in Paris.
Are you hungry want to grab a sandwich about let's -- Canada sound real crazy.
Most Steve Russ -- has managed to do things like this because he -- been crisscrossing the globe since 1987.
Nat that is what he thought an American Airlines unlimited lifetime air -- For 400000.
Dollars -- -- -- -- -- unlimited travel for himself and a companion -- -- so dot.
The airline recently started cracking down -- most frequent flyers and they canceled -- -- lifetime pass so announced it applying he's suing Steve Russ Knight joins.
Savings are good evening.
But there isn't any -- -- paid a big chunk of money for this lifetime pass absolutely it was 400 grand.
-- with what he did a lot of money on anybody what year did you -- -- you by the companion ticket the same -- you bought your original one.
No I bought the original air passing in 1987.
And then added the companion feature a couple of years later.
Our.
And -- then I'd take you enjoyed it immensely until some point in the year 2008.
It was a lot of fun knew it was a great gift to be able to get on a plane and as you said just go to lunch sure.
-- dinner and another city go to visit friends relatives.
Go to -- a ball game whatever.
Business it's.
So -- what happened on December 13 2008 because that's when things went pretty sour I was checking in for flight to London with a friend of mine.
Who was the Chicago police officer.
And was going to -- home to Bosnia.
So he and I were flying to -- there were intended to -- London together.
And as we checked in American.
Would allow us to get on the plane.
They literally handed me a letter and said sorry but -- past -- with us is over.
In spite of what you've -- I now have a copy this letter and it says said the what they say is speculative -- -- Are considered invalid what does that mean.
Well this the thing that I would want to point -- and I know you're an attorney is that every book king.
Was made directly with Americans I never made -- a booking on a computer.
Myself.
So is -- as a result.
I don't think any booking was ever speculative.
It was American that advised me to use the name back Rothstein.
For the second -- and said.
Hey you're entitled to that second seat put as a suitcase senator put.
Newspapers and that whatever you want to do its viewers whether you have a companion or not.
I so I take and so they hadn't had any disagreement of flying under your name it was this second seat that they include book is as -- Ross died and I get.
And they it sometimes you have a friend did and sometimes your bag of BN sometimes.
Relative or someone you just found or whatever right I think that's correct but and that.
The point would be that.
I flew this way for over twenty years.
Well before I even purchase the -- pass.
Aid would buy an empty seat next to me.
So this was just.
Sort of -- a peremptory decision on americans' part.
They showed -- -- -- -- it looks like to me in reading this letter.
It looks like dead they -- deal with you yet a contract they asked you pay an awful lot of money you -- not a lot of money -- off a lot of money -- companion.
And then fast forward about eighteen years later and they decide selling it's not such a good deal they decide to change the rules -- legal letter and your friend that -- in the Chicago police officer are.
Are assessed in the city is seated in the awaiting here -- the rest of us that's exactly correct.
You've -- about it.
I'd say you've soon.
What I mean Ed that they they're really fighting you on this -- that mean that prime be better PR justice or let this one -- they don't look like they're trying -- They have backed out of a deal that they made the.
That's what I would do if -- were today but we are fighting them.
I've got a very capable attorney.
And Los Angeles who's working with -- named Gary so odor and we're pushing forward.
Give any idea how many other bad people buck this very expensive pass back when I was offered it -- off and no longer offered.
If it is not.
About 25 people bought the unlimited lifetime -- pass with a companion feature.
And another 25 to thirty people bought the unlimited air pass without the companion future.
And give a trial -- -- when this is so likely be resolved.
We don't know right now but we're pushing forward is that's weekend.
-- like I say it doesn't get American Airlines -- good doesn't isn't.
-- -- applied to American guys -- did to trash American Airlines but I think get.
I think their legal department should send the -- of the PR department have the PR department take a look at Steve it's a good idea.
-- this PR to be going nags at public and you're exactly right I think it deals to deal and that's that's about the details of Ariel.
Anyway thank you -- thank you very much for having me on.
