ORDBOSEWR From United States of America, joined Jun 2011, 294 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (1 year 10 months 3 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 12080 times:
A whole thread is dedicated to this flight over on flyertalk (in the UA forum of course).
The press release UA did yesterday really minimized his accomplishment unless you understand the way UA counts those miles. This is not just 10Million Miles it is 10 Million BIS toward million-miler status. I know people who are at 5-6 Million miles on Delta and American, but that is not what Tom has done. It is so much harder than that.
perks: he is having management of UA hold a party for him. He knows many of the UA employees at ORD, LAX and SFO very well.
Flighty From United States of America, joined Apr 2007, 7451 posts, RR: 2 Reply 4, posted (1 year 10 months 3 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 12024 times:
If you did have 10 million flight miles, say the average aircraft was getting 40 revenue passenger miles per gallon, this guy burned about 250,000 gallons of fuel.
aa61hvy From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 13975 posts, RR: 59 Reply 5, posted (1 year 10 months 3 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 11931 times:
My father has 10 mil combined with UA and AA, but 7mil only on AA. I know how much my dad was gone traveling. Very impressive from this gentleman.
N766UA From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 7996 posts, RR: 27 Reply 6, posted (1 year 10 months 3 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 11846 times:
Quoting nclmedic (Reply 2): Wow! Surprised he didn't make a cameo on 'Up in the Air'!
"Up in the Air" was a giant, 2 hr long commercial for American Airlines and Hilton Hotels. I'm sure if UAL had been involved, though, they might have tried to squeeze the guy in.
UnitedTristar From United States of America, joined May 2004, 1242 posts, RR: 4 Reply 7, posted (1 year 10 months 3 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 11777 times:
Quoting N766UA (Reply 6): "Up in the Air" was a giant, 2 hr long commercial for American Airlines and Hilton Hotels. I'm sure if UAL had been involved, though, they might have tried to squeeze the guy in.
contrails15 From United States of America, joined Oct 2008, 1181 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (1 year 10 months 3 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 10226 times:
VC10er From United States of America, joined Feb 2007, 2430 posts, RR: 9 Reply 9, posted (1 year 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 9145 times:
I am at the Red Carpet Club right now while he (the 10 Million Miler) and there are TV cameras, about 100 UA staff, and Jeff Smisek on a small stage with this humble looking man! Mr Smisek certainly has the charm doesn't he! He gave the gentleman (who's name escapes me) a titatnium lifetime GS card, one of United's first real stock certificate with a picture of the airplane that is named after him (an A320 from what I could see) a book containing a printout of every flight he ever flew on UA since he joined in '80 (i think) and finally a really nice UNITED 787 (in the CO livery)
It was a BFD here and I'm sure national news!
Smisek ended with a toast of champagne and said....
"to the world's leading customer at the world's leading airline"
The world is missing love, let's use our flights to spread it!
laxboeingman From United States of America, joined Mar 2008, 385 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (1 year 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 8954 times:
Very cool; good for him, but sad because it does not seem like he has a home life. On a Week in the Life of American Airlines that aired a few years ago, they showed an AA pax who was just shy of 30 million miles @ the time.
Still, no matter the case, this is still a major achievement.
Sulley From United States of America, joined Jan 2010, 502 posts, RR: 3 Reply 12, posted (1 year 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 8876 times:
Too bad I had another engagement today, or else I would have popped up to Chicago to see this. Flights were wide open and I could use another visit to ORD.
aa61hvy From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 13975 posts, RR: 59 Reply 13, posted (1 year 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 8139 times:
Quoting VC10er (Reply 9): am at the Red Carpet Club right now while he (the 10 Million Miler) and there are TV cameras, about 100 UA staff, and Jeff Smisek on a small stage with this humble looking man! Mr Smisek certainly has the charm doesn't he! He gave the gentleman (who's name escapes me) a titatnium lifetime GS card, one of United's first real stock certificate with a picture of the airplane that is named after him (an A320 from what I could see) a book containing a printout of every flight he ever flew on UA since he joined in '80 (i think) and finally a really nice UNITED 787 (in the CO livery)
Similarly, I have an old copy of Aviation Week and Space technology from '92 and they have a snippet from UAL saying they were to name planes after their top 10 fliers. Sounds like they don't do that anymore (special exception above). I always thought that was really cool.
VC10er From United States of America, joined Feb 2007, 2430 posts, RR: 9 Reply 14, posted (1 year 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 7890 times:
Yes, too bad! I would have enjoyed meeting you too! I was in the Intl F lounge next door and came over when i heard all the noise. Quite a scene! I wonder who holds the world title?
I wanted to ask him if he recalls his worst flight ever?
The world is missing love, let's use our flights to spread it!
ORDnHKG From United States of America, joined Jul 2009, 185 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (1 year 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 7356 times:
Quoting VC10er (Reply 9): I am at the Red Carpet Club right now while he (the 10 Million Miler) and there are TV cameras, about 100 UA staff, and Jeff Smisek on a small stage with this humble looking man! Mr Smisek certainly has the charm doesn't he! He gave the gentleman (who's name escapes me) a titatnium lifetime GS card, one of United's first real stock certificate with a picture of the airplane that is named after him (an A320 from what I could see) a book containing a printout of every flight he ever flew on UA since he joined in '80 (i think) and finally a really nice UNITED 787 (in the CO livery)
That is just a plain-o-picture, the plane name after him is a 744 in new color N127UA (8427), park at C18 right next to the celebration at RCC at C16. Every news channel in Chicago show that guy also with the plane.
Quoting aa61hvy (Reply 13): Sounds like they don't do that anymore (special exception above). I always thought that was really cool.
If you fly UA a lot, then you know and you should have seen they still do it with one of the 777 in white and blue color N774UA - Pete Kontorinis-Retired.
lightsaber From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 10695 posts, RR: 100 Reply 16, posted (1 year 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 7075 times:
Quoting aa61hvy (Reply 5): My father has 10 mil combined with UA and AA, but 7mil only on AA. I know how much my dad was gone traveling. Very impressive from this gentleman.
I know a few at 2 or 3 million miles. They gave up family lives for 15+ years...
I am unable to fathom 10 million...
What turbulence has he been through? Everyone I know who has flown 2 million+ has worn a red wine at least once...
How many times did he have to stay in an airport overnight (unplanned) due to weather, equipment, etc.?
200 round trips to Australia in 24 years. I would love to go once or twice per year. 8+ times per year? No thank you.
70 trips to Hawaii would be fun, if it wasn't for the other 29k miles per month!
Centre From United States of America, joined Mar 2010, 421 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (1 year 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 7002 times:
Quoting UnitedTristar (Reply 7): Quoting N766UA (Reply 6):
"Up in the Air" was a giant, 2 hr long commercial for American Airlines and Hilton Hotels. I'm sure if UAL had been involved, though, they might have tried to squeeze the guy in.
QANTAS747-438 From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 1804 posts, RR: 2 Reply 18, posted (1 year 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 6875 times:
Quoting ORDBOSEWR (Reply 3): The press release UA did yesterday really minimized his accomplishment unless you understand the way UA counts those miles. This is not just 10Million Miles it is 10 Million BIS toward million-miler status.
I'm not familiar with UA's FF program. What does this mean?
Quoting VC10er (Reply 9): and finally a really nice UNITED 787 (in the CO livery)
WOW! That's worth at least a few hundred million right there!
My posts/replies are strictly my opinion and not that of any company, organization, or Southwest Airlines.
boeing772lrfan From United States of America, joined May 2008, 58 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (1 year 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 6787 times:
Wow, what a unique lifestyle! As a person who loves to fly (quite often more so than the destination), this seems like a dream job perk to me. However, the downside would be just that--it would turn into a job and wouldn't have the appeal as a leisure traveler with a penchant for airplanes. One does have to wonder--what are the long-term health risks associated with so much exposure in the skies?
I love the smell of fresh jet blast in the morning! In the afternoon and in the evening, too!
DeltAirlines From United States of America, joined May 1999, 8772 posts, RR: 13 Reply 20, posted (1 year 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 6747 times:
Quoting QANTAS747-438 (Reply 19):
I'm not familiar with UA's FF program. What does this mean?
It means he flew 10 million miles on United, United Express or Ted metal. Some programs count million miler status based on how many miles you've earned - from sources such as credit card spend, bonus miles, etc. (AA). Thus, if you're ExPlat for 5 years, you're likely a MM (based on 100k miles flown for 5 years plus 100% bonus miles). Other airlines (DL, CO) base it off all EQMs earned (be it credit card spend, 50% bonus EQMs for premium fares, EQMs flown on partner airlines, etc.). United does their MM status based solely on Butt-in-Seat miles - no bonuses for being in premium cabins, no counting of partner airlines, etc. Tom Stuker, to earn this, has flown 10 million lifetime miles on United (though they do round up to the base 500 miles, but still).
VC10er From United States of America, joined Feb 2007, 2430 posts, RR: 9 Reply 21, posted (1 year 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 4760 times:
Many people ask what kind of life did this guy have? Flying United WAS his life. He was friends with so many UA employees, on the phone, check-in desks all over the world, FA's, RCC staff! They were his family and some of his best friends from around the network flew there to be at his party I understand!
And yes all of his flying for 10mm was all B I S as quoted and Smisek said so at the toast. Funny I thought: Tilton should have been there to although he may have left O'Hare looking like he had just fallen out of the lion pit at The Bronx Zoo!
Anyway, Mr Stucker gave the impression of being a warm and lovely man. I am happy for him. Millions of people in this world will never get to see the inside of an airplane! And if he was often in F or C then it's not that shabby a life. (but imagine the old 7 channel IFE, he'd have watched all the movies in the first week!
The world is missing love, let's use our flights to spread it!
dumbell2424 From United States of America, joined Apr 2009, 793 posts, RR: 2 Reply 22, posted (1 year 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 4304 times:
Not my pics...full album and credit here: https://picasaweb.google.com/dmkahn/Tom_Stuker clicky: http://bit.ly/nwSJ5a
VC10er From United States of America, joined Feb 2007, 2430 posts, RR: 9 Reply 23, posted (1 year 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 4124 times:
Thanks for the pic- I swore I saw an A320, but it was a 737- from a distance I could only make out it was a single aisle, why wasn't it a pic of the 747? Maybe because it will be parked soon
The world is missing love, let's use our flights to spread it!
FiestaFlight From United States of America, joined Mar 2009, 54 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (1 year 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 3810 times:
Really?... If United needs a graphic designer for these sorts of things, I'm available.
25 VC10er: Or just a ruler! They say God is in the details, but not this time
26 AADC10: According the thread on FT, the 744 was named for Tom Stucker some time ago and has since been retired. The A320 with his name is actually the second
27 airport1970: None. You forget that flight crews spend a bit more time in the air than this guy... Maybe a random DVT but sitting in the front on every flight.. I
28 LAXintl: Well if Mr. Stucker only knew the commotion behind the scenes to get him to ORD for the waiting entourage. His planned 757 went out of service at LAX,
29 United1: ???? Ship number 8427 (the 744 that is pictured) is in active service and AFAIK is not slated for retirement any time soon. The pic under the card/ce
30 KFitz: Part I: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ_FwVzkobk Part II: (he tears up!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuM7GSW9jhE&feature=channel_video_title
31 UAL777UK: Simply fantastic, thanks for posting that.
32 KFitz: "you know you fly to much:" "when you're excited for the first of the month because you know the new Hemispheres are out - movies, and the '3 days' I'
33 contrails15: He thanks every department, I mean every department and has something to say something about all of them. Very well done sir. Can't wait to see what t
34 tozairport: 10 million miles is an amazing amount. In 17 years I have flown approximately 12000 hours for UA. Figured very conservatively at an average 450 mph th
35 MHTripple7: This is really cool! The CNN article also mentions that he went on 60 honeymoons with the "woman of my dreams". Sounds like a pretty nice life to me!
36 MNMncrcnwjr: I wonder IF they ever recognize those that do things the hard way and are on 4 - 6 short haul flights, less than 500 miles each, each week for 42 week
38 catiii: Right, because he didn't do it "the hard way..."
39 joeljack: 6000 flights over 31 years is is 193 flights per year for 31 years, many many of them are way long over seas. 10 years of 4-6 segments per week for 4
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