Overall, Steven enjoyed the perks of this super-rare ticket for many years. However, he was then part of a large scandal that hit him like a ton of bricks. What could have happened?
The airlines claimed he was fraudulent, taking immediate action that sparked a feud headed straight to court. Did he win his case? Was there something else at play? One betrayal resulted in a huge decision that still affects airline companies to this day.
AAirpass
Steven’s golden airline ticket wasn’t a one-in-a-million deal, but he was one of only 66 people to get one. It cost him $250,000, and the unlimited ticket was supposed to last a lifetime. He bought his AAirpass in 1987 from American Airlines.
AAirpass
Bring the Family
Two years later, Steven chose to upgrade the AAirpass for $150,000 more. That meant he didn’t have to fly alone, bringing a guest with him on each plane journey. This opened up many new possibilities for the man and his family.
Bring the Family
Traveling the World
Steven used the ticket enough to get his money’s worth. His family flew all around the world and country, growing closer despite his constant need to travel. The kids knew their dad would always be back, even though he had something like a second family.
Traveling the World
Always Make Friends
Steven became close friends with the airline employees because he spent so much time with them. However, he stayed in touch with the people he met while traveling. For example, he might see a single man drinking at the airport bar and offer him the benefits of his golden airline ticket.
Always Make Friends
Bringing Families Together
His generosity didn’t have any bounds. Once, he let priests fly to Italy for the Vatican, and he also gifted some miles to those who couldn’t travel to see family members. He was helping bring loved ones together and did it for years.
Bringing Families Together
The Mistake
American Airlines hadn’t planned on this. Originally, the pass was something for companies to buy their top employees, at least according to Bob Crandall, the chief executive from ’85 to ’98. Soon, it was apparent that the public was smarter than the airline.
The Mistake
Count on Us
Steven was now a well-known member of the AA family, and it caught the attention of Robert Crandall. He once wrote a letter to the man saying that Steven could count on the brand to keep the company going and honor his AAirpass long into the future.
Count on Us
Hitting Some Turbulence
Steven didn’t realize how that promise could crumble in time. By the 2000s, parts of his life were falling apart, which had once been focused on exhilarating flights and fun vacations, but it didn’t have anything to do with his AAirpass (yet).
Hitting Some Turbulence
Not the Same
Steven had a son, Josh, who passed away at age 15. Naturally, that changed Steven forever, and even the American Airlines employees noticed. One person said that he wasn’t the same person as before. However, he still remained generous.
Not the Same
Nothing Unusual
Six years after his son’s death, Steven offered to fly his family friend to London using his AAirpass. It wasn’t unusual for him to do such a thing, and American Airlines had always allowed it in the past.
Nothing Unusual
Permanently Grounded
What was unusual here was what happened when the friend and Steven walked onto the plane. He claimed that an airline employee handed him a letter that terminated his AAirpass. Without warning, Steven and his friend couldn’t board the flight!
Permanently Grounded
Needing Answers
Steven was confused and shocked. At that point, he had no idea what he had done wrong. He was finally grounded for the first time in his adult life, and it had nothing to do with him. He could only think of one way to get answers.
Needing Answers
Not about the Money
Steven decided to sue American Airlines for $7 million, and it wasn’t pretty. People only saw a privileged man crushed about his lack of luxury transportation. No one really knew how hard it was for Steven and that it had little to do with the money.
Not about the Money
Betrayal
Overall, Steven felt betrayed, which is why he started the lawsuit. He claimed that if there had been a problem, American Airlines should have told him to change the way he used his AAirpass. Ultimately, that was the issue, but he had no idea!
Betrayal
Misuse of the Golden Ticket
American Airlines didn’t like how Steven had used the golden airline ticket for the last 20 years. Most airline employees, his whole family, and Steven didn’t feel like he mishandled the pass. However, the revenue department of the company did.
Misuse of the Golden Ticket
One Rule
Steven claims that American Airlines only gave him one rule when he purchased the AAirpass ticket: Don’t give it to anyone else. He never did, but the company believed otherwise, and a representative explained that in court in full detail.
One Rule
The Accusations
American Airlines claimed that Steven used the AAirpass card fraudulently by booking seats using fake names and then filling them with his carry-on bags. The company also said he had booked flights that he didn’t intend to board.
The Accusations
No Idea
This was a shock to Steven, especially since he left everything to his friends at the company when he required a seat on the plane. He had never been told that he had done something wrong or incorrect.
No Idea
The Question of Guilt
There were many theories on who was guilty here: American Airlines or Steven. One airport employee said that they didn’t believe Steven did anything intentionally to break the rules and wasn’t trying to do so. However, the betrayal could have been premeditated.
The Question of Guilt
The Failure
The airport employee also said it took interpretation on American Airlines’ part to sue Steven. Most people knew that AAirpass was a large failure for the brand, and the company lost millions of dollars. However, it was one man against the entire corporation, so Steven had no chance.
The Failure
He Lost
A judge chose to rule in American Airlines’ favor in 2011. Just a few months later, the airline went bankrupt. However, it was back in action by 2014, the case had been closed, and Steven was left to stand on the ground, but only for a while.
He Lost
Mysterious Circumstances
Many people still theorize about the details of this case, even many years later. Why did the airline never issue warnings to Steven, as he was a dedicated member? Why was he never a problem until this company was close to bankruptcy?
Mysterious Circumstances
Never Know for Sure
Steven doesn’t have unlimited access to the skies anymore, but he still travels. He’s lived in France, Chicago, New York, Australia, India, Hong Kong, and Berlin, and he doesn’t plan to settle down soon. Still, this traveler’s story is debated online to this day.
Never Know for Sure
The Plot Thickens
The infamous golden ticket mess saw renewed interest because of another well-publicized scandal on another airline. Harriet Osborne is a makeup artist and mother of two. The 31-year-old wanted to have a stress-free flight and ended up fighting with officials because of her outfit.
The Plot Thickens
A Needed Break
Harriet finally decided to take some time off from her busy life after months of her friends begging her to do so. She went with them on a short vacation to Costa del Sol, which is a seaside community in Spain.
A Needed Break
Dream Destination
The friends were excited about their getaway, which promised sun and warmth that was so different from the gray and dreary weather they knew at home. Plus, Harriet wanted to do something for herself and away from her kids, who she loved dearly.
Dream Destination
Girls on the Town
These Londoners made the most of their time, doing activities like shopping, swimming, and sightseeing. On the last day, Harriet and her friends decided to go on a shopping spree that did ultimate damage later.
Girls on the Town
Can’t Pass Up
The group of ladies strolled through the Spanish streets, looking at window displays of stores, and Harriet saw something she had to have. El Corte Ingles had a shirt that looked adorable, so the young mom went inside.
Can’t Pass Up
Disappointing Realization
She walked to the clerk immediately upon entering and asked about the beautiful garment. It was sheer and a style that Harriet rarely chose for herself, but this blouse was perfect. However, she recoiled at the price!
Disappointing Realization
Confidence Booster
Harriet admitted that the piece was gorgeous, but it was out of her price range to buy. Her friends begged her to try it on before she made a final decision. Once she saw herself in the mirror, she loved it and had to have it.
Confidence Booster
The Splurge
She could not remember wearing a shirt before that flattered her body style so well. In the spirit of the vacation (and her friends’ insistence), she decided to splurge on this expensive shirt, but she’d come to regret it later!
The Splurge
Buyer’s Remorse
It was finally time to go back to the hotel and pack for the return trip. While she filled her suitcase, Harriet was filled with remorse. She shouldn’t have bought that shirt because it was so expensive. Plus, it was often too cold in London!
Buyer’s Remorse
Ill-fated Decision
To put that worry aside, she decided that she could wear it on the return flight. She didn’t know when her next chance might be! Therefore, she arrived at the airport with her luggage, went through security, and moved to the gate.
Ill-fated Decision
Cold Shoulder
The stewardess stood at the doors to give people greetings while they stepped aboard. However, the woman raised her eyebrows and said nothing to the young mom. It was odd, but she shrugged it off and went to her seat.
Cold Shoulder
Growing Nerves
She was settling into the flight but saw the flight attendants crowded together in the back, whispering. What made things worse was that Harriet felt that they were staring at her while they talked.
Growing Nerves
Put a Top On
The flight attendant looked straight at Harriet and told her that she had to put a top on or she wouldn’t be flying on that plane. She was blindsided by those comments and thought she had misheard. What could be the problem with her shirt?!
Put a Top On
Confused and Dazed
Yes, the shirt was somewhat sheer and exposed her cleavage, but she had taped it down earlier to be extra modest. Before she realized what had happened, the stewardess tried to cover Harriet’s body with her hands! She was startled by this and couldn’t believe it.
Confused and Dazed
Compromise
Though she didn’t want to, Harriet went to the restroom and put on another shirt, coming back to see the other passengers staring. She was humiliated and gave the stewardess a piece of her mind. That caused the flight attendant to tell her to get off the flight, causing Harriet to cry and stand up.
Compromise
Sleepless in Spain
Harriet had splurged on the trip, so she couldn’t afford a hotel now and had to sleep on the floor of the terminal. The next day, she got on the flight without an issue but decided to have the last word.
Sleepless in Spain
Her Revenge
When they landed in London, Harriet called various news outlets to tell her story. In one day, the entire world was talking about it. It didn’t make the airline apologize, though. Instead, it implicated her for the issue!
Her Revenge