Man who Cost American Airlines $21 Million Sued for a Different Reason
In 1981, Steven Rothstein purchased a $250,000 lifetime first-class ticket from American Airlines, which eventually cost the airline $21 million in losses. Despite his extensive use of the ticket, the airline later sued Rothstein for a different reason.
Rothstein, one of 66 people to buy the AAirpass, traveled 30 million miles across 10,000 flights. American Airlines accused him of fraud, claiming he booked flights for fake passengers using names like “Bag Rothstein” and “Steven Rothstein Jr.” They also alleged he reserved flights he never intended to take.
Although the case was settled out of court, American Airlines revoked Rothstein’s pass in 2008, leaving him stranded during a trip. Despite this, Rothstein said he used the pass to help others, sharing, “I gave a man in Seattle a ticket to go to his father’s funeral.”
