- Struggling after the Airline Deregulation Act (1978), in the early 80s American Airlines started offering the AAirpass.
- For a one-time $250K fee (+$150K for companion pass), the AAirpass offered members lifetime 1st class flights anywhere.
- 28 people including Mark Cuban purchased AAirpasses until they were discontinued (1994).
- Members Steve Rothstein and Jacques Vroom alone cost $1 million/year each.
- The men would book flights to Montreal and Europe just for lunches.
- Vroom sold flights to strangers; in 2008, both men were banned (fraud).
- 25 AAirpasses are still valid.
