Man who has travelled 24,000,000 miles across 100 countries reveals essential items he doesn't bother packing

A man who has traveled over 24 million miles visiting 100 countries has revealed the essential items he leaves at home.

Tom Stuker spent $290,000 on a 'lifetime' United Airlines pass in 1990 and has gone on to call it 'the best investment of his life.'

Over three decades, the car dealership consultant has traveled to Australia more than 400 times and has treated his wife to some 120 'honeymoons.'

Racking up more than 24 million air miles in the process, Tom has been dubbed the world's 'most frequent flier.'

To give you the full scale of those miles, here's an astonishing comparison.

The Apollo 11 covered only around 953,000 miles (1.5 million km) when it took Neil Armstrong and his colleagues to the Moon in 1969.

The Washington Post reported that Tom's mileage in 2019 across 373 flights 'covered more than six trips to the moon.'

Tom celebrated the 24 million mile mark with a party mid-air on a flight from Newark, New Jersey to San Francisco, California in May 2024.

But how do you pack when you travel so often? Well, Tom gave the Washington Post his very best tips back in March.

He told the publication that he packs as lightly as possible - not bothering with essential items some of us wouldn't dream of leaving behind.

Tom says he only packs the 'necessities' and one 'back-up', which must be easy to clean.

He advised: "Try to pack light and only use a carry-on. Most places have inexpensive laundromats within walking distance."

In a bid to save space, he rolls some of his clothes up, while the rest are kept in hangers and garment bags from dry cleaners.

He doesn't pack any toiletries though, opting instead to buy them while traveling - not something everyone can necessarily afford to do. He also doesn't bring along any pillows or blankets.

For many of us - myself included - a comfy neck pillow is considered an essential addition to any long-haul flight.

Something you'll always find in Tom's carry-on, though? His Lululemon pants, which he reckons are perfect whether he's traveling for business or pleasure.

Tom doesn't plan on stopping traveling anytime soon. He's not long visited to Cape Town, South Africa and keeps fans updated on his travels through his Instagram account, @ua1flyer.

Tom addressed the environmental impact of his frequent flying in a 2020 interview with GQ.

He told the publication: "I’m not adding to the footprint. The plane is going to fly whether I’m on it or not. It would be much more relevant if I was flying in a private jet.

"Those are the people who can help the environment much more than I can if they flew commercial."