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Thirty years ago, one of the most unforgettable loyalty promotions in American pop culture aired during the Super Bowl: collect enough points and you could get redeem them for a jet. What began as a flashy advertisement quickly became one of the most famous marketing controversies of all time.
One man, John Leonard, took the offer seriously. He gathered the points, raised the money, and attempted to claim the ultimate reward. The result was a courtroom battle, a cultural phenomenon, and ultimately, no jet. Leonard’s story later became the subject of a documentary that cemented the so-called Pepsi Points case as one of the most iconic loyalty misfires in history.
Now, three decades later, Frontier Airlines is stepping in with an unexpected twist: the airline is honoring Leonard’s original seven million points in a way no brand ever did. Frontier has announced it will redeem Leonard’s points for seven million Frontier Miles, which is enough for him to fly free for the rest of his life. The move is equal parts loyalty headline and aviation history rewrite. It transforms one of the most infamous rewards stories into a real-life redemption.
The Case That Became a Loyalty Program Legend
The original controversy stems from Leonard v. Pepsico, Inc. The landmark American contract law case was decided in 1999. In 1996, Pepsi launched its Pepsi Stuff campaign. It allowed customers to earn Pepsi Points redeemable for merchandise. A television commercial famously depicted a student arriving at school in a McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II jet, which the ad claimed could be redeemed for 7,000,000 Pepsi Points.
Leonard noticed that points could be purchased directly for ten cents each. He assembled investors, submitted a check for more than $700,000, and attempted to claim the jet. Pepsi refused and called the offer humorous and unrealistic. The court sided with Pepsi. It ruled that no reasonable person would interpret the ad as a serious contractual offer. The Harrier jet was later relisted at 700,000,000 points and the case became a defining example in discussions of offer and acceptance.
Frontier Turns Points Into a Real Reward
Frontier’s decision to convert Leonard’s seven million points into seven million miles is an interesting marketing play. Rather than treating rewards as unreachable gimmicks, Frontier is positioning its program as one where everyday travelers can actually win. And, Frontier is not stopping with Leonard.
From February 5th through February 22nd, consumers will be able to swap unused reward points from other brands and receive up to 5,000 free Frontier Miles, which is enough for an award flight. The promotion invites travelers to turn forgotten points into real travel opportunities and reinforces Frontier’s claim of being one of the most rewarding airlines in the sky. Interested travelers can go here to convert miles/points.
Frontier’s loyalty strategy is designed to reward more than just frequent business travelers. The airline highlights several features that differentiate its program from traditional elite-heavy models:
Up to 20 times miles or points per dollar spent, more than any other airline
- Elite status up to five times faster than competitors
- Free flights up to twice as fast compared to other programs
- Elite benefits that are attainable, including free bags, companion travel, seat upgrades, and the introduction of First Class later this year
Unlike legacy programs that often require constant flying and high spending to unlock meaningful perks, Frontier is emphasizing accessibility and faster rewards.
From Marketing Myth to Miles Reality
The Pepsi jet saga has lived for decades as a symbol of loyalty gone wrong. An outrageous promise sparked a legal battle instead of a reward. Frontier Airlines is now rewriting that ending and transforming seven million points from a punchline into a lifetime of travel.
Anthony’s Take: For John Leonard, it is the redemption that never came in the 1990s. For travelers today, it is also a reminder that loyalty programs can still surprise, and sometimes, the points really can take you somewhere. If you have 5,000 stranded miles/points, cash them in with Frontier if a flight will work for you.
(Image Credits: Frontier Airlines.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
1 comment
Nice job by Frontier… and in particular their head of marketing Bobby Schroeter (who is in the top photo). He’s the one who was behind all of the infamous Spirit sales that got lots of media attention once upon a time.
I claimed my Frontier miles already today.