This airline CEO brags about being banned from several hotels on the Las Vegas Strip.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby told stories about his former life as a “serious gambler”. Kirby taught himself how to count cards, a surefire way to get banned from playing at a casino, “cashing in on trips to Atlantic City and Las Vegas,” the article said.
During a trip to Las Vegas in 2024 for Super Bowl LVIII, Kirby told the magazine he wanted to try table games again after 15 years, but was stopped in his tracks. As he set up a credit at the high-limit poker tables, a manager approached him.
He let him know that he could spend his money on any casino or table game, just not blackjack.
“It’s been at least 15 years since I played,” Kirby told the WSJ. “But I’m in the database.”
Kirby has been the CEO of United Airlines since May 2020. He credits his past gaming experiences for United Airlines’ success under his command, telling the WSJ, “I don’t mind losing a hand.”
Since taking the helm of the company, he hasn’t been shy about admitting his strategy: taking inspiration from Delta Air Lines.
He positioned the company as a premium airline, aimed at customers willing to pay more, rather than those looking for the cheapest flights to get from point A-to-B.
According to the article, he poured fortunes into ordering larger jets from Boeing and Airbus, offloading its smaller regional ones, revamping his fleet with backrest screens, power ports and roomier overhead bins.
Kirby moved United into a more digital age, improving its technology and app, launching products like ConnectionSaver, Virtual Gate and live TSA wait times, the WSJ reported.
Even if not all of his risks pay off, and he’s okay with that. In April 2026, he approached American Airlines, one of United’s main competitors, with a proposal: a mega-merger, creating a supercarrier with the two airlines.
It was quickly shot down by both the American and President Donald Trump.
Regardless, Kirby’s risks have paid off. According to the article, Delta and United accounted for over 90 percent of the industry’s profits last year.
“The more we invest, the more we win,” Kirby told the WSJ.
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