Look Book

16 | The Jewelr y Book F O R Y E A R S , Jason Lucking crisscrossed the country as a jewelry road warrior—navigating airports, hotel lobbies and trade show floors. As a certified gemologist and business leader, he knew the highs and lows of life on the road. Now, as co- founder and CEO of pAiback, Lucking is on a new mission: to help fellow travelers save money on flights aer they book— automatically. pAiback is a smart travel companion for any frequent flyer, leveraging a combination of artificial intelligence (the "Ai" in pAiback) and human customer service. e idea was born on a flight from Texas to New York. "My wife decided to join me last minute," Lucking recalls. "She booked the exact same flight a month aer me—and paid significantly less. I contacted Delta and they issued a credit. at was my ah-ha moment. I thought: What if we could automate this?" at simple idea turned into a powerful tool now used by thousands of frequent travelers—many of them from the jewelry industry. Users forward their booking confirmation, and pAiback takes care of the rest: tracking their fare around the clock, securing airline eCredits if the price drops (sometimes multiple times) up until departure. ere's no rebooking, no seat loss, and no disruption. e cost? Only when a savings has been successfully secured, a 20% convenience fee based on the amount saved is charged for the service. For jewelry professionals who travel regularly for trade shows and client appointments, it's an effortless way to recoup value—similar to how frequent flyer miles or hotel points accumulate. "It's like paying yourself back for all that time away from home," Lucking says. "And for many in our industry, that time is a real cost." Lucking's roots in jewelry run deep. As a teen, he worked for an independent jeweler in Coventry, England, learning gemology and luxury sales. Advice from mentor Marc Hruschka (now U.S. President of Graff ) also stayed with him: "Never get branded the salesman." at mindset pushed Lucking to think beyond transactions—to solutions. Unlike online travel agents (OTAs) who act as intermediaries, pAiback supports direct airline bookings, helping travelers maintain loyalty status and better customer service. "We're pro-traveler and pro-airline," he says. "It's a rare balance. We create savings for customers, and that savings oen gets reinvested with the airline. Everyone wins." e results speak for themselves. On average, users save around $250 per trip. In one real-world case, a traveler flying from Salt Lake City to L.A. had their fare drop five times, resulting in a $274 credit. Another used $800 in accumulated credits for a personal trip to Greece. But for Lucking, pAiback's impact goes beyond dollars. "We believe the world is a fascinating and beautiful place— one deserving of exploration. When you travel, you realize how alike we all are, regardless of culture or background. You gain empathy. at's what we want to encourage." at bigger-picture mission is built into the company's DNA: helping people do more of what they love. "At a minimum, we hope people realize they can effortlessly get the best price post-booking," Lucking says. "But more than that, we want them to travel more—create meaningful experiences with the people they love, and come home a little richer, in every sense of the word." As the jewelry industry gears up for another busy trade season, pAiback might be the most valuable tool a road warrior can pack—delivering peace of mind, surprise savings, and maybe even the start of their next adventure. Left: Jason Lucking with his wife Tyler. Above: Actual example of customer saving $130 after booking their flight. Jason Lucking Brings pAiback to the Jewelry Industry's Frequent Fliers by Gail Melikian R O A D W A R R I O R S P O T L I G H T

• Cover