Quick $200 Giveaway – Leave a Comment Here

by Gary Leff

Quick giveaway: $200 (2 prizes of $100 gift cards)

I received 5000 Starwood Starpoints from a complaint that I didn’t feel was a great idea for me to take. Rather than trying to get them to claw back the points, I feel better giving something away in its place. A few readers had proactively suggested (I didn’t ask for advice… šŸ˜› ) that I give away Starpoints, but I can’t really transfer them and they’re expensive to buy. So a $100 gift card seems appropriate there.

And in addition I had an extra $100 card I had purchased to do a few experiments with, and that I don’t wind up needing. Obviously it’s money, and I could either use the card or manage to get the funds back into a bank account. But the card was purchased in the name of frequent flyer ‘science’ so I figure it’s worth giving away here as well.

So that’s two good reasons to give away $100, and I thought I’d give away 2 x $100 gift cards. It’s not a monster big prize, so we’re not going to do a multi-day multi-post extravaganza on it. Just a quick giveaway over the course of the next 24 hours. (I’m leaving it open that long to ensure everyone following by email subscription, or regardless of time zone, has a change to participate.)

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post that answers any of the following:

  • What you will do with a $100 gift card?
  • What is the best travel tip you know?
  • What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned from this blog?

Any of these work.

You may enter one time only. By entering you agree that I’m trying to do something reasonably nice and you won’t give me a hard time over the nuances of rules, complain in any way, and agree to be bound by any and all of my judgments are they relate to this offer (and agree that those judgments are final and are not appealable).

Fire away in the comments, I look forward to drawing winners and sending out the prizes.

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary Ā»

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Comments

  1. I would put it towards VR fees on the $10k spend requirements on our four new AA Executive cards.

  3. Best tip would be to try call centers a few times for your request before giving up! You never know which nice agent might be able to help you out.

  9. travel tip? Global entry not only speeds you through US immigration but as a trusted traveler you can use TSA pre.

  10. I’d use the $100 to book a stay for my grandparents on their next anniversary who have never been fortunate to have ever stayed at a Starwood property

  11. To pay for partner’s bday dinner..learned the best way to accumulate and use of points/miles…good luck everyone..thnks!

  12. I’ll use the $100 gift card to send thank you notes to each and every member of Gary’s favorite government agency — the TSA.

  13. I would put that hundred toward my summer National Park fund – one of my life lists includes visiting every National Park in the country. Every bit helps. Thanks for all the advice.

  16. My best travel tip: set your watch to the time zone of your destination. It will help your body adjust to the time change during flight and reduce jet lag.

  17. I’ve learned so much from this blog and all the other Boarding Area blogs that it’s easier to answer the question about the gift card… It will go toward some of the required nights for my IHG Win Big promotion! Thanks for all you do…

  20. you’re a good guy
    thanks for being fair always
    and for putting up with people’s whining when it’s not their forum to whine on in the first place

  21. Put it towards a plane trip home to see my parents.
    Double or triple dip your airline purchases with gift cards and airline gift cards when possible.
    I’ve learned that anyone can redeem points but it takes skill to maximize value

  22. I’ve learned that credit card bonuses are where it’s at! I’d apply the $100 to a car rental (we’ve not learned how to get that free yet) on our next trip.

  26. best tip for me was, when my flight got cancelled, you don’t have to just take the option they give you, do some research and you can request to be put on a another airline if that schedule is better for you. Thank you!

  28. I think the most valuable thing has been (and is hopefully ongoing) the top 5 credit card series. Really helps narrow down the potentials and possibilities. Thanks for the giveaway.

  29. Best lesson learned? Read the relevant blogs more frequently.

    Of note: That give away sure generated a lot more responses than normal! Wow.

  33. That’s very nice of you — thank you!

    What you will do with a $100 gift card?
    I’m going to take my family out for dinner! We don’t go out regularly since my mom is a good cook, so it’ll be a treat. šŸ™‚

  40. Thanks, Gary—
    I would look to figure out how to give it away to a good cause, perhaps something netting me some miles too.

  41. I would try to pay our house’s utility bill using evolve money and ask my roommates to pay me back in cash so that I could pay my credit bills.

  42. I could buy something for myself, but it seems more prudent to spend it on the wife. Proceeds to go toward a nice dinner and a show seem reasonable!

  43. I am having baby #2 tomorrow, so I would give the $100 gift card to my friend, who is taking care of our daughter while I deliver. It is the gift I was planning on getting her anyways.

  47. $100 if spent on myself would probably go towards fuel or cell phone bill.

    $100 spent on someone else would mean either a birthday present for a friend or a family member’s wedding present.

  49. Will spend the $100 on our upcoming family vacation to London. Perhaps on our planned train ride through the chunnel!

    thanks

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