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… 😛 ) 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.
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I’ll use the $100 to attend the Space Coast Craft Beer Festival with my Dad this weekend.
The most valuable thing I learned : cost of different miles; hang up, call back; and keep asking!
I don’t get it. I was wrongly billed twice by Westin Chicago back in July, and had to call them a few times to follow up to get a refund. It ended up with me losing out a few dollars due to the currency exchange. I asked for SG points and I get none. Not even a reply email to say no.
And then I read here that you get SPG points for a complain. >_<
$100for my upcoming Cancun trip would be great.
I will use the $100 giftcard to upgrade my hotel room in Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens when the whole family travel there in April.
I’d use the $100 to buy a suit.
With $100 I shall get roaring drunk.
What I’ve learned most from your blog isn’t any specific trick but rather your sensible attitude to keep things in perspective and literally enjoy the ride. Don’t sweat the small stuff, and have fun. Way to go!
Off to Panama City in 2 weeks. An extra $100 would make a huge difference to my trip.
Buy a $99 cordless drill driver on Amazon and $1 coffee at McD’s.
I’ve learned to always always always always ALWAYS make sure that multi-carrier awards are ticketing properly 🙂
$100 would go straight to food
“What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned from this blog?”
Churning! You basically taught me how to actually get into this whole crazy game. Thank you!
I would take my wife and kids out to eat with a $100 giftcard
I am taking my son after his first year in college on a trip to Europe using frequent flyer miles…the gift card would help defray costs there..
Pay the registration fee ($180) for one of my son’s good friends so they can play in same rec soccer league. Parents are struggling and the kid wants to play. I will send you the receipt.
What would I do with $100? Pay parking tickets!!!
I’ve learned how to get a COMPANION PASS and it is in the mail to me today! THANK YOU!!
I’d use the $100 on my upcoming trip to SE Asia – first time on CX!!!
I will use it as spending money on our trip to Chicago
I’ll be using for a bachelorette party in NYC for one of my best friends!
Most valuable thing … Hang up, call back!
A tip that has saved me thousands of miles: Recheck your itinerary EVERY DAY after booking an award flight with Southwest. Routes often drop drastically in price and making changes is free!
Will use the $100 gift card to buy my wife nice anniversary present!
Best travel tip is buy a portable phone recharging battery. Really small ones available at the airport.
What is the best travel tip you know?
-Always has a print out of reservation(s).
I will use the $100 gift card to treat my fiance to a massage!
I would use the $100 to maximize on points earning with gift cards and such…
Taking my husband to DC for the first time. $100 would be put towards a nice dinner out (without the baby!).
i would play it forward and give it to a personI know who really could use the money.
I would use the $100 towards the remaining costs of the very first “first class” Asia trip I booked using all the tricks I learned from your blog!
I learned from your blog I could travel more for less. You taught me how to earn miles quickly and fulfill my passion to travel, in ways I never thought possible. Thank you!
The most important thing is call back to get a more favorable response to anything. $100 would go towards my upcoming Cancun trip.
Best travel tip: never book any reservations without looking for a promo or discount code on the net
I learned about maximizing my miles via Credit Card offers.
I would use the $100 gift card to pay for travel expenses to LA for two upcoming weddings in March. Thanks.
I would use the $100 to dine out on Maui during my trip in 2 weeks.
Pay fuel surcharges, maybe?
I would use the $100 gift card towards an upcoming Hyatt stay, purchased through ebates.com….for the cash back rebate naturally.
What is the best travel tip you know?
Install the app named photo translator on your smartphone, so that you can take a picture and translate whatever word on it. Pretty useful when travelling some non english countries.
Cheers，
I’d use the $100 bucks to buy gas so that I could get to Office Depot to buy more gift cards at 5x.
Best travel tip – if you are going to Japan and plan to do extensive travelling, please buy a Japan Rail (JR) pass before leaving your home country (geared for foreign visitors, can only be purchased outside of Japan). You will save a bundle and get to travel in comfort in one of the most amazing mode of transportation, the Shinkansen (bullet train).
I’d use the gift card towards my upcoming honeymoon.
Hi. I would put the $100 towards my 1yr old son’s first holiday in June. We would never gave been able to afford it without the info and advice from this blog. You have helped me to be very savvy with my miles, in particular making use if the free one way extra leg with AA when flying via a gateway city. My tip is be kind, courteous and polite to the telephone agent and you often get fees waived. I’ve changed a flight a few times and avoided booking/amendment fees with a few airlines 🙂
I would put the $100 towards my scuba diving lessons
I’ll use the gift card towards a nice meal on my next trip.
I would tuck the $100 gift card away and save for an upcoming trip to Florida, and use it for activities or a nice meal out.
I would enjoy a good dinner with my significant other.
Best tip is to maximize my hotel stays with credit card bonuses.
The best thing I’ve learned from VFTW is that even though I was only flying 20-30K miles a year, I could (and can for a little while longer) get free access to US Airways’ own lounges by crediting a handful of long US Airways flights to Aegean. Thanks, Gary!