Gift Card Sale at Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase is currently running a promotion where you can redeem points for select Gift Cards at either a 10% or 20% discount depending on the brand.  It's scheduled to run through the end of September so there's no real rush, just an interesting redemtion alternative to consider.

Keep in mind that I'm not necessarily recommending redeeming in this way, I'm fully aware that transfering the ultimate rewards points to airline or hotel programs can provide a better value but this still works out to 1.25c per point (on the Lands End and Gap GCs) and could be very handy if you need something and are short on cash.  Land's End GCs are redeemable at Sears, and I would certainly consider redeeming for them if I was low on cash and needed something like an appliance or a new grill. Similarly, if I needed to do back to school shoping I would consider the Gap giftcards as they can be used at Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and their outlet stores.

I won't personally be taking advantage of this offer, largely because I'm not in the market for anything from these particular stores right now but also partially because I redeemed most of my Ultimate Rewards points earlier this year for roughly $1800 worth of Southwest Airlines flights.  I mention this because, I full well knew that I could get more "value" by redeeming for high end hyatt hotels or business class international flights, but these weren't things I needed.  I needed (or I should say wanted since I could have chosen not to travel) 6 Southwest Airlines tickets and couldn't or at least didn't want to spend the cash on them. 

My point here is simple; Always consider the best value for you when making redemptions and keep in mind this can change over time.  This year, my best value for UR points was Southwest flights, next year it could be first class international tickets or it could be giftcards.

Free Miles/ Points - Audience Reward Trivia update 08-20-2012

Audience Reward Trivia update 08-20-2012

There seems to be a change in the Audience Rewards program; where we previously had different sets of questions for each of the partner programs, there is now one set of questions which is listed on each of the partner sites.  The questions can only be answered once, so you need to pick which partner program you want to earn the points in.  I’ve listed all 4 links below; though personally, I’ll be using the SPG link as I value their points more than Delta or US miles.

Delta Skymiles (08-20-2012)

US Airways Dividend Miles (08-20-2012)

Starwood Preferred Guest 08-20-2012

Best Buy Reward Zone (08-20-2012)

Your Trivia Questions and Answers for 08-20-2012:

§  In what year did the novel that the play War Horse is based on come out?

1982

• Which of the Following Broadway regulars in NOT in Nice Work If You Can Get It?

Megan Hilty

§  Prior to Nice Work If YouCan Get It, which of the following shows did NOT play the Imperial Theatre?

Shrek The Musical

• In Avenue Q, “If You Were Gay” is sung by which characters?

Nicky and Rod

• At what theatre is Rebecca, The Musical set to open this fall ?

The Broadhurst Theatre

• What is the female lead’s name in Once?

Trick Question – we never learn her name

• True or False? While Disney is involved with the stage musical version of Newsies, it was not involved in the movie version.

False

• Which of the following tracks is often played by a non-minority actor in the cast of the Lion King?

Scar

100 Free Points Every Day with Club Carlson!

Club Carlson - 100 free Points per day for the next 39 days

I've always been a fan of quick and easy ways to get free miles or points, even if it's only a few miles at a time. Club Carlson’s current promotion, The Club Carlson Global Giveaway is the latest opportunity I've come across and is god everyday for the next 5 and a half weeks!   Basically this is a 6 week long promotion and Club Carlson is giving away one trip each week. Each week's prize includes a five-night stay at a selected hotel, business class airfare for two and $5,000 cash.

 When you register for the drawing, you're given the opportunity to flip through a virtual "Vacation Look Book".  Once you've viewed each of the pictures, you earn 100 Club Carlson Points.

The promotion Website is: www.clubcarlsonglobalgiveaway.com

You can enter daily and can collect the 100 points each day for the length of the promo - and remember points can be transferred in between member accounts by contacting customer service so it could be especially useful if there are multiple family member participating in the promotion.

I'll never remember to do this every day for the next month and a half so I don't expect to get the full 3,900 possible points remaining, but I probably will remember more often than not and expect to earn around 3,000 points from the promo. 

Club Carlson is the Rewards Program for a number of Hotel Chains including Country Inn & Suites, Park Inn, Park Plaza, Radisson, and the Flagship Radisson Blu Brand.  Room night redemptions start at 9,000 points per night so this promo could get you almost halfway to a free night at one of their lowest tier hotels.