Audience Reward Trivia update 09-27-2012

Audience Reward Trivia update 09-27-2012

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 (09-27-2012)

US Airways Dividend Miles (09-27-2012)

Starwood Preferred Guest 09-27-2012

Best Buy Reward Zone (09-27-2012)

• Who is the director of the revival of Evita? 

            Michael Grandage

• What legendary drama teacher-actress was in the original production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf on Broadway?
  

           Ute Hagen 

• What was the last musical to play the Longacre theatre?

             La Cage aux Folles

• In what theatre is Annie playing this season?

            The Palace theatre

• True or False? Christian Bale is reportedly NOT a fan of the Newsies film.

           True

Earn SPG Points for Dining Without a Hotel Stay

I have to admit that for most of us this probably doesn't happen very often, so this may not be a major miles opportunity, but over the years there have been various occasions where I have found myself dining (or having drinks) at a hotel where I'm not staying.

A unique and easily forgotten benefit of the Starwood Preferred Guest Program is the ability to earn points at the same rate you would for a hotel stay on dining or drinks without a stay.  I believe there is a $15 minimum to earn points and technically you are supposed to ask for your points and provide your SPG number at the time of purchase but as I recently found out, it's easy to get the points after the fact as well.

I recently had dinner at the Sheraton in Cuyahoga Falls, and despite paying for the meal using an SPG American Express card, I wasn't able to remember to ask for my points and provide my SPG number while I was at the hotel.

Here's an example email that could be sent when asking to have your points credited to you SPG account:

To:research(at)starwoodhotels(dot)com

Re:Earning Points for Dining without Stay

Dear SPG Researchers, 

It's my understanding that I can receive Starwood Preferred Guest points from dining at SPG properties without actually staying at the hotel.  I recently dined at [Restaurant Name] at the Sheraton in [City Name].  I have attached a digital copy of my receipt to this e-mail.

I would appreciate if you could look into getting the points added to my account (Member # XXXXXXXXXX).  Also please let me know if this is the best way to be submitting this type of request or if I should be doing something differently.

Thank You for your Assistance,

PointsCashMiles

pointscashmiles(at)yahoo(dot)com

SPG Member #:XXXXXXXXXX

After sending the e-mail, I immediately received a response that my message had been received and by the following day, the points were in my account.

Club Carlson 50% bonus on purchased points

So the Club Carlson Global Getaway Sweepstakes has ended along with the 100 free points per day.  If you haven't already seen the points ahow up in you account they should be appearing there in the near future.  Now you may be wondering what to do with these points and that's where the Club Carlson current 50% bonus on purchased points comes in to play.

Club Carlson points usually cost $7.00 per 1,000 so with this 50% bonus offer you can get 1,500 points per $7 not bad considering a low end free night takes 9,000 points.

If you weren't able to participate in the Global Getaway Sweepstakes, this could be a way to top off an account cheaply.  I think the obvious use here is the cash and points redemption.  If you managed to get at least 2,000 points for this promotion which was easily obtainable as this required entering less than half of the days the promotion ran, it would only take $14 to get the additional 3,000 points you need for a cash and points stay at the 5,000 points plus cash level.  This might not generate huge savings, but it at least makes all those contest entries worth your while.


Additionally it may be worth looking at a category 1 free night redemption.  If you managed to get 3,000 points out of the promotion you only need 6,000 more points for a low end Category 1 free night and you can pickup these points for just $28.  There might not be a ton of category one properties you want to stay at (in fact only 17 total in the US) but it could be a good deal if one of the hotels match up to your travel plans. 

I don't think the bonus is good enough to just buy points outright, but if you have a specific redemption in mind, this could be a great deal.