United Announces Sweepstakes Giveaway for Vaccinated Flyers
Joe Cortez May 24, 2021
United Airlines Dreamliner
If you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you could win flights for two, in any cabin, anywhere United Airlines operates. In the “Your Shot to Fly” contest, any MileagePlus member who uploads their proof of vaccination before June 22 will be entered to win a prize.
United Airlines is encouraging MileagePlus members to get a COVID-19 vaccine and offering free flights as a potential reward. The airline announced the “Your Shot to Fly” sweepstakes, offering flyers the chance to win two tickets to anywhere United flies, in any class.
United Puts Up Grand Prize of Travel for a Year in Any Class
To enter the sweepstakes, MileagePlus members must upload a copy of their vaccination card on the United website or their smartphone app before June 22, 2021. Those who do will be qualified to win a pair of tickets to anywhere United flies, in any cabin of service. The carrier will give away 30 pairs of tickets throughout the month of June. In addition, everyone will be entered to win the grand prize: Travel for a year aboard United wherever they fly, in any cabin.
The contest comes as United is expanding their international footprint as destinations re-open for travelers. The Chicago-based airline is preparing to resume service to France, Portugal and Spain this summer, while expanding to Croatia, Greece, Iceland and South Africa.
“We’re proud to do our part to incentivize people to get their shot,” United CEO Scott Kirby said in a press release. “We’re excited to give people one more reason to get vaccinated so they can reunite with friends and family or take that long-awaited vacation which all could be just one shot away.”
To enter the sweepstakes, visit United.com/YourShotToFly.
Contest Part of Push to Increase Immunizations
The contest is part of a larger push by the Biden administration to get more Americans vaccinated. According to the latest data by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, just over one-third of the American population is fully vaccinated against the novel Coronavirus.
Actually, according IRS rules, the 1099-MISC will be for $784600, the full ARV of the prize. If you can document a different value, you can use that value for tax computation I would argue the value is the price of the flights I am actually taking, since it can't be sold or traded
Who can afford to win the grand prizes -- given United's over-the-top "approximate retail value"? I got totally excited about this until I ran the tax calculations. If we won, we would owe $55,000 in state and federal taxes *on top of* the $275,000 check that's part of the prize. The most expensive flight I can find (that we would want to take) would cost us $38,000 first class for two seats (and plenty of luggage). Add my second choice of exotic destination at $15,000, then a trip to London and one across the country, and we've only just broken even on airfare. (Earning no frequent flyer miles/etc.) So four trips -- on top of which we will rack up hotel and other costs. (Which will not be trivial since the first trip was Downunder, which requires 14 quarantine days.) That $784,600 ARV makes NO sense in light of this. Even at $10K/seat x 26 x 2, I'm at $520,000 ARV. To get to the actual ARV would require travel to Australia or NY twenty times. Actually, I don't think I could do that in a year ... since 20 14-day quarantines would be ten months in lockdown ... assuming there is no incoming self-isolation. This seems like a giant gift to the state and federal government, but not much fun for me ... (The cash portion of the grand prize is $275K, which is 35% of the ARV and will go on the 1099-MISC to the IRS per the Official Rules.)
Is it smart to give them (and the world) a copy of your shot card?
Tickets" FREE Baggage fees for two people on United? $250 each round trip