I just earned 4,500 points here in LA by buying 15 $10 gift certificates to a local excellent Mexican "fresh fast food" place that has a lot of locations around the city. I intend to give each of my daughter's teachers a Xmas certificate enclosed in their card, and give out the others to co-workers. I noticed that I get 20 points per $ if I want AA miles, but I get 30 points from Priority Club and I am planning a vacation where staying at the Holiday Inn in Philadelphia costs 15,000 points a night. I also double-dipped by using my SPG AMEX card to buy the certificates.