Really, really wonderful mileage/point awards.
 

We spend a great deal of time talking about earning points and miles, but how do we use them.

I am not talking about the ordinary run of the mill, awards like upgrades and free tickets to Hawaii, but what are some of the other more exotic uses for miles and points.

1. Gambling Chips

2. Free first class train travel, including a private suite, meals and entertainment.

3. A champagne tour through the south of France, including plane fare, hotel and tour.

4. Getting your name painted on a UAL plane.

What other grand and crazy awards have you heard of?

[This message has been edited by Punki (edited 03-03-2001).]

Punki,

I have not heard of several of those you listed...do you have details? I'd love to look a couple of them up! I know about the gaming chips from HHonors...the rest are news to me!

Of course, just looking through the hhonors handbook will give you all sorts of great vacation ideas from the Maldives to African Safaris to...

The train awards on the Starlight Express which runs from SEA to LAX (I believe) is part of the Alaska Airlines program.

The Champagne tour and getting your name painted on an airplane (doesn't that sound fun?) were both UAL miles auction awards.

I think these things are cool because, well let's face it airline travel for the heavy airline traveler is just more of the same, or maybe I am just an adventuress at heart.

I believe that Virgin Atlantic offers hot air balloon rides and even a week at Richard Branson's private Caribbean Island if you have enough miles to spend.

I've also heard (don't the remember the airline) of an award that provided you with one hour in the pilot's seat -- in a training simulator.

Canadian Airlines Int'l. (now merged into Air Canada) used to offer one hour "flights" in their flight simulators in either Vancouver or Toronto, as an award redemption for FF points. Don't know if AC still continues with the award though.

bj-21.

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'Tis better to have played and won, then never to have played at all.

Virgin Atlantic definitely has the edge on unique rewards. Among the offerings:

Seven-night skippered yacht charter in Greece - 500K

Race car driving or powerboat racing class -40K

A course in how to get over fear of flying -go figure - 35K

Into lesson in a glider, helicopter or fixed-wing plane - 30K

Skydiving lesson - 30K

There are also rafting and spa trips, helicopter rides, and yes, the stay on Necker Island for 1M

And of course Hilton lets you turn your Hilton points into gambling chips.

One thing that I have not done (but would like to do) is to take the African Safari, also offered by Hilton. Though you have to find a way to get there!

Someone (maybe it was UA), offered time in
a simulator a while back.

I understand you can negotiate awards with Diners Club awards, above a certain point level.

Anyone have a good tale of how they spent their xxx,xxx Diners Club points?

the Qualiflier (SR and partners) and the miles&more program (LH, Austrian, Lauda, Tyrolian) still offer the Pilot's seat - in a simulator.

Thai (TG) also offers the simulator award, think it is a half day program, training course etc, before you go in for your ride in the simulator. Forget how many miles req'd.
Think they also have elephant rides up in chiangmai (easily available for cashtoo, so not quite as unique as the simulator).

I think that the Concorde awards offered (and hopefully will soon again offer) a completely unique air-travel experience. Assuming the awards will return when the Concordes return to the skies, I recommend it as a "list of 10 things" type of experience.

I am saving my Hilton points for the Guinness Brewery Tour. Now I just need to find a lady who enjoys fine brews to join me!

Hilton offers a 6 night safari package in Kenya for 250k HH points.

DC used to offer a trip to the edge of space...riding back-seat in a MiG. It was in one of the old catalogs (1998, perhaps).