The ultimate frequent flyer event of the year that sold out in merely minutes, the StarMegaDo4, is just 6 weeks away, and I couldn’t be more excited. Those who were lucky enough to secure a seat, congrats; I’m looking forward to meeting flying with you! Don’t fret if you missed out on getting a ticket – BoardingArea comes to the rescue with an opportunity of a lifetime. How would you like to join us for FREE and VIP, sitting next to the man of the hour himself, Randy Peterson?
So Who Exactly is Randy?
Well, he’s often referred to as “the frequent flyer guru”. This is likely because he quit his real job and chose to write about frequent flyer miles and advise fellow flyers way back in 1986 (yeah, 26 years ago). He is the Founder of FlyerTalk, Milepoint, InsideFlyer and the very BoardingArea you’re all on now (how he found time to “Founder” all these things we really don’t know). He knows a lot about miles and points and even coined the term “mileage run” back in 1989. Besides his 17 million miles, he’s actually a pretty good guy who, while sitting in the middle seat on the upcoming SMD4, has promised not to hog both arm rests.
To Enter:
Each of the participating BoardingArea bloggers will publish one official contest post (ahem, this one) sometime between October 1st – 7th. At the end of the contest post there will be a question of the blogger’s choosing (scroll down for the million-dollar question…).
Submit an answer to the question as a comment on the post and you’ll have a chance at winning the prize. You must include your email address in the comment sections to be eligible. You will receive one entry for each contest post you read and to which you post a comment containing an answer.* A total of two contestants will be chosen to fly on either side of Randy during the MegaDo.
*Entrants are limited to one submission per participating blog.
The Prize:
A reserved aisle or window seat next to Randy Petersen on the upcoming StarMegaDo 2012, hotel accommodations, and $250 for personal expenses!
Start reading these blogs and find out why BoardingArea is considered the home of all the best frequent/business travel bloggers.
For information on the MegaDo and the buzz surrounding around, visit the official homepage or the MegaDo Milepoint subforum.
The Rules:
The complete contest rules can be found here.
So You Wanna Win? Here’s How:
Remember my recent post titled Using Points and Miles to Travel Impulsively and Why You Should Never Sacrifice Your Love for Travel? Well, I was absolutely blown away with the amount of shares it received across various social media platforms. That alone has shown me that there are many people around the world that feel the same way about travel as I do.
Since winning a seat on the MegaDo is considered “picking-up-and-going” travel in my eyes, I figured it would be fitting to wrap my portion of the contest around this question:
If you could pick up and just go anywhere in the world TOMORROW, where would it be, how would you get there, and how would that experience enrich your life?
After posting your comment below, feel free to tweet your answers to me too with hashtag #GetOutAndTravel; I’ll be giving out random prizes throughout the contest period!
You may only enter once here at Just Another Points Traveler (so make sure it’s a good one!). I’ll be randomly selecting one winner from my blog on October 7 at 9 AM to pass along to the folks at BoardingArea, and there will be a total of two winners selected on October 8, 2012 directly from BoardingArea as a whole.
Aside from just a contest entry, I’m hoping that some people use their comments as a genuine pledge to actually include more spontaneous travel in their lives…
Good luck!
Let’s connect:Â 
Iceland. I would fly first class on Icelanair via NYC. I would be enriched by being transported to a place very different from anything I have yet to experience. I would expect to be in awe of nature and the planet Earth.
Australia. First class. Never been to Australia so that along is an enriching experience.
I would pack up and head to Bhutan on Druk Air! I hear the landing into Pharo is incredible! This trip would enrich my life because I’ve always been interested in Buddhism and would appreciate the chance to learn more about a culture that values “Gross National Happiness” over GDP.
I would make a surprise visit to family in Germany. I would fly on United and rent a car. Visiting family in Germany makes me feel connected to other cultures and recharges my creaky German language skills battery.
Europe. I’ve never been there, and actually I’m in NYC right now (Based in LAX). I’ve never been across the Atlantic … so this would be super impulsive.
I would have to go to Expert Flyer to book me a ticket so I could take full advantage of the Trip but my girlfriend and I would Head to Thailand and Eat our way full of Thai Food and Massages, throughout the country. But we want to stop over in Japan and Russia on the way going and the way back. And I hear there are fabulous hotels.
Paris. My wife and I decided last week to cash in our miles, we’re leaving on Wednesday!
Israel….to see family I’ve never met and view history on every corner.
Go to korea. Where most of my family lives. Havent seen them in many years.
Tomorrow?
DOH-DXB QA F. Via the Private Terminal, a tarmac 7-series BMW.
DXB-AMS EK F. Detour via the First lounge, then escorted to my A380 Suite. I think I’ll have my shower spa on board 90 minutes before landing, thankyou.
AMS-CUR KL F. Do a spot of diving, visit some friends, boart trip around the region.
CUR-DUS AB F. I’d best get myself to Germany so…..
Rent a Porsche and drive to Frankfurt….
..to check in at Lufthansa First Terminal.
FRA-JFK LH F. After lunch in the terminal, I’ll get the Mercedes across the tarmac, thankyou.
JFK-DOH QA F. Ahh, my old friend.
Bhutan…always wanted to go to this mysterious place for spiritual purpose
Only one destination? Tempting to say something about living for the journey and not the destination, but rules are rules.
Spain. Of course I would fly East to West from the US via ORD-HKG on CX, HKG-FRA on EK, and FRA-AGP on LH. No matter how much one travels, seeing the world is a task that cannot be completed. There is always something to see and share with those around you.
Italy on Lufthansa. For the good food and relaxation. enriched by the culture.
Scotland to golf. Never been and always wanted to go. Fly my brother, father and myself in F and spend a week golfing and enjoying each others company.
I would buy a ticket to a country i had never been to. I would take five days and explore two major cities in that country. I believe that we have much to learn from cultures different than ourselves and this trip would allow me the opportunity to learn more about a new country.
A first class train ride across India.
Uzbekistan! I would love to explore some the cities that were famous spots on the Silk Road. Would be great to travel there overland from China. That would enrich my life by giving me an opportunity to connect with other cultures and a lot of history!
Philippines to see my wife who just went there on a whim last week.
WOW..MY FAVORITE FANTASY PLACE *BORA BORA*
I HAVE TRAVELED MUCH ACROSS THE GLOBE HOWEVER,THIS ONE PLACE, I REALLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO GO TO EXPERIENCE THE NATURE IN LUXURY.
FOR THE BEAUTY IN THE LAP OF NATURE AND FOOD FOR THOUGHT FOR MYSELF.FOR THE PEACE,TRANQUILITY AND THE CALMNESS OF BEING IN A LUXURY PORTRAIT OF NATURE SKETCHED BY GOD HIMSELF!!
Bangkok, Thailand, via Cathay First Class. The service and comfort en route would enrich my life, as would the low cost of tourism there.
Rangoon,
I would fly First class on LH, only because of the amount of time it would take to get there – IAD-FRA on the new 747-8i, FRA-SIN on the A380 after visiting the FCT. Overnight in SIN to have a look around, and then on the RGN.
I think there is a lot to absorb from a culture and country that has not been hit hard yet by mass tourism, there are only a handful of places i can think off that have not become commercialized yet so this would be one of the few chances someone would have to REALLY experience a place.
I’d go visit my sister in Naryn Oblast Kyrgyzstan. She is with the peace corps and being able to experience such a different society would be cool.
I would travel to to Munich for Oktoberfest and I would fly on LH
If I could go anywhere, I’d probably take a trip to North Korea with Koryo Tours. I would love to see what life is like (or how they portray it during the tour) in such an isolated country.
I would fly to SYD via Qantas F. The last time we tried this “once-in-a-lifetime” trip we watched from SYD our area get blown away by a major hurricane, feeling totally helpless. We need a do-over!
Well, I love the responses for Australia First Class, but I think I’m gonna go with summer in Croatia, business class would be great, but I’ll take Premium Econ as well. Ha. I’ve been trying to get there for almost a decade and always find hinderances (job, friend/family events requiring travel, etc)…maybe it’ll happen in 2013.
(Toughest blogger contest question so far.)
South America, because I’ve never been to that entire continent.
Capetown, flying Cathay Pacific First through Hong Kong. I’ve got friends that have spent time in South Africa and said it was an amazing experience; on top of that Capetown looks just beautiful; last, experiencing any new culture enriches my life (which is why I want to experience as many new cultures as possible – Capetown’s just on top of my list)
I would fly to Seoul on Asiana F. I have always been fascinated with Korean culture and the food. To go to a country where you absolutely cannot speak the language will help me understand other cultures and learn a new language!
I would go to Tokyo. I would fly coach all the way so that I can save my money and miles for ALL the amazing food.
Istanbul, Turkis Airlines. There is so much culture and history to explore.
Head over to Maldives or Australia in F for some diving
Galapagos islands. It’s something that will go away.
i would go to bhutan, taking thai from ny to bkk, and then continuing on to kathmandu. (i’d then have to buy a ticket continuing on to bhutan.) i bet i can learn a lot from the happiest country in the world!
If I could go anywhere, I’d probably take a trip to Hawaii, flying first class of course.
I would hop on the LH flight to Munich for Oktoberfest. I wouldn’t even wait for tomorrow, I’d hop on to tonight’s flight.
I’d go to Hanafubuki, an amazing ryokan/onsen on the Ito peninsula south of Tokyo. I’d fly Swiss First from JFK via ZRH. And it would make me feel truly relaxed for the first time in years.
SYD, Qantas A380 to see the magnificent sights
I’d be taking my wife anywhere that has huts over the ocean. Time to relax and enjoy each other. Bali doesn’t sound too bad.
I would go to Scotland as my grandmother was born there. I have wanted to go since I was a little girl and have not. It is high on the travel list. I think I would like to do some family history searching that would maybe help me understand that side of the family better.
I would head to Vietnam using my Chase UR points and it would enrich my life by reconnecting me with the family I left during the war.
Valparaiso Chile so that I can go hiking in the Andes, it is spring down there so…
Rio and Iguazu Falls. Probably using miles.
I would go back VietNam to visit. I would go there by booking either AA airline or Cathay airline. This experience would enrich my life by “re-connect” to my country after being away many years. Thanks.
Enrichment.. I’d buy a one-way ticket for my boss to Asia. That’d enrich my life for a few days.
I’d fly to Ushuaia, Argentina so that I can take a boat to Antarctica and hit all 7 continents. I’d use miles to get as close to there as possible and then use my spanish skills to go the rest of the way.
New Zealand in their fall , our Springtime
Thailand, most likely via UA and TG or ANA, but any carrier where I have points or could transfer points, because I love Thailand, love the people, the culture, the food, and it’s still relatively inexpensive to visit.
If I could pick up and just go anywhere in the world TOMORROW I would fly to HKG to visit my family.
I would get there by flying United.
And that experience enrich my life because I would seem family members that I have not talked to in a long time.
It’s not possible to just pick 1! I would go to either Tibet or North Korea. They would be hard to get to normally and you did say if I could go anywhere in the world. These two places are sources of a lot of controversy and it would be so cool to get to see how people live their lives there.
I’d fly to Australia on Delta. The ability to see the beaches and wildlife would enrich my life.
Prague, and visit Budapest, Vienna, and maybe Poland while I’m there.
Ushuaia. Starting point for a sailing trip to Antartica. What better place to witness nature in all its pristine beauty and cleanse your soul !
Sydney, Australia… if tomorrow, via whatever availability I can find on *A in C, probably via Asia, so NH, OZ, even UA.
Detroit by Greyhound. Because if I went somewhere really amazing tomorrow in a really luxurious airplane, my wife would kill me for leaving her at home to work.
Germany via a quick TATL. I’ve spent a lot of time there, but I haven’t spent enough.
Hong Kong. I keep hearing rumors of the spectacular nightlife, so it’s time to finally experience it.
I’d fly to Paris. Then I’d head to Normandy. I’ve got D-Day history visit on my to-do list, but, haven’t gotten there.
I would pick up and go to the south of France with my bike. I’d probably use points to pay for a business class ticket and I’d be able to spend hours by myself thinking about – well, really anything I wanted to. That would be calming and enriching.
I wouldn’t just go somewhere, I would would keep going. A total around-the-world trip!
I would take my boyfriend and get on a flight to Seattle to visit my mom, who is getting cancer treatment there – I haven’t seen her since she came to my college graduation in May, and my boyfriend hasn’t met her yet. If it were a little later (after her treatment is done), we would go to Anchorage instead, so I could show him where I grew up. Either way, we’d fly nonstop first class on Alaska, of course!
I would check out la ruta maya (the mayan route)…because they said the world would end this year. :P
AUS in first class on UA via PVG. I have never been there and wanna go!
I would fly first class to London, and begin an exploration of Europe by train to find my family’s beginnings.
Papua New Guinea…with World Medical Missions!!!!
Bora Bora…by plane…for fun!
Fiji…do a little scuba!!! No train/no bus!!! I need miles and money!!!!
Nairobi…need to get back to the basics! Breathe/eat/sleep and thank my lucky stars for this life.
Sydney in United First Class to relax with the wonderful people of Australia – of all of the places that I have been, the people in Australia are among the nicest.
London- London – London for me and my wife.
Maldives…ord to lhr (ba first) – gatwick to male (ba biz) – 10 nights Conrad maldives
i’d go to australia to visit my high school friends who now live there.
Arica in Chile – the City of Eternal Spring. I’d fly down on LAN, and spend time exploring the Atacama Desert. (Apologies for the previous post – I hit the button by mistake!)
I’d head to tuscany and the surrounding areas, have traveled a lot of europe but have left the Italy jewel until the end – id get there most likely on a AA F saver award – and make sure i was on one of the new config 777
I would setup a lengthy multi-city U.S. “tour” to see, meet, explore my family and its history. Oral stories are ending and real life legacies are being forgotten. The rare black and white photos have fading ink. And It is invaluable to me to know I had a third cousin or that my favorite recipe actually started with my great grandmother, that some great-great changed our surname and that my blood-line probably spreads wider and farther than I would ever guess.
I’d get on a plane and go somewhere tropical like the Maldives or Fiji and just relax. It would be nice to leave work and the stresses of everyday life behind for a short time and just do nothing.
I’d go to Santiago de Compostela and walk the El Camino. First, my sister just moved there to work with pilgrims who finish the Camino, so I’d love to see her. Second, I want to walk the Camino, and I think it’d be awesome to do it without planning (“I need the perfect backpack, perfect hiking shoes, have to get in shape before I do it, blah blah blah”). It’d be great to just get there and do it, just like the original pilgrims did. Just go, walk, experience life along the Camino, and then see my sister at the end….sounds perfect to me!
I’d gather my extended family on the southern coast of Kauaii for a solid 10 days of feeling the warm sun, the bright stars and watching the whales play. Perfection!
I’d go to Alaska on Alaska air to be with my dad who just got out of the hospital.
I will pick Latin America, I will take whatever transportation that is the cheapest, train/flight/boat, then I will try to volunteer in those regions. This way I can give back to the communities and learn more local customs along the way =)
There are too many places I want to visit. I would just spin the glode and go..
I am an x B727 pilot , and would love to fly the B787 and take a look at the cockpit to see how much things changed.
I’d go to Antarctica (you said anywhere!). I’d travel by plane, presumably! It’d enrich my life because it’s the hardest continent to get to.
Antarctica, via ship from New Zealand. I would want to go, not only to see the continent for myself, but also to see how global warming is impacting the environment down there. If it’s bad, I hope to use that trip to raise awareness about how pollution is affecting even exotic, faraway places.
Would visit Rome via One World airlines using AA miles! Love seeing historical sights and educating myself on other cultures!
Thailand for an awesome dinner!
If I was going tomorrow, I would have to pick Germany. Last weekend of Oktoberfest might not enrich my life in profound ways, but it sure would be a good time. As long as we are dreaming, I would get there via rocket. That would be super cool.
African Safari via 1st class to see the amazing animals and scenery in the wild and to get that much closer to visiting all 7 continents
I’d go home to see my wife. Direct flight, preferably.
I’d head to Antarctica. Last continent on my list. It’s heading into springtime so the weather would be improving. As for how it would enrich my life — c’mon, it’s Antarctica.
Space on Virgin Galactic.
Papua New Guinea. ANA First to NRT, Qantas First the rest of the way. I would get to know a very interesting culture.
Bali – private jet – for a little R & R
Antarctica, if only because I couldn’t plan a trip in advance – I’d chicken out because I hate the cold. It’d have to be last minute!
Hawaii — it’s time for a tropical vacation, and I’ve never been. Or really to any type of island destination. There have been some really great fares recently from the East Coast and I regret not jumping on them.
I’d go back to my hometown Taipei, via first class in SQ or CX through NRT or HKG.
First trip to India to see the Taj Mahal. Seeing the cultural wonders there would be amazing.
Easter Island. Just to wonder how did they do it? via Lan.
Bhutan via my Avios miles and I would bring my husband along with my companion ticket. Bhutan because of the unspoiled lands, rich Buddhist culture, and of course where they have the happiest people on earth! That would be very life enriching!
Thailand, first class –ahhh
I would travel to Peru in first class to see the Inca monuments to enrich my understanding of ancient cultures.
Tomorrow: Paris with my children…to show them what I’ve seen and they’ve only seen in books…seeing the wonder in their eyes of the first time anyone ever stands in front of the Eiffel Tower…choose to make the time to have shared lasting, impressive experiences with others..
Would love to see Nepal, meet the people.
I would love to see New Zealand. I want to walk the Milford Trek.
Switzerland – on a private plane – it has always been enriching to visit new places and meet new people and nothing like doing it in style!
Hong Kong, never been there, I’d use points of course but would have to find the best deal. I would like to spend a week there and immerse myself in the culture and explore the city
I would say Rome in first class just because of the history of that city.
Australia via Qantas A380, and it would give me a better understanding of all of those Australians on youtube.
New Zealand. I’ve been once and I desperately want to go back during ski season. I’d take a day or two on either end to go to to Sydney and give that a proper visit as well. Coach there but a first class upgrade to return.
New Zealand – to see friends but also to see the other side of the world and what everyone says is an amazing country
Thailand. To revisit my own past and create some new memories!
Nairobi – Houston to Dubai, spend a night or two, and then on to Nairobi – all on Emirates. I would then sign on with an African Adventure group to have a Gorilla experience. It would enrich my life in ways too numerous to list. I have always wanted to see gorillas in the wild.
Southern Africa. I’d like to see what remains of the globe’s wildlife and meet people from completely different cultures.
Nicaragua! I visit often to help with a special-needs school there and love the people and culture.
Barrow, AK. I want to know how living in one of the coldest places / isolated places in the world feels like. Besides, I love snow :)
Paris first class. My carbohydrate levels are low need to reload on some pastries
I’d go to Phnom Penh to make my way up to see Angkor Wat via Seoul (on a Korean Air A380 from LAX to ICN, hopefully).
Hawaii!
I’ve never been there and everyone who has been there had really high opinions on those islands :) I’d also like to check out those flowing lava.
I’ve been banking my AA miles for my first around-the-world flight on OneWorld. I can’t wait to visit countries in SE Asia I haven’t gotten to see you. Thanks for the contest!
China via NRT on NH F and C. It’s a culture and country that is becoming quite popular. I really regret not taking the opportunity to visit this country years ago.
I’d go to london, would love to stay at the Hyatts and see some historical sites!
I’d pack my bag for a month in Mongolia flying whichever Star Alliance carriers could creatively get me there, to sleep in a gur and to ride a horse on the steppes. Then I’d make my way to the Trans-Mongolian rail to Beijing and travel south to find my extended family I met in 1996.
Feeling tiny in the vast open space of Mongolia and finding family in China again would be good food for the soul.
Since I was a child, I’ve always wanted to take an authentic African safari. It’s my guilty pleasure to spend time researching hotels, tour companies, etc online in preparation for the “once in lifetime” trip that I hope to take soon!
Fly to africa, volunteer in the peace corp, give back to humanity
India.oneworld. To appreciate what we have.
Saigon on United – love of my life is there and it hurts =(
Bora Bora via a cruise from San Diego on Holland America. Sailing would give me time to reflect and see the sights along the way…
london london for my family
I would live to pick up and travel to Hawaii, the most beautiful place I’ve ever been! I’d love to go with my wife on United’s first class product!
Bali – i’ve heard and read so many fantastic things about how magical it is – everyone needs some magic in their lives. how to get there – go to NYC and find a OneWorld carrier to use my points in J
Thailand for a vacation with the wife and no cell service.
New Zealand to admire the majesty of G-d’s creation
Berlin! Totally fell for a guy there, we spent a few days together, then sadly had to split ways. I still regret not chasing after him! I’d fly there on Air Berlin with British Airways Avios and stay at the Westin Grand Berlin.
I’d go 1st class to South Africa to see some wildlif via a posh private safari. It’d enrich my life by allowing me to see those creatures before they’re gone (unfortunately, I’m too late for the black rhinos) …
Antarctica by cruise ship to enjoy the last relatively unspoiled pollution free continent