United Airlines loyalty program members will have the chance to enter the airline’s ‘Your Shot to Fly’ sweepstakes by uploading their vaccination records. Lucky winners will receive a year’s worth of free flights, with other prizes up for grabs, including free roundtrip tickets and cash prizes.
To support the national push for vaccination, United Airlines will run a competition that will see some lucky winners receive a year of free flights for two. The sweepstakes will reward five MileagePlus members with the grand prize – a year’s travel with a companion, in any class of service, to any United destination worldwide.
Additionally, grand prize winners will receive a lump sum of $275,000, presumably to fund the rest of their vacations. Looking closer into the fine print, the years’ worth of free flights is ‘limited to 26 roundtrip flights ‘, adding up to a new roundtrip every two weeks.
In addition to the grand prize, United is giving out 30 ‘1st Prize’ rewards. Winners will receive one roundtrip flight for two, along with $7,700. As with the grand prize, each roundtrip fare can be booked on any class of service to any destination worldwide served by United.
United’s sweepstakes look to encourage Americans to get their COVID jabs as part of an effort to support President Biden’s national campaign. After a gradual decline in national vaccination rates by early May, Biden announced the country’s goal to have 70% of adults vaccinated by the Fourth of July.
United CEO Scott Kirby said, “we’re proud to do our part to incentivize people to get their shot. Thanks to the vaccine, more and more destinations are opening up for travel – and we know our customers are eager to fly. 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.”
This is a fantastic initiative from United which will help to drive vaccinations in the USA and will also give at least 70 people (30 x 2) and (5 x 2) the gift of travel in style. Really, when it comes to gifts, it doesn’t get much better than that.
By Joe Cusmano
