Thursday Giveaway: $1,000 in Orbucks + Free Flights and the Winners of 18,000 Avios

Last week Orbitz announced the launch of its new loyalty program, Orbitz Rewards creating a welcome addition to the travel-booking sphere that should help consumers earn even more value back on their travel spending.

Members of Orbitz Rewards will earn "Orbucks" based on the kind of travel they purchase. Flight bookings earn 1% of the cost and hotel bookings will earn up to 5% of the amount paid. The program also includes a Refer-A-Friend feature that gives members who refer friends and family as well as the person they refer $25 credit.

On the heels of the program announcement I wanted to incorporate Orbitz into this week's giveaway and award two winners with $1,000 in Orbucks and a round trip coach class flight voucher to Mexico/Caribbean ($700 in value) each. Since Orbucks can only be redeemed for eligible hotel bookings, the $700 flight voucher will allow the winners to book an entire vacation.

In order to qualify for this contest you must sign up to be an Orbitz Rewards member. You can enter in one of two ways. One winner will be chosen through each entry method:

1) Comment on this post and tell us how you would maximize this prize, telling us the price of the vacation you would take, where you would go and why.

2) Post a photo on Instagram and follow @thepointsguy of the destination where you would go using this prize with a caption telling us why you want to go there and with whom. Use the hashtag #TPGOrbucks in your post.

You can submit one entry via each method and you can only win one of the prize packages. If you enter the contest on Instagram make sure to use the #TPGOrbucks and also follow @thepointsguy, or else your submission will not be valid. You must enter by 5PM Eastern Time on Monday, November 4, and we'll announce the winners (who will be chosen at random) next week. Good luck!

The Winners of Last Week's 18,000 Avios Giveaway Are...

Last week I decided to award two lucky winners with 9,000 British Airways Avios because that's the number you'd need for a short-haul roundtrip economy award thanks to BA's distance-based awards formula. To enter you had to either leave a comment on the post with a great British Airways redemption for 9,000 Avios or leave a comment on my Facebook wall with the same information.

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The following winner was chosen at random from over 300 comments that were left on the giveaway post:

JMS

"We are heading to London on Avios for Thanksgiving to visit family (I waited as long as I could for an Amex transfer bonus, but unfortunately booked before the 20% bonus offer began). Thanks to your advice, we're flying on Aer Lingus and airberlin to avoid the huge BA and AA airport taxes into London. Now I need to get from Dublin to London (4,500 Avios) and London to Dusseldorf (4,500 Avios). Would love to have 9,000 Avios :-)"

I'm sorry you weren't able to take advantage of a transfer bonus, but I'm glad these Avios will help you get around Europe!

Our random Facebook winner snuck in her comment on Monday afternoon just under the deadline:

Elyse Kelly

"I'd use the 9k Avios for a roundtrip flight from MIA-PLS (Turks and Caicos!!) for a little getaway over the long weekend for Valentine's/President's Day Weekend. The cheapest flight right now from Fri-Mon is $556 so I think it's a GREAT deal! Just look at that view…"

I'd have to agree with you Elyse, that view is very enticing and I wouldn't mind being on one of those lounge chair right now.

Congratulations to the two of you, I hope you can put these Avios to use very soon and we will be in touch shortly to get everything squared away. Thanks to all who participated and be sure to enter this week's comments for another chance to win!
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