Something Interesting

Last week I posted how to “Win a chance to win a seat on the MegaDO.”  That’s right, I and 29 or so other BoardingArea bloggers ran contests in which the winners get a chance to win something.  For my part, all you had to do was to tell me something interesting.  First, let me thank everyone who entered.  I really enjoyed reading all the entries!  Here are some of my favorites (scroll to the bottom to see the winner):

Best adherence to the rules

Shannon M. wrote:

“Something interesting”

I did say to “tell me something interesting”.  Well done Shannon.  Well done.

Tips for better travel

Andy Nguyen tells minors how to make the most of their flights:

Since drinking laws are state laws instead of federal law, there is no minimum drinking age on the plane. While airlines can enforce a drinking policy, it’s not against the law for <21 to drink on the plane. Even then, law/policy doesn’t matter if there’s no one to enforce them. I take advantage of this frequently;)

Kathy H. tells us how to keep kids busy and quiet on planes:

Pipe cleaners keep kids from 5-21 busy and quiet on planes!!! They can make mobiles, trap in their sleeping parents, and have contest w/other kids. Oriental Trading Co is a great source. For younger travelers-babies and toddlers an air activated hot pack like handwarmers for skiing or thermacare and an air activated cold pack the kind kids use for soccer injuries are GREAT weigh nothing additions to your carry on. Babies with ear aches typically feel better with one or the other. Happy travels!

Nancy H tells us how to get Delta Sky Priority perks without having elite status (does this really work?):

Each time this year that I have checked in online with Delta and asked for a Mobile Boarding pass to be sent to my phone, I have received Sky Priority status for the security line and boarding (and I have no status with Delta).
Maybe they are rewarding customers who go the “electronic route”?

I’ve never questioned it, but I sure appreciate it!

RonR tells us how to find a faster way through security at Baltimore Washington International Airport:

At BWI Gate D, use the Crew entrance if you’re a premium traveler. It’s not well marked but you can use it.

PlowJockey tells us how to get hot pancakes:

The Alaska Airlines Board Room lounge in Seattle still serves hot pancakes for breakfast. And their bartenders donate all tips to charity.

Tips for earning points

wlciii describes a great way to increase credit card spend:

my trick for hitting high spending limits for sign up bonuses: personally pay for reimbursable (via insurance) doctors visits, dentists, hospitals, etc. Need to have 1) good insurance and 2) some float potentially to cover in case reimbursements don’t come in time for due date. But, I’ve successfully spent a few thousand this year on me and my wife that would have been paid directly unless I asked to pay and submit the insurance myself…doctors office will love you for it too.

Tonei tells us why you should consider loyalty to Alaska Airlines even if you never fly them:

Even if you never plan to fly to Alaska, Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan is a great program for domestic travelers. You get full RDMs and EQMs and some reciprocal elite benefits flying Alaska, American, and Delta, giving you more domestic airline options than any other U.S.-based program, and they also have varying levels of relationships with a growing number of international carriers for mileage earning and redemption.

Loweeel gives a sneaky tip for maximizing earnings of Citi ThankYou FlightPoints:

I like using the Citi ThankYou Card to pay the small miscellaneous fees for tickets — both for award tickets, and even for the service fees or minimal fees when redeeming ThankYou points. That way I get full FlightPoints purchases on those tickets for a miniscule amount of spending.

RestlessLocationSyndrome points out that with the US Bank’s Cash+ card you can actually get 6.25% cash back rather than 5%:

The US Bank Cash+ Visa card will give up to 6.25% cash back. They give purchases from their 5% cash back category but when $100 in cash back is requested, they give an additional $25 bonus in cash back.

Miscellaneous Factoids

Jing Li tells us about pistol shrimp:

There’s this type of shrimp called a pistol shrimp. It hunts prey by snapping its claw super fast and hard. The pressure causes the water around the claw to come to boiling point, and the wave of pressure knocks out its prey.

Megan Z tells us about the longest English word:

The longest word in the English language, pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, is made up of 45 letters and was coined to serve as the longest word in English. That’s interesting. You can’t deny it.

SBG describes a mysterious soccer ball in Denver:

In the Denver Airport outside the window of the end of the main terminal (by the 4 US Airways gates) there is a soccer ball on the roof. There are no windows or doors anywhere near, so the question lies in how did it get there. I hope someone else has seen it, but every time to fly through, I run to the end of United Terminal and check and still there. Gates ~10-20 or so.

Jeromie teaches us about decals:

This has nothing to do with travel, but I learned the other day that the word ‘decal’ is actually short for ‘decalcomania’! I had no idea ‘decal’ was short for anything…

Wayne T. tells us about ants with transparent bellies:

A honeypot ant’s abdomen is transparent so the color of whatever it eats is visible from the outside, including colored sugar water.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2022765/The-ants-multi-coloured-abdomens-exactly-theyve-eating.html

And the winner is…

It was a tough decision, but I picked RestlessLocationSyndrome who told us about maximizing earnings with the US Bank Cash+ card.  I found his comment so interesting that I wrote an entire post about the Cash+ card last week (see “The best cash back card?”).  Congratulations RestlessLocationSyndrome, and good luck in the final drawing!

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