Cathay Pacific 80 Days of Unlimited (Economy Class) Travel Contest

Cathay Pacific has a Facebook contest for unlimited economy class travel for 80 days from June through August 2011. This is a contest, not a sweepstakes, meaning you have to win the prize based on your submission of text, photo or video answering the question:

“Where in the world would you go in 80 days?â€

• Enter contest: January 24 and March 6, 2011 (Hong Kong time).
• Judging:  March 7 – March 13, 2011.
• Finalists interview (in Hong Kong): April 12 – April 14, 2011.
• Unlimited Travel Period: 80 days during June 2011 – August 2011.
• Contest eligibility to US residents of 50 states and D.C. and Canada (except Quebec). (Contest is open to residents of several other countries too.)

Cathay Pacific Travel the World in 80 Days Facebook Contest link.

Contest Submission Guidelines: There are detailed fine print rules for text, photo and video submissions in the Cathay Pacific contest terms and conditions here.

• Text – 200 words or less recommended.
• Photo – 640 x 480 or higher resolution; file size less than 5MB.
• Video – 30 to 60 seconds in length; file size less than 40MB. English only and no background music, although sound effects permitted.

Judging Criteria:

• Creativity (34%);
• Originality (33%); and
• Fit to Contest Theme (33%).  

Final Interview: During the Final Interview Phase, the Finalists will need to present a travel plan to the qualified judges, as well as complete on the spot exercises that demonstrate the Finalists written communication skills. The Finalists will be evaluated by a panel of qualified judges based on the following criteria (“Judging Criteria”):

• Creativity (34%);
• Originality (33%); and
• Fit to Contest Theme (33%) 

Up to all eight (8) Grand Prize winners may be selected by the qualified judges, but no fewer than one (1) potential Grand Prize winner will be selected. 

The potential Finalist Prize winners will be notified on or around March 11, 2011; the potential Grand Prize winner will be notified on or around May 4, 2011. 

UP TO EIGHT (8) FINALIST PRIZES: A trip for the winner to Hong Kong and the opportunity for the winner to participate in the Final Interview. Trip package includes round-trip coach class air transportation from an airport near winner’s home (determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion) to Hong Kong; three (3) nights’ accommodations at a hotel determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion (single room, double occupancy); and the opportunity for the winner to participate in the Final Interview (all details of opportunity determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”): $2,330 USD. Winner must travel on April 11, 2011 and return on April 14, 2011 or prize will be forfeited in its entirety. 

UP TO ONE (1) GRAND PRIZES: Unlimited Economy Class travel for winner via Sponsor or Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Limited (“Dragonair”) operated flights for eighty (80) days between June 1, 2011 and August 31, 2011, with no repeated routes (“Eligible Travel”), up to three (3) nights’ accommodations at a hotel determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion at each destination city chosen by the winner (single room, double occupancy accommodations); travel insurance for all Eligible Travel (all details regarding travel insurance provided to be determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion); and $2,400 HKD allowance per day for meals and a $400 HKD allowance per day for local transportation (total allowance value not to exceed $76,800 HKD from the June 1, 2011 through August 31, 2011 time period). All Eligible Travel is subject to flight and booking availability. Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”): $36,846 USD.

For All Prizes: Travel must be round-trip.

 

Loyalty Traveler Analysis:

The grand prize flight rules state all travel must be roundtrip and no repeated routes.

The prize includes:

• up to three hotel nights at each destination city in a 4-star or higher hotel and
• $2,400 Hong Kong Dollars (US$308) daily meal allowance and
• $400HKD (US$51) daily ground transportation allowance. 

That seems like a substantial daily meal allowance. 

I certainly feel up to flying around the world in economy class this summer on Cathay Pacific and Dragon Air. The $300 daily meals allowance would even make airport lounge access unnecessary.