Thank you for offering your miles to your avid readers! I was turned on to your blog via the marketing person I took over for here at Ethix Ventures. The new job is a pleasure and I love being more connected than ever with the help of a RSS reader I use daily. Besides…I come from an airline family and I love reading good reviews. Anyway, seeing your offer I wanted to share a little bit about me this time! I’ve recently become engaged to my partner of over 4 years (I asked him ;) ) and we’ve begun the process of planning our wedding. We wanted to elope- but the family has spoken. With that there is a lot of pressure on family members to invest financially in our day. My partner’s father lives in Seattle with his wife. He and I have never met. He hasn’t seen his son in 5 years. We live outside of Boston – bicoastal can be a drag. I would love to be able to meet each other before we take our vows. He offered to pay, but we would prefer he use it to participate and come see us on our day. Thank you for reading!

Peter – this is a wonderful, generous offer, and I would certainly appreciate being considered. I live on the east coast (near Hartford, CT), and my father is out in California (near Oakland). A week before Thanksgiving my father had a heart attack and was hospitalized. As a result of his being in the hospital, it became clear that lots of other “stuff” needs to be addressed medically – he is now receiving dialysis on a regular basis, as one item … I would love to be able to go out to California to spend some time with him while I still can. I don’t get to see him much, and I honestl don’t know when I will be able to get back out there. I am also presently unemployed – and have been for about 3 months, so money for airfare is somewhat prohibitive right now. My father is still in the hospital, and will likely be going to a long-term care facility soon – every day has been a waiting game for information, and next steps. I know you will receive inquiries from many deserving individuals. If you – and Meagan – happen to pick me, I would be forever grateful for your amazing gift. Thank you.

Peter, you are amazing! I saw this blog post yesterday and smiled at the reminder of how wonderful and generous people can be! But I was also very thankful that although I knew that I’d be spending the holidays apart from my family again this year, I wasn’t in a situation that really warranted participating. Cue this morning: I’m living in California while the rest of my family is back home in Wisconsin, and although it’s often tough, my mom’s educator’s salary and my own employed grad student work/class schedule and budget don’t really allow for trips home, we’ve made do since I moved years ago and still find ways to make the holidays apart special. Unfortunately, I was awoken this morning with a message that my grandmother, who has advanced Alzheimer’s is suddenly being moved from assisted living to hospice and the outlook doesn’t look good. Although it sounds unlikely I could make it back in time to say goodbye, I don’t want to miss the opportunity to pay my respects and spend time with my family during what should have been a joyous season. After a rough divorce a while back, I know my mom takes it hard that I’m always away for the holidays, but it’s a comfort knowing that she always spends the day with HER mom. I would hate for her to have to navigate the holidays without either one of us this year. I’m sure you’ve seen how outrageous last minute flight costs are during this season and fitting it into an already over-committed budget will be crazy, so I, and my mother and extended family, would be forever grateful to your generosity if chosen to go home for the holidays. But, if the honor is given to any of the other very deserving people here, I’m sure they really need it as well and so I just want to say again, how amazing you are for doing this and I ask that everyone keep my family in their thoughts/prayers for now.

I saw some comments on here and thought “how can I even apply?”. Give it to someone else, someone who really needs it. Thanks for being so Awesome and doing this, you’re really giving away a priceless gift. -Garry

I’m not eligible for this, being a Brit, but I just had to leave a message telling you how wonderful this is. It’s a brilliant representation of the season as well, giving and seeing the joy in others. You’re wonderful Peter, and good luck to those two lucky pairs of winners, whoever they may be. Happy holidays :)

This is SUCH a fabulous idea. I would love to see something like this.

Excellent way to pay it forward, Peter. I have 85 year old parents in Pittsburgh and I can’t put a trip together to see them at Christmas – they can’t fly right now either.

I have some remaining Alaska Air miles I’d like to donate, if that can help get someone a little closer to going home. Reading all of your stories..I wish I could send you all home. My husband and I are blessed this year to be with family and I want to pass along our good fortune.

I’m a huge fan of paying it forward. I’ll kick in $100 in spending money for party you select. $50/per winner can only help.
Good idea, good energy, good people….and you can donate miles to organizations like Make a Wish Foundation if you are stuck with any leftovers….:-).

Hello Peter,

A friend of mine sent me this blog post. I think this is such a kind and generous gift you are giving. After reading some of the posts below, I believe others are more deserving of this kind gift than I am, but it is worth a shot. If you were to ask my friends about me and my personality you might get genuine, kind, loving, authentic, one of kind, and caring. Well, at least that is what I hope they would say. I try to always put a smile on my face and make sure those around me are takin care of and happy. The past 6 months have been difficult for me with going through a break up, losing a good friend, soon to be parting ways with my beloved dog, and being away from family around the holidays. I am currently living in Utah and my family is in Minnesota. I too have have been looking for flights home, but they are way too expensive. I am surrounded by friends this holiday season, but nothing beats being home for the holidays. I would be so appreciative of this lovely gift, but understand if you choose someone else to make their holiday brighter.

Merry Christmas,

Krista Kirkeeide

I had planned on seeing my children in Calumet, Ill this Christmas. I was sick all year with pancreatitus, then a bad kidney obstruction that had me down for 6 months & required 2 surgeries, then a broken foot 10 days after the stent removal. I was supposed to drive in with my ex, but he’s all of a sudden crying about not having enough to rent a car. He’s always been a deadbeat and I should have known he can’t be trusted, but I believed.. Anyway, I haven’t made any money this year, I missed my youngest sons wedding because I wound up in the hospital–my absence caused him to believe I didn’t care. I did, but there’s nothing you can do in that moment. I haven’t seen these two boys in 4 & 6 years. The youngest is in college studying biology and the oldest is a stay-at-home dad who spends time writing novels.
All the people who have written seem to be very deserving–I would understand if someone else is chosen, but I am putting in a request because, hey, miracles do happen, and it’s been a very tough year. Thanks for your time and thank you for such a wonderful thing you’re doing for others..p.s. I’m asking for only one ticket for myself.

Peter, what an idea! it’s inspired me to do something selfless in my neck of the woods. Just wanted to thank you. May karma be very good to you & yours.

My husband is in the us marine corps stationed in 29 palms California. My 8 month old daughter and I are living in southern Indiana. Cody was supposed to end his service in September but had to have surgery due to an injury from his last deployment. His surgery was in oct and he is scheduled to have his cast removed as well as a pin in his wrist in San Diego ca on dec 20… 5 days before our baby girls first Christmas :/. He has been approved for leave from the 20 after his dr appt to jan 3 when he will have to be in Phoenix az. We have yet to make travel arrangements and would love to have him home. Whoever you choose this is an amazing gesture from someone who obviously understands the meaning of the holiday season. Thank you!

Personally, I am home for the holidays but I would love to find a family who wants to adopt a child in a country where child poverty, homelessness and begging are common and give them the ticket to help them as they rescue at least one child.

I am writing on behalf of Melody, Lyric and Music. They are three rescue dogs, originally from Miami, that need to travel to from NYC to Miami. You can even go to their going away party! Melody, Lyric and Music have two daddies. One is a former nurse and in school (read: starving medical student) in Texas. That’s Jennings. The other, a music teacher, actor and singer (read: starving artist), is here in NYC. That’s Adriel. Jennings and Adriel will be together again in May in NYC with their canine kids, but for now, the three dogs need to live in Miami for a bit in the care of a very good friend. So why, the air fare? Adriel is going to rent a car to drive to Miami with Melody, Lyric and Music. Jennings needs to fly to NYC from Corpus Christi, TX to drive down with Adriel. Jennings then needs to fly back to TX from Miami and Adriel to fly back to NYC from Miami (he will drive back if he needs to). This all needs to happen by Dec. 30. In addition, Adriel would be able to visit with his very ill grandmother one final time during the holidays. Melody, Lyric and Music will be back in NYC with their dads in a few months (and there may even be a wedding in their future) but for now, they need your help staying safe and in a loving home with family. Thank you for your consideration. Much love, Lourdes @Sistermary

Dear Peter,

I’m not in the military and none of my relatives have recently passed (well, kinda) and as a matter of fact, I’m technically back in the place I called home for many years and have plans to celebrate Christmas eve with my mother, sister, aunts, cousins, and second cousins. They are all coming to my house since I recently moved back to Texas after having spent the last 10 years in New York. So you see, I’m probably not going to compare to the other responders here, but what I didn’t mention is that the only person not here for the celebration is my partner of 7 years who is currently living in New York to finish grad school while I live in Texas to spend time with my family.
Being a self-funded full time graduate student she is already 60K in debt, jobless, and can’t afford to fly down from New York. Normally I would cover for her, but with my recent cross country move coupled with a property I inherited in August which hit me with monthly mortgage notes and major repair bills I wasn’t planning on or expecting, I am so strapped I barely sleep at night. She even looked into her airline miles and is a mere 3000 miles short of being able to buy a one way ticket, much less a round trip one. On top of that, we started dating when I was a self-funded college student and she was a poor recent undergrad so in the 7 years we’ve been together we’ve only managed to get down to Texas one time to spend the holidays as a family.
The worst part about it is that we’re having to spend this year living close to 2000 miles apart, which is really hard, and are now faced with not being able to see each other when she actually has time off school. We know this commitment we’re both making is for our future, but it’s really hard and if we did see each other for Christmas, it would only be the fourth time since June 1st that we did…. So, thank you for considering us.

Hi Peter and Meagan,

Thank you for offering this amazing opportunity to connect families during the holidays. And thank you to all your great followers who are chipping in to help cover additional expenses that come with traveling.

I would love to be able to go back to Iowa to see family and friends for Christmas and bring my younger sister, Kate, with me. Iowa is my ‘mother land’ however I live in Oregon and my sister lives in California.

Our older brother, Eric, lives in Iowa along with his wife and three kids ages 9-12 (Laura, Jenna and Brian). Each year they are inching closer and closer to when it is no longer cool to show excitement of having family visit. They are literally growing like weeds; I’m positive the next time I see them at least Brian will be taller than me.

The last time my sister was able to have Christmas with the Iowa family was four years ago when they came to Oregon; her last white Christmas was in the late 1990’s! It has been three years since I have had Christmas with the Iowa family.

Kate is a school teacher who gives so much to her low income students. She prefers to work in low income schools…the schools that many don’t want to work. She is often the first person to tell her students about college and that it is a possibility for them. She arrives to work early and stays late so students can come in for a warm, dry and quiet place to do homework or to just be around someone who believes in them. She gives her heart, money and then some to helping kids believe in themselves.

Kate does this because that is how we were raised. We grew up in rural Iowa and didn’t know we were considered low income; everyone around us was the same…struggling farming families. One thing that set our family apart from many of our friends was it was a given we were going to college; there was just no doubt about it. My sister attended Head Start for pre-school; she really could be a poster child for the program; many of her students attended Head Start as well. Not only did she graduate from high school but she went on to get a bachelor degree as well as a masters degree!

Because Kate chooses to work at low income schools she doesn’t get paid much; plus she has to pay for classroom supplies including paper and pencils for her students without being reimbursed. Her ‘extra’ money goes right back into providing a high quality education for her students, hence, she doesn’t have the funds to travel to Iowa to have a story book Christmas with her nieces and nephew.

I would LOVE to be able to give my sister (and nieces and nephew) a story book Christmas.

Meagan, good luck on this challenging task ahead of you.

My mom is having open heart surgery on December 20 and I would like to be with her.

What a wonderful thing you’re doing! Although there seem to be so many, I figure it can’t hurt to put my hat in the ring too. I moved to the Seattle area last year and things have been rough. Because despite our very best efforts — and multiple interviews — neither my husband nor myself have been able to secure regular employment yet and things are very, very tight, to the point of, well, very bad. I am terribly homesick for my family and friends in L.A. and have actually become depressed that i won’t be able to be with my Mom and family for the holidays, plus other life circumstances. Anyway, that’s my sad story. Thanks for offering a bit of hope for so many who are struggling with hopelessness!

This is unreal, I love this idea Peter, good for you man. This is why I read your blog and follow you on Twitter. Kudos my man.

Cheers,