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My hostel loyalty card hit 50 stamps, and the prize was a single packet of instant noodles.

I stayed at a chain across Europe for two months, carefully collecting stamps for their 'amazing rewards'. When I finally filled the card in Prague, the manager handed me a sad little noodle packet from under the counter. What's the most underwhelming 'free gift' you've ever gotten from a travel program?

3 comments

3 Comments

nina_jenkins1mo ago

A friend's airline miles got him a "free" drink, but it was just the tiny soda they give everyone anyway. What was the point?

lunakim2mo ago

That reminds me of a hotel chain that gave out "free upgrade" vouchers. It just moved you to a room with a slightly less terrible view.

paul2512mo ago

I saw a report about a Vegas resort that called their "free upgrade" a move from the parking lot view to the pool view. The pool was tiny and closed for repairs, so you just got construction noise instead of cars.