OHIO — Robert Simicak enjoys traveling.
“To be able to see places in the world is just amazing and to experience different cultures and to be able to relate to people around the world is just a tremendous experience,” said Robert Simicak.
He planned to enjoy more of those experiences when he retired last July, but the pandemic got in the way. As some places reopen, Simicak is once again searching for flights.
“With being retired, I was looking to do some travel and this just became an incredible opportunity,” said Simicak.
Courtesy: Robert Simicak
That’s how he learned about the “Your Shot to Fly” sweepstakes with United Airlines.
The prize? Free flights for a year.
“I wasn’t even thinking about that. I just wanted to make sure that I registered that I’m vaccinated if I was going to take any flights to protect myself, to protect my fellow travelers, and also to make sure that the airlines’ flight attendants are protected,” said Simicak.
Luck was on Simicak’s side. He won the grand prize.
“I was completely shocked. In disbelief,” said Simicak. “Actually, I thought it wasn’t even real and I actually thought it was only one flight until they explained it to me no this is a year of travel to go anywhere United or United Express flies in the world so I was just completely surprised,” said Simicak.
Courtesy: Robert Simicak
Now he can take his wife on as many trips as they can book.
His wife is a nurse which makes this reward even more meaningful.
“If anybody deserves this it’s her as a nurse. She was working through the COVID situation over the last 18 months and including now and I am really happy to be able to share this travel with her,” said Simicak.
For now, Simicak and his wife plan to take their first trip sometime this month and while they’d love to go overseas they’re waiting for his wife’s passport.
In the meantime, they’ll spend some time here in the states.
“We want to go to places like Alaska,” said Simicak. “We’d love to go to other national parks like Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon National Park. So those are at the top of the list right now.”
Simicak said he may take a piece of home with him as he travels: a Cleveland Browns flag to represent the city he loves.
