Airlines Continue to Push Social Media for Advertising, Fare Sales and Specials
Savvy airlines (and airfare search sites) have been harnessing social media for years now – especially Facebook – and the trend continues to grow as more and more carriers target specific passengers.
Dumbest Things Flyers can Do (surprises ahead)
Virgin America Teams with Groupon
One of the more recent examples is a special deal available from Virgin America through Feb. 6. The low-cost carrier has teamed with Groupon to pinpoint Chicago travelers with the following offer:
- Pay $39, get $100 of roundtrip travel from Chicago to San Francisco or Los Angeles
- Free onboard Wi-Fi session from provider Gogo ($12.95 value)
American Airlines Offers Free WiFi through Feb. 16
JetBlue and Twitter
Some airlines came a little late to the Twitter party, but those that joined early have developed an intensely loyal following – especially JetBlue. It began tweeting five years ago, and its deal-centric JetBlueCheeps have proved irresistible to many.
Top 12 Airports for Social Media
JetBlue and many other airlines also use tweets to reach out to dissatisfied customers, and many of those report their complaints get faster attention than they have in the past via conventional channels such as email or phone.
Analysts say we can expect more airlines to enlarge their social media presence.
