Where else can airlines add advertising? Silly question,,,on boarding documents, of course..
That’s been the recent discovery of US Airways’ passengers who find when checking in online, they get more than a seat assignment and group number on their boarding passes.
“In time for the spring-break travel rush, the Tempe-based airline started including advertisements, weather and other tourist information on the boarding documents. Several ofits major competitors already do so,” said the Arizona Republic.
Initial advertisers on US Airways’ boarding passes include airport parking lots, Starbucks (a 2-for-1 coffee coupon to some destinations), audiobook retailer Audible.com and outdoor-gear retailer REI.
"It’s guaranteed travel," said Kevin Jackson, US Airways’ managing director of consumer and partnership marketing. "They checked in. They’re definitely coming to your destination."
He said the most popular destinations for the ads are tourist havens such as Las Vegas, Orlando and New York.
There are five spots for ads on the US Airways boarding pass, including an in-house ad. US Airways currently advertises its airport clubs.
Delta was the first major airline to sell ads on boarding passes when it began the practice on Las Vegas flights in July of 2008.
By David Wilkening
