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Airlines Enlist Creativity To Promote Low Fares

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By TED JACKOVICS

tjackovics@tampatrib.com

Published: February 26, 2009

TAMPA - In an effort to stimulate air travel, airlines are offering promotions, sometimes with unique pitches.
Spirit Airlines turned President Barack Obama's Tuesday night address to a joint session of Congress into "The Obama Numbers Game," which allowed passengers on Wednesday to take $13 off one-way air fares.

Participants were asked to score the president's speech by phrases they recalled, adding one point for whenever the president said something from a positive list of words (such as "bipartisan") and subtracting a point when Obama said something from a list of negative words (such as "foreclosures"). The words were listed on spiritair.com.

If the final score ranged between 26 to 50, Spirit suggested taking a trip to Florida in March. If the score fell between minus one and minus 10, Spirit encouraged patrons to go to Orlando before hotel rates go up again.

It was all in good fun, and there was no benefit to savings from the final score a participant racked up. For those who missed the contest, Spirit still offers deals weekly with fares as low as $9 one-way from Tampa International Airport.

The Miramar-based airline's innovative marketing approach shows the extent airlines are going to create interest in travel as consumers and businesses cut discretionary spending.
AirTran on Tuesday launched a sale matched by other airlines for flights through Nov. 4 with a 10-day advance purchase and some Florida blackout dates applying.

American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways and United Airlines followed suit on routes competitive with AirTran.

AirTran's sale fares from Tampa include $49 flights, not including taxes, to Baltimore and Boston and $119 fares to San Francisco, San Diego and Seattle, among 48 airports nationwide. Full listings are at airtran.com/sale, and prices will vary depending on limited availability of seats assigned to the sale.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817.

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