United Airways is focusing on Southwest Airways with its latest advert marketing campaign, although this complete idea simply comes throughout as determined, in the event you ask me. And earlier than anybody accuses me of being biased, I’d prefer to level out that I referred to as United’s final advert marketing campaign focusing on Southwest sensible. 😉
United assaults Southwest’s boarding course of
Southwest is understood for doing issues a bit otherwise than different US airways, and that features the service’s boarding course of. Southwest has open seating, and passengers can board primarily based on the order wherein they checked in. Southwest’s boarding teams embrace A, B, and C, so if you wish to make certain you may get an aisle or window seat, ideally you gained’t be in that final group.
United Airways has launched an advert marketing campaign devoted to creating enjoyable of Southwest’s boarding course of. This might be closely promoted in markets the place Southwest is competing with United, particularly with Southwest having returned to each Chicago O’Hare and Houston Intercontinental.
United has arrange a web site with the URL notgroupc.com, and United is providing to present “Southwest Courte-C Calls” to these booked on Southwest. The thought is that United will name you 24 hours earlier than your Southwest flight, to remind you to check-in so you may get a good boarding precedence. Right here’s what the automated voice will say for that decision:
“Hey, United Airways right here, reminding you to examine in on your Southwest flight, so that you don’t find yourself in boarding group C. To your subsequent flight, take into consideration giving United a fly. We allow you to select your seat prematurely.”
Under is the content material of United’s notgroupc.com web site.
Why United is means off with its advert marketing campaign
Look, I really like some good shade within the airline trade. I imply, regardless that I’ve by no means flown with Ryanair, I really like the corporate’s Twitter, purely for the quantity of sass.
However my gosh, United is up to now off with this marketing campaign, it’s not even humorous. The place can we even start?
- United claims it additionally has no change charges… proper, except you’re in primary financial system, and by no means thoughts that United’s vouchers expire (not like Southwest’s) even in case you have a ticket with no change charges
- United allows you to “select your seat prematurely,” except you’re in primary financial system, after which on high of that the airline additionally prices further to assign many non-extra legroom financial system seats; simply final week I paid $18 further to assign an ordinary window seat on a ticket I booked for somebody
- I really like how United advertises on this context the way it has lie-flat seats, after which the small print says “lie-flat seats solely accessible on choose long-haul flights;” c’mon United, are you attempting to poach Southwest passengers touring to Des Moines or Delhi?
- Southwest presents two free checked luggage to all passengers, whereas United doesn’t provide any on most home routes, and primary financial system passengers don’t even get a full measurement carry-on included with their ticket
I’m all for airways advertising their aggressive benefits, and even being a bit shady about it. How about United advertising the way it has energy ports on some planes, or private TVs on some planes, or a powerful international route community? However suggesting that the typical home traveler is healthier off with United than Southwest due to Southwest’s boarding course of is absurd.
Talking of boarding processes, am I the one one who appears like I’m in group C after I’m flying United firstclass as a non-Premier 1K or International Providers member? Per United’s printed boarding course of, the airline calls six units of passengers to board earlier than firstclass. By no means thoughts the way it feels to board as an financial system passenger on United.
Should you ask me, executives at Southwest needs to be fairly flattered by this advert…
Backside line
United Airways is criticizing Southwest Airways’ boarding course of in its newest advert marketing campaign, and is even providing to name Southwest passengers to remind them to check-in 24 hours out, suggesting they e book United subsequent time.
Possibly others will really feel otherwise, however this advert falls actually flat, in the event you ask me. Selling how you may have lie flat seats on lengthy haul flights (the place Southwest doesn’t compete), or the way you additionally don’t have change charges (with much more restrictions), or the way you let prospects choose their seats prematurely (on choose fares, and even then you definitely generally must pay further for traditional seats) actually misses the mark.
What do you make of United’s advert marketing campaign in opposition to Southwest?
