SWA $25 – KC $0: Word on the Street — April 8th thru April 12th

Trade Show Blog

SWA 25 - KC 0: Word on the Street -- April 8th thru April 12th

Word on the Street by Kevin Carty

The Countdown

It’s Saturday morning at 6:00 am. Why am I up so early on the weekend? It’s a travel day tomorrow, and I want to check-in at Southwest at exactly the 24 hour pre-flight mark. My goal is an A. It’s always an A.

I love Southwest, but over the past few years I have begun to equate their 24 hour early check-in to the Ticketmaster “presale” hoax. You know what I am referring to. You’re all excited to see your favorite band or artist, AND you have the magic presale code that you’re sure only 12 other lucky people have.

You take an early lunch so you can be the first in line online. You even open multiple browser windows so that you can increase your chances of getting that front row center seat. Ding! The clock rolls to the top of the hour, and you log-in thru all 13 of the windows you have opened. You’re IN! You select two seats and hit the find “best available” button and the machine searches. Bingo, your seats are ready. Woohoo!!! Your heart is racing with excitement . . . then, wait, what, huh, zoinks!? Front row, yes, but front row of the upper balcony.

How did that happen you think? So does this mean that all those other people that are going to the normal online sale tomorrow are out of luck? I mean if you got upper balcony, and you’re in the presale, then surely there will be no seats left for those who weren’t as blessed to have the Golden Presale Code.

Not exactly! And believe me, we have all been there. You get a call from your friend Joe the next day after he went through the “normal” online sale only to discover he got a 4th row center seat on the floor. Wha Wha Wha!!!

I don’t have the answer by any means, but I do know there is a scam or two built into the system. One of them is glaringly obvious if you just do a little digging. Ticketmaster is the super-secret owner or somehow related to many of the “secondary” ticket sales companies online that sell the tickets for 2, 3, or 4 times their face value. So they block out large sections of premium seating from the “presale” for the actual online sale for these secondary companies. Look it up. It’s true

But I digress — back to Southwest and their cattle-call approach. So I logged in. I even paid the $25 early-bird fee to ensure that I would get a better boarding number (Sucker! I know!) And sure enough. I got in the first 15 seconds that check-in was available. Still a B. Which is cool. But how, oh how, does one ever get to be an A?

I know the answer. Why not just either do assigned seating or stick to a true cattle call. The blending of the two seems to muck up the waters. But wait, let me adjust this hat I am wearing so the business side is showing. Brilliant work Southwest! You just got $25 for a seat I probably would have already gotten had I just logged in at the very same time and went through the normal process.

Bags fly free. Pride takes a $25 hit.

Hope you all have a great week ahead.

Be well.

Kevin Carty
https://twitter.com/kevin_carty
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/kevin-carty/3/800/32a

Filter by Category

Filter by Year

Recent Posts

Trade Show Sponsorship Ideas That Deliver Better Brand Visibility

For many companies, trade show sponsorships can elevate a brand’s visibility by creating touchpoints at the event and visibility beyond their physical exhibit footprint. In this article, we’ll discuss how trade show and event sponsorships can improve awareness, booth traffic, engagement, and lead generation.

Trade Show Logistics Checklist: Shipping, Storage, and Installation

When it comes to trade show logistics, ego and ignorance are expensive. Yes, you’ll learn from your mistakes over time, but you’ll waste considerable time and money along the way. An experienced exhibit partner can assist with design, production, packaging, and shipping.

How to Design a Trade Show Booth to Attract Attendees

Every trade show booth starts the same way: a room full of stakeholders with opinions. Someone loves a certain color. Someone wants the logo bigger. Someone saw a competitor’s booth last year and wants “something like that, but better.”

Why You Should Buy a High-Quality Banner Stand

Not everyone is looking for the lowest price. Some exhibitors want a high-quality banner stand that’s easy to use, reliable and built to last. BannerBug banner stands are made in the USA and backed by an unconditional lifetime warranty.

Trade Show Tips to the Beat of the 2010s

The two biggest mistakes regarding trade shows? People not planning ahead of time, and people not following up once they get home. Some people claim trade shows aren’t worth the cost — but if you don’t continue the relationships you start at shows, you haven’t fulfilled the potential of the show. No wonder some people get so stressed out.

Symphony Portable Modular PERFECTION!

Symphony is often described as a portable display, which is mostly true. It assembles without tools and ships in roto-molded cases, both features of portable systems. But the Symphony Portable Modular System is much more.

Trade Show Tips to the Beat of the 2000s

It’s exhilarating and tiring, and by the end of the trade show, you are ready to escape. Your own bed, your family, your car, your pets, your routine — everything you want is at home. But before you take off, be sure to wrap things up right. Check all the small things before heading out.

Trade Show Tips to the Beat of the 1990s

As a smart marketer, you attend as many trade shows as you can, all while managing the day-to-day operations of your business. Eventually, you may feel as if you’ve been everywhere. You may question if another one is worth it.