In the continuing march toward marketing on every available surface on the planet, Porsche has teamed up with several airlines to print 2-D barcodes on the back of plane tickets. Passengers who scan those codes will be presented with a bevy of promotional information on Porsche.

Unique idea… in theory. But will passengers ever scan those codes? Recent data on the popularity of QR codes says no.Continue reading...

New York-based dancer Benjamin Millepied may be better known for being a parent with partner Natalie Portman these days, but the Black Swan choreographer-turned-actor is also getting into the endorsement business.

Above, check out "l'Envol," a balletic ode to flight, the new global branding spot for Air France. The simplicity and minimalism of the campaign is a dramatic contrast to British Airways' new heritage-based global campaign.

Millepied clearly likes French brands, as he also can be seen in a flighty new spot for Yves Saint Laurent, which you can watch below below.Continue reading...

Following an online teaser campaign that included a 20-second trailer and Facebook outreach, British Airways today revealed its new global campaign, with ads that will begin appearing in the US on TV, in newspapers and online next week.

The main spot, above, showcases the airline’s heritage and highlights the characteristics that make the British Airways special, including dedication to flying and decades of flying know-how and innovation, along with thoughtful service and British style.

According to the Guardian, seven additional spots will feature 13 BA employees, while one of the print ads "features a baby in a BA jacket, to highlight the fact that staff are trained to deliver babies if necessary, while another features a human heart to show that the airline carries precious cargo such as donor organs."Continue reading...

Every plane American Airlines owns was made by Boeing, but that's all poised to change following an order for 460 “existing model and re-engined small airliners” that was just given to Boeing and rival Airbus.

"(N)o single manufacturer could provide the number and variety of aircraft we need to fulfill our vision for the future," American Airlines Chairman and CEO Gerard Arpey was quoted in a report by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer

American President Tom Horton also downplayed the rivalry. "Some characterized this as a split deal,” he said. “I would characterize it as a 'both' deal. We decided that each deal was so compelling, and the replacement economics and flexibility for both was so compelling that we wanted to do both."Continue reading...

A few federal ticket taxes were suspended on July 22nd when U.S. Congress couldn’t find time to vote on them due to another pressing issue that you may have heard about: the debt ceiling.

A slew of consumers had bought plane tickets online or through travel agents and paid those taxes unnecessarily before the expiration date. Delta is the first major carrier to announce that it will refund those dollars to its consumers, according to USA Today.

“Senate Democrats said Monday they hoped to bring a bill to the Senate floor to temporarily reauthorize the FAA and end a partial shutdown that has caused the agency to furlough nearly 4,000 employees and halt airport modernization projects,” the paper reports.Continue reading...

Next time you need to get to Japan but don’t have too much cash in your pocket, you may be in luck.

AP reports that ANA (All Nippon Airways) and Malaysian budget carrier AirAsia are working together to launch a budget airline in 2012 that will serve Japanese domestic travelers as well as international travelers that are flying in and out of Japan.

ANA is Japan’s largest airline but “it has been seeking to strengthen its foothold in the low-cost market amid growing competition,” AP reports. The deal follows news last September that ANA planned to launch a new low-cost carrier in the region.Continue reading...

While nothing comes for free in economy class on U.S. airlines anymore – not even the peanuts – airlines are trying to woo business- and first-class customers by upping the quality of the complimentary wine they serve en route.

The Associated Press reports that United, American and Delta are among the airlines that have sommeliers to pick out the wines that passengers in the expensive seats will sip, taking into account such factors as reduced sense of taste and smell in flight, menu pairings and the flight’s destination.

Delta is also training its flight attendants to be able to talk knowledgeably with passengers about in-flight wine options. Flying coach? No sommelier here, and be prepared to pay for your plonk.Continue reading...

The Richard Branson brand empire called Virgin has been called (OK, by us) "the elastic brand." The iconoclastic Branson has generally followed an informal strategy that goes something like, "If it appeals to me, I'll build a business around it." To his credit, as he has expanded (and licensed) the Virgin brand across a staggering array of businesses, Branson has had more hits than misses.

The core of Virgin has always been Virgin Atlantic, the upstart airline that challenged staid British Airways, won an acrimonious public battle, and became one of Europe's leading air carriers. But even the high-flying Virgin Atlantic cannot continue to battle adverse business conditions.

Fiercely independent, Virgin Atlantic is finally realizing it needs strategic partners. British Airways remains a formidable competitor, especially in light of its cooperative venture with American Airlines. That's why Branson is seriously considering joining an airline alliance. In recent years, an alliance has become a technique airlines use to share codes and routes in an effort to get fliers to consolidate their travel with a small group of carriers.

But with typical Branson bravado, Sir Richard is not just looking for an alliance with the largest number of participants.Continue reading...