Delta Buys Ticket on Facebook
It looks like Delta is cleared for takeoff. On Facebook that is.
The once bankrupt airline struck a deal with the social networking giant to begin showing display ads and allowing customers to book a flight without leaving the site. They are the first airlines to offer this feature.
Upon visiting Delta’s Facebook page, the feature is accessable by click on the “Book-a-Flight” tab…then visitors are prompted to allow the app to access their persona information – name, profile, picture, gender…etc
As far as when these ads will be up and running? Well, it looks like they are not wasting any time. The display ads and new booking feature will be cycling on Facebook and other publisher networks in the next few days, according to Facebook spokesman, Paul Skrbec.
He went on to point out:
“There will be an arrow consumers can click that will expand a window right on the site they are currently on,” he said. “The entire transaction happens in the ticket window.”
Delta? Any response.
“We’re now delivering technology where our customers are – from our own website to our Facebook page to Internet news sites and beyond,” Bob Kupbens, Delta’s vice president of eCommerce said in a statement.
Even though 1-800 Flowers has been using this feature, its still relatively new in terms of availability. This only fuels the debate where the Facebook will grow into a large portal and offer users turn-key solutions. Of course more merchants will have to step up and offer more than flights and flowers, however.
To please the privacy advocates, the following was posted online about their new campaign:
“Note: Information collected here goes to Delta and not Facebook.”
Referring back to the debate surrounding Facebook’s growth, achieving 500 millionth user milestone, for example…some have seen Delta’s recent move as a vote of confidence for Zuckertopia to increase steam and keep on marching.
With Delta having complete control of the app, ones options are limitless in terms of how much data they will have. access to. Photos, age, location, likes, dislikes. Bascially, all of the data marketers drool over.
What type of data collection regulations and policies Facebook will (or be forced to) adopt, remains to be seen.
In the meantime, keep an eye on this feature and see how many more companies use the technology.
How much / little do you think this feature will help Delta? Leave a comment and let us know.
