Have you ever wanted to take a ukulele lesson on an airplane?
Somehow, that’s the question dividing the internet this week.
(Side note: Read to the end for info about how you could get two free Southwest Airlines tickets.)
On Sept. 16, every passenger on a Southwest Airlines flight from Long Beach, California, to Honolulu got a free ukulele and an inflight lesson. They were also treated – or maybe subjected – to a short performance by Aryyzona, a Los Angeles-based musician and social media influencer.
The airline posted about the flight on its social media platforms Tuesday, and the response was immediate and polarized.
If the flight I’m on ever turns into a surprise group music lesson I am going to sue the airline for $50 billion in emotional damages https://t.co/YQUwfvD3Zq
— 🎹 sharon su 🎹 (@doodlyroses) September 21, 2022
The posts generated an unusually high response rate, said Alyssa Foster, a Southwest spokesperson who was involved in coordinating the promotion. But, she said, the tone of those responses varied by platform. Twitter users were generally less keen on the idea, but the airline’s fans on Instagram responded more positively, she said.
Before the pandemic, Southwest was known for these onboard “surprise and delight” programs, but they’ve been on pause during the travel downturn. After a few years without them, Foster said, a lot of social media watchers may be learning about Southwest’s unique corporate culture for the first time.
“That’s awareness for you, and it’s something we were using to promote that service from Hawaii to Long Beach,” she said. “If you aren’t on board or you haven’t experienced it, it’s out of the ordinary, and that’s kind of the point. … It’s something special and uniquely Southwest.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CivLbk3r5UE”>View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Southwest Airlines (@southwestair)
What goes into planning an onboard ukulele giveaway?
Foster told USA TODAY that any promotion like this takes a lot of forethought, and it’s not just a matter of securing hundreds of instruments and cases. The airline and its partners focus on what they want to promote – in this case, a relatively new flight from Long Beach to Honolulu for Southwest, and the availability of lessons at Guitar Center.
Planners also consider which flights make the most sense for an experience that, if Twitter is to be believed, not everyone would be thrilled about taking part in.
“We don’t want to do something on a 6 a.m. flight,” Foster said. “We’re really thinking about what kind of customer is on board.”
Were people trapped?
btw we have a quiet car 🤐 https://t.co/6MA7LS8N5L
— Amtrak (@Amtrak) September 21, 2022
Foster acknowledged that the ukulele program made use of the plane’s PA system, but she was quick to note that the whole thing took about 20 minutes on a roughly six-hour flight, and customers were encouraged to put their instruments away when it ended.
“There was still time for people to sit back and relax,” she said. “We planned to make sure from the beginning it would be a fun experience.”
The three instructors on board were from Guitar Center’s Pearl City store. Foster said Southwest has aimed to educate its employees and its customers about Hawaiian culture since the airline started serving the islands.
She also said the airline’s planning meant there was room to carry the instruments.
“Everyone had a great time. They were already on their way to Hawaii,” Foster said.
Guitar Center also offered to ship the ukuleles back to passengers’ homes free.
Can I get a free ukulele?
the ultimate clusterpluck https://t.co/wI3NTGl5NU
— oliver cromwell’s head in a jar (@likeabikelane) September 21, 2022
Maybe! Southwest is extending the promotion with a sweepstakes. The winner will receive two round-trip tickets to anywhere in the airline’s network, and two ukuleles to boot.
All you have to do is enter your information here.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Southwest Airlines free ukulele giveaway provoke internet backlash
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