Twitter: United and JetBlue "twares" going "cheep"

Twitter is being used in many ways by many different businesses. Even the airlines are onboard. Where as once they were offering customer service and flight information via the popular microblogging platform some are now promoting Twitter-only deals on airfares, too.

by Helen Leggatt

twitter2 logo bird.jpg Twitter users love being "in the know", it's a big draw card for the platform. Airlines are catching on to this, and utilizing Twitter's engaged and fast-reacting audience to fill their planes.

How? By promoting super-low airfares via Twitter. United calls its Twitter-only deals "twares", while JetBlue's are called "cheeps". Whatever the label, the deals are being snapped up by Twitter users, and no wonder with some JetBlue one-way fares as low as $9 (JFK to Nantucket).

The heady mix of a very time-limited deal, an unbeatable price and a spontaneous audience means that the Twitter-only airfares are soon sold out, according to Robin Urbanski, a United spokeswoman.

Other airlines, such as Virgin America and Southwest, do have Twitter accounts but these are mainly used for posting flight updates, delays and cancellations.

Tags: airfares, airlines, cheeps, customer service, JetBlue, microblogging, promotion, twares, Twitter, United