Just when you thought you’d seen it all, up pops a new airline that’s for … wait for it … influencers. I know, I’m sometimes regarded as an influencer and Forbes Magazine labeled me the original travel influencer. As kind as it is, I really consider myself a travel publisher but influencer is a popular buzz word and “influencers” can run the gamut from a local movie critic to a Kardashian, who can charge up to $1 million for a single Instagram post. I think most of the general public hear the word “influencer” and cringe and companies like Willa Air aren’t helping matters.
According to CNBC: “Willa, an online payments company that caters to social media creators, just launched an airline called Willa Air – and its first voyage will take 12 lucky influencers to this month’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on an exclusive, and free, flight. In addition to the free travel, the airline’s luxury offerings include a pre-flight champagne bar and a post-festival weekend detox with IV drips, massages and a juice bar at the company’s Venice Beach lounge in Los Angeles, according to its website.”
This sounds like an April Fools’ Day joke and the timing is suspicious but it’s supposedly true. Willa Air’s website, says they’re not affiliated with the Coachella Music Festival and will not provide a ticket to it. They’re just giving 12 people a trip to and from L.A. to Palm Springs. Their website also states: “This exclusive experience will have everything you never knew you needed—from a pre-flight champagne bar to a post-weekend detox. Set the tone for your best trip yet with Willa Air.”
The best part about it is that it’s free and social media creators in the U.S., who are 18 or older, are eligible to apply. The flight departs from Los Angeles Friday, April 15 and returns Monday, April 18, 2022. Applications are accepted now through April 8 and those selected will receive an email on April 11.
This is a genius marketing tool because they say, “to increase your chances of securing a spot, create a Willa account and start submitting payment requests (aka invoices). The more invoices you send, the further up the applicant list you’ll climb!” Pretty pathetic, I know. I think David Lazarus of KTLA said it best when he retweeted the CNBC article with: “Douche Air.”
Douche Air https://t.co/1Ow8kQs0ha
— David Lazarus (@Davidlaz) April 2, 2022
If you were to name the airline, what would you call it?
