http://www.ccnmatthews.com/news/releases.Controller?action=check4Cookies&searchText=false&showText=all&actionFor=587105

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(CCNMatthews - March 31, 2006) - WestJet announced today that it will be launching a new program where guests can assist the airline in realizing fuel efficiencies.

"Our Blended Winglet Technology has allowed us to reap the benefits of improved fuel efficiency," said Richard Bartrem, WestJet's Director Brand and Communications. "Knowing this, we commissioned a number of studies to determine how this principle could be applied inside the aircraft with our guests. The results were conclusively positive; the combination of specific hand and arm positions of our guests has a direct impact on our fuel efficiency.

"Beginning tomorrow, we ask that every guest aboard a WestJet aircraft assume the inflight winglet position upon takeoff," says Bartrem. "This involves straightening the arms at a ninety-degree angle to the side of the body, holding the fingers together, and positioning the hand at a ninety-degree angle upward. For more information, visit westjet.com and click on the 'Blended Winglets' banner."

The airline is confident the increased roominess of their Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft will ensure all guests are able to fully participate in this cost-saving measure.

Marking its tenth anniversary this year, WestJet is Canada's leading low-fare airline offering scheduled service throughout its 33-city North American network. Named Canada's most respected corporation for customer service in 2005, WestJet pioneered low-cost high-value flying in Canada. With increased legroom and leather seats on its modern fleet of Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft, and live seatback television provided by Bell ExpressVu on the majority of its fleet, WestJet strives to be the number one choice for travellers.

I had assumed from the thread title that asking for help in "realizing fuel efficiencies" was a euphamism for asking pax to bring less luggage and to lose weight. :D

FewMiles..

It must be 1 April somewhere. :)

I had assumed from the thread title that asking for help in "realizing fuel efficiencies" was a euphamism for asking pax to bring less luggage and to lose weight. :D

FewMiles..

I was thinking they would ask everyone to use the washroom before boarding LOL.

Looks like someone got the jump on April Fools day :)

They must have their PR firm on a retainer.....

Looks like someone got the jump on April Fools day :)

They must have their PR firm on a retainer.....

While I hadn't thought some of Westjet's previous PR/ad/marketing campaigns were as bad as some here, this one is simply too bad to even rate as an effective April Fools joke (I guess that's why it was released today).

While I hadn't thought some of Westjet's previous PR/ad/marketing campaigns were as bad as some here, this one is simply too bad to even rate as an effective April Fools joke (I guess that's why it was released today).
Couldn't have put it better :td:

Good to see they're minimizing frills and costs by releasing PR statements like this

This "news" release is just stupid.

There has to be WestJetters who are embarrassed by crap like this - I would be.

d
:td: :td: :td:

I thought it was funny. (And it was no doubt released today so it would make it into tomorrow's news.)

While I hadn't thought some of Westjet's previous PR/ad/marketing campaigns were as bad as some here, this one is simply too bad to even rate as an effective April Fools joke (I guess that's why it was released today).

If you want the free publicity in the paper on April 1st, ya gotta press release it on the 31st.

It's not that complicated.

Reuters has already picked up the story.

I'll guarantee you that WJ PR tracks all media sources for coverage. This release will get them thousands of bucks worth of free publicity.

;)

If you want the free publicity in the paper on April 1st, ya gotta press release it on the 31st.

It's not that complicated.

Reuters has already picked up the story.

I'll guarantee you that WJ PR tracks all media sources for coverage. This release will get them thousands of bucks worth of free publicity.

;)


Sure beats the sort of publicity ACE seems to garner....

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Metro/493749.html

Passenger unhappy with airline treatment

By JOHN GILLIS Staff Reporter

Flight crew are using threats of removal from a plane, jail and grilling by customs officials too casually, a Halifax man says after a bad experience on a plane last weekend.

Gabor Lukacs, a Dalhousie University math professor, was boarding a small Air Canada Jazz plane Sunday in Boston, on his way back from a conference in North Carolina, when his trouble began.

At the gate, he was asked to take a different seat than the one he was assigned so that a child could sit with a parent. Mr. Lukacs said he had no problem doing that, but on the plane, it turned out a middle-aged couple were sitting in his original seat and the adjacent one, and he was placed in the back row.

;)

Sure beats the sort of publicity ACE seems to garner....

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Metro/493749.html

Passenger unhappy with airline treatment

By JOHN GILLIS Staff Reporter

Flight crew are using threats of removal from a plane, jail and grilling by customs officials too casually, a Halifax man says after a bad experience on a plane last weekend.

Gabor Lukacs, a Dalhousie University math professor, was boarding a small Air Canada Jazz plane Sunday in Boston, on his way back from a conference in North Carolina, when his trouble began.

At the gate, he was asked to take a different seat than the one he was assigned so that a child could sit with a parent. Mr. Lukacs said he had no problem doing that, but on the plane, it turned out a middle-aged couple were sitting in his original seat and the adjacent one, and he was placed in the back row.

;)

:o already on another thread.

The only position I felt like assuming when reading this release involved clutching my stomach and making retching noises, but then I've felt that way about all the (thankfully few) WS flights I've taken

this release was just a 'funny bone' test, which most of you people on here failed miserably. Lighten up :rolleyes: Life isn't that bad, is it?

this release was just a 'funny bone' test, which most of you people on here failed miserably. Lighten up :rolleyes: Life isn't that bad, is it?
it sure is, when people in WS' PR department are encouraged to write releases like that...

I thought it was funny. (And it was no doubt released today so it would make it into tomorrow's news.)

This morning's London Free Press had a picure in the centre of the back page of the business section with a WS flight attendant standing at the front of the plane assuming the position. I wonder how many people will end up cuffing their seatmate upside the head doing this on flights today LOL.

nope - thought about it - still stupid and embarrassing :td: :td: :td:

This morning's London Free Press had a picure in the centre of the back page of the business section with a WS flight attendant standing at the front of the plane assuming the position. I wonder how many people will end up cuffing their seatmate upside the head doing this on flights today LOL.

Free advertising. That's what this is all about, not to mention the ongoing program to differentiate one product from another.

No one will ever confuse LUV from Delta, Virgin Blue from Qantas, same with WJA and AC. That's the point.

;)

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/business/story.html?id=794a6eaa-ccbf-4bd4-8567-1a61cd77f34b&k=49081

CALGARY (CP) - Just in time for April Fool's Day, WestJet Airlines Ltd. (TSX:WJA) has announced a new program to get passengers to help reduce fuel consumption.

No one will ever confuse LUV from Delta, Virgin Blue from Qantas, same with WJA and AC. That's the point.

You can rest assured that i will never confuse the two airlines. ;)

........ and boy are my arms tired!'

I see an FT angle here and reported by the Edmonton Journal. Hmmmmmm.

Front page of the Financial Post. Even had two "analysts" chime in about it.

Front page of the Financial Post. Even had two "analysts" chime in about it.
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/financialpost/story.html?id=7352ae6c-020d-4236-9e44-62837886869d

Cheesy, but whatever.