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The Hoover Free Flights Fiasco

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The Hoover Free Flights Fiasco

   
Old Jan 20, 20, 11:02 am
  #1  
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The Hoover Free Flights Fiasco
I know not technically a BA related, but I'm sure many older BA FT members took up this insane offer in the early 90's - its an incredible fiasco with the US flights. Spend £100 and get 2 Return flights to NYC or Florida. The deal of the decade. Did anyone get one of these free flights? How many hoovers did you buy?

A clip from a BBC doc below goes into some more detail.


Would love an offer like this to happen in 2020.
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Old Jan 20, 20, 11:17 am
  #2  
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Originally Posted by SA100 View Post
I know not technically a BA related, but I'm sure many older BA FT members took up this insane offer in the early 90's - its an incredible fiasco with the US flights. Spend £100 and get 2 Return flights to NYC or Florida. The deal of the decade. Did anyone get one of these free flights? How many hoovers did you buy?

Would love an offer like this to happen in 2020.
Before this gets padlocked, I'll say that yes - I remember this and it was an absolute fiasco. There were flights offered but they were on strange days and even stranger times - and yes, I know someone who did manage to go on one. I'd forgotten that it was Hover. However, this has absolutely nothing to do with BA as you say.
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Old Jan 20, 20, 11:21 am
  #3  
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A friend managed to get one. He had to jump through all sorts of hoops, but was very persistent and just accepted the flights he was given. ISTR he flew with Virgin.
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Old Jan 20, 20, 11:24 am
  #4  
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They did Charter entire aircraft - maybe they chartered from BA ? - did anyone get Avios did they provide full BA service. Trying to find a BA connection.

Such an amusing story.
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Old Jan 20, 20, 11:26 am
  #5  
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Originally Posted by PUCCI GALORE View Post
However, this has absolutely nothing to do with BA as you say.
Was the offer for economy flights only? If so, it would probably have been of no interest to BAEC FT, either!
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Old Jan 20, 20, 11:27 am
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Watchdog's Anne Robinson would be spinning in her... oh wait...
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Old Jan 20, 20, 11:28 am
  #7  
 
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I believe the Hoover flights fiasco was in 1992. Avios had yet to be created. It was Air Miles in the 1990s.

Doc Copper
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Old Jan 20, 20, 11:28 am
  #8  
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Carbon Conscious Travel
 
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Originally Posted by SA100 View Post
They did Charter entire aircraft - maybe they chartered from BA ? - did anyone get Avios did they provide full BA service. Trying to find a BA connection.

Such an amusing story.
Back then, only full fare tickets earned points (or AirMiles as they called at the time). Good question though
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Old Jan 20, 20, 11:32 am
  #9  
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It also has its own Wikipedia page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoover...ghts_promotion
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Old Jan 20, 20, 11:35 am
  #10  
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In marketing circles it is a classic case study of “when things go wrong” so unlikely anything similar would happen.

Anyhow, who wants to fly Y to the US 😉
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Old Jan 20, 20, 1:30 pm
  #11  
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Originally Posted by Swanhunter View Post
In marketing circles it is a classic case study of “when things go wrong” so unlikely anything similar would happen.

Anyhow, who wants to fly Y to the US 😉
Back then, my Love, no one thought that J would be as affordable as it is and upgrading was unheard of in Europe.
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Old Jan 20, 20, 1:39 pm
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Originally Posted by SA100 View Post
... Trying to find a BA connection.
You just say, "and its effect on BA".

So, if you wanted to talk about Ancient Greece, you would say Icarus and his effect on BA - then off you go.
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Old Jan 20, 20, 1:51 pm
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Originally Posted by SA100 View Post
I know not technically a BA related, but I'm sure many older BA FT members took up this insane offer in the early 90's - its an incredible fiasco with the US flights. Spend £100 and get 2 Return flights to NYC or Florida. The deal of the decade. Did anyone get one of these free flights? How many hoovers did you buy?

A clip from a BBC doc below goes into some more detail.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGVe2l0baoI

Would love an offer like this to happen in 2020.
Check out the Citi AA thread....
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Old Jan 20, 20, 2:00 pm
  #14  
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Well I guess there is a hint of BA relevance, with the difficulty even seasoned travellers here have with cashing in Avios or Amex 2-4-1 vouchers.

Watch this space? Especially if there are any majorly disadvantageous changes made to those programs.
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Old Jan 20, 20, 2:09 pm
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