Eboy
22nd Oct 2002, 10:02
Brief excerpt from an article in today's Wall Street Journal . . .
"Would you let someone get the wrong idea about your sexual preference if you could save $100 on an airline ticket?
Online travel service Orbitz is offering two discount coupons good for up to $100 off tickets on participating airlines to people who book flights before Nov. 16. The offer is open to anyone, but most customers have no idea it exists, since the coupon is touted not on Orbitz's home page, but on its "gay microsite" -- a section of Orbitz tailored to the interests of gay and lesbian travelers.
Launched in June, the microsite has offers from tour companies such as Olivia and Atlantis that specialize in gay-themed travel packages."
"Some mainstream online message boards now contain a direct link to the coupon, courtesy of microsite regulars who want to pass on the savings.
'I posted the discount in order to help fellow passengers,' says Eyal Mayer, a gay traveler from New York City who posted the link to FlyerTalk, a message board popular with frequent fliers. 'The give-and-take philosophy behind the bulletin board means members share information about discounts and promotions with other members. I have no problem if some straight folks pretend to be gay in order to use the discount.'"
"Unlike most online-travel offers that allow customers to opt out of future mailings, people who sign up for the discount coupon through Orbitz aren't able to check a box and remove their name from the gay-and-lesbian mailing list. As a result, they can expect to receive periodic notifications via e-mail concerning fare-sale alerts to 'gay-friendly destinations, information on gay-specific travel vacations and special offers of particular interest to gay and lesbian travelers.'"
"Concerns about 'outing' themselves by participating in the Orbitz offer have some straight travelers debating whether or not the $100 savings is worth it."
http://clients.eprize.net/orbitz/coupon/
http://www.orbitz.com/App/GetDealsDetailsContent?deal_id=gaytravel
"Would you let someone get the wrong idea about your sexual preference if you could save $100 on an airline ticket?
Online travel service Orbitz is offering two discount coupons good for up to $100 off tickets on participating airlines to people who book flights before Nov. 16. The offer is open to anyone, but most customers have no idea it exists, since the coupon is touted not on Orbitz's home page, but on its "gay microsite" -- a section of Orbitz tailored to the interests of gay and lesbian travelers.
Launched in June, the microsite has offers from tour companies such as Olivia and Atlantis that specialize in gay-themed travel packages."
"Some mainstream online message boards now contain a direct link to the coupon, courtesy of microsite regulars who want to pass on the savings.
'I posted the discount in order to help fellow passengers,' says Eyal Mayer, a gay traveler from New York City who posted the link to FlyerTalk, a message board popular with frequent fliers. 'The give-and-take philosophy behind the bulletin board means members share information about discounts and promotions with other members. I have no problem if some straight folks pretend to be gay in order to use the discount.'"
"Unlike most online-travel offers that allow customers to opt out of future mailings, people who sign up for the discount coupon through Orbitz aren't able to check a box and remove their name from the gay-and-lesbian mailing list. As a result, they can expect to receive periodic notifications via e-mail concerning fare-sale alerts to 'gay-friendly destinations, information on gay-specific travel vacations and special offers of particular interest to gay and lesbian travelers.'"
"Concerns about 'outing' themselves by participating in the Orbitz offer have some straight travelers debating whether or not the $100 savings is worth it."
http://clients.eprize.net/orbitz/coupon/
http://www.orbitz.com/App/GetDealsDetailsContent?deal_id=gaytravel