In a competitive move that may bode well for the future of cheap fares, be they cheap airplane tickets or cheap vacation packages originating out of Milwaukee or departing for that city, AirTran is offering Midwest frequent fliers who donate their Midwest miles to Milwaukee charities free round AirTran tickets.
AirTran is awarding 32 frequent flier credits to any Midwest customer that donates at least 50,000 Midwest miles to charity by June 14th. 32 credits in AirTrans frequently flier program can be traded in for one round trip business class ticket or two coach round trips. Anyone donating 100,000 Midwest miles will receive double the number of AirTran tickets.
This promotion has the following impact:
1) Midwest will be flying more free passengers than probably ever before.
2) Midwest customers will get a taste of what it is like to fly on AirTran since they will be earning free AirTran tickets by donating Midwest miles.
3) AirTran is aiming to enhance its reputation as a good community partner that supports Milwaukee charities.
AirTran made an unsuccessful hostile takeover attempt of Midwest in 2001. At the time AirTran was looking to add a second hub to diversify its network and diminish the exposure of its principal hub in Atlanta where it faced Delta. Even though its bid was rejected, AirTran has continued to add to its Milwaukee operation.
In the process of merging Midwest into the Frontier Airlines brand, both of which were purchased last year by Republic Airlines, most of Midwests mainline staff was let go. Republic has replaced Midwest personnel and planes with its own staff and aircraft.
This has created some bad feelings for Midwest (now Frontier) who used to promote itself as Milwaukees hometown airline. Now it looks like AirTran wants to take over that hometown reputation. Passengers will win so long as competition continues to heat up in this market.
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