It’s No Joke. JetBlue Covers Flight Costs of April 1 Travelers Named April

JetBlue - Free Flights for AprilWhile brands like Google, BMW, Nissan and many others were celebrating April Fools Days with fake product announcements, JetBlue was keeping it real by offering a credit voucher equal to the cost of their flight to people (presumably women) with the first name April, who were flying April 1.

On the airline’s Blue Tales blog, the company’s Director of Media Relations April Dinwoodie (yes, April) explained:

“April 1st isn’t always fun and games for everyone. For many of us, it represents an annual tradition of mockery. We’re thrilled to take a moment and do something for those customers that might not look forward to starting their month with a day of teasing.”

[via Convince and Convert]

USA

Hobbit Characters Prepare for Takeoff in Air New Zealand Safety Video

Air New Zealand - An Unexpected Briefing

Air New Zealand has become well-known for their creative flight safety videos including one featuring flight crews wearing just body paint and another with fitness guru Richard Simmons (who thankfully was wearing real clothes).

Air New Zealand’s latest safety video (embedded below), features a flight crew and plane cabin full of characters from the upcoming movie ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey‘, including Peter Jackson, and author J.R.R. Tolkien’s great-grandsons Mike and Royd Tolkien.

The video is part of Air New Zealand’s sponsorship partnership with The Hobbit, which includes the (temporary) re-branding of the Airline of Middle-Earth.

Viewers should watch for the Elvish script, then enter to win a trip for two to New Zealand, which includes a tour of the Hobbit movie set, a visit to the Weta Cave, and double passes to the movie premiere of ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’.

The safety video was created in partnership with Jackson’s Weta Workshop and Weta Digital.

[via mUmBRELLA)

New Zealand

WestJet Introduces Child-Free Cabins with Kargo Kids Program

WestJetThis morning Richard Bartrem, VP Communication at WestJet Airlines introduced a new service that comes as welcome news to exhausted parents and short-tempered airline customers.

The airline is introducing child-free cabins at select WestJet flights through a program called Kargo Kids. WestJet customer service agents will help parents load their kids into specially designed ‘travel toboggans’, and can relax as their children are whisked away on a magic carpet ride.

On board Kargo Kids Kounselors (I imagine it’s pelled with a ‘K’ also) will keep your kids entertained with plenty of toys and a state-of-the-art feed trough. Your kids will arrive safely along with the luggage and other kids at your travel destination.

But, don’t get too excited about booking those child-free flights just yet. If you look at the calendar you’ll notice today is April Fool’s day.

However, it is no joke that WestJet is offering people using the LOL12 promo code an extra 10% off on bookings made before April 3, 2012. More details on the deal at westjet.com/kargokids.

Canada