British Airways launches Facebook app

British Airways is inviting users of the carrier to contribute to an online collection of itineraries through their new ‘Perfect Days’ Facebook app.

Consumers can pick a city the airline flies to and create an itinerary for a 24 hour stay there. Integration with Google Maps allows users to mark each café, museum or bar on a map; other Facebook users can therefore see the precise route and click on each attraction to read information about it.

Users may Like, Share or Comment on city guides posted by others and read tips and insider knowledge from the airline’s well-travelled staff and cabin crew. On the page for Berlin, Leon B from Sales suggests: “Instead of tourist bus tours, Berlin’s regular 100 bus covers many sights for a fraction of the cost.”

 

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The most ‘Liked’ itineraries appear as favourites on the main page of the app.

Richard Bowden, the company’s Digital Marketing Innovation Manager, said: “Perfect Days allows travellers to find new experiences and be inspired by others who are passionate about a destination and want to share their insider knowledge and travel tips.

“We look forward to receiving their feedback from this first version of the new app.”

Digital agency Being created the app for British Airways and commented: “With the Facebook platform the trick is to tap in to existing user behaviour. The Perfect Day app enables British Airways to add value and facilitate conversations that are happening between travellers.”

At the moment only a selection of the world’s major cities are featured on the app, but this number is likely to increase if the app is successful.

The airline has previously used Facebook as part of brand engagement strategies: in 2010 commuters were rewarded if they ‘checked-in’ to a British Airways promotion at Grand Central Terminal in New York City.

Another carrier with a history of a particularly interesting social media presence is KLM, whose ‘Tile and Inspire’ campaign allowed Facebook fans to place their faces on a digital representation of what would be manufactured as a real aircraft,

Earlier this week British Airways was recognised as one of the ten safest airlines in the world by the Air Transport Rating Agency (ATRA).

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