Mark Cuban Will Help Lose Your Luggage

During the Dallas Maverick's last home game, American Airlines announced they were giving vouchers for free flights to everyone at the game. Naturally the 19,000 fans said "woo hoo" when Mark Cuban and an American airlines executive announced it between the 1st and 2nd period.

Since this is Mark Cuban he had to do something big. Now he can say he's given the most airline tickets at once. From a marketing stand point it's smart. American Airline gets free press from media all over the country covering this story. American Airlines has lost $92 million the first three months of the year. That's even without giving out meals on flights. Soon they'll be charing for peanuts I bet. I know they're trying to draw in customers. Most likely those that use a voucher aren't going alone so they have to buy a ticket. So that's how they make their money. If they like it, they'll fly again. But I sense the majority of the people won't use the voucher.

Why not? Because there is a catch. You can only fly from Dallas Love Field to Austin, San Antonio, Kansas City or St. Louis. So if someone wanted to fly free to Hawaii this summer they're screwed. The selected list of cities aren't ones most people put at the top of their list. Try telling the family you're not going to Disney this summer but instead to St. Louis to stare at an arch. Again unless they are flying by themselves, they're going to have to fork over money for another ticket. Now the free voucher doesn't sound as good.

Cuban was asked if this giveaway was bigger than Oprah's when she gave her whole audience brand new cars. Of course he said no because this involves 20,000. So when it's Keith Van Horn bobble head night it's better than giving away cars because more people get bobble heads? It's not about numbers but the quality of the prize.

I'm going to say Oprah's giveaway was bigger. You equate getting a free car as a huge deal. On "The Price is Right" everyone dreams of winning a brand new car. They're tepid about those free all inclusive vacations. Free airline tickets? Meh. Free airline tickets only means you have get patted down when you go through security and then sit in front of two kids who kick and scream the whole time. Also they just might lose your luggage. At least if I don't want the car I can sell it for good money (after paying the taxes).

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