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How many unread notifications are currently sitting on your phone? Southwest Airlines has decided to turn them into a form of currency. Since October 5, the U.S. low-cost carrier has been offering to exchange this bit of digital clutter for loyalty points.
This initiative is part of “Enter Airplane Mode,” the Texas-based airline’s new brand campaign. It stems from a survey commissioned by Southwest involving 2,001 American adults: roughly three-quarters reported feeling burned out, and more than two-thirds view travel as a way to regain control over their time.
The message is simple: unplug for a bit, truly get away, and don’t wait until you’re on the verge of a breakdown to book a trip. Along the way, the airline highlights its standard perks, such as no change or cancellation fees on most tickets.
How “Notification Vacation” works
The concept boils down to one sentence: users share a screenshot of their pending notifications on the promotion’s website and receive “Rapid Rewards” points – Southwest’s loyalty program – in return. The more cluttered the screen, the higher the potential reward, ranging from 500 to 10,000 points per participant.
A Rapid Rewards account is required. These points can then be used to pay for part of a future ticket – which is the campaign’s ultimate goal: bringing travelers closer to their next getaway.
What about the Burnout Quiz ?
At the same time, the airline is offering a short quiz designed to identify the areas where people feel the most pressure: work, schedules, commuting, or messages. Taking the quiz also earns points (up to 500) and serves as inspiration for choosing a destination. Impressive figures, but with a cap
Southwest has announced a total pool of over 185 million points, comprising approximately 150 million for notifications and 37 million for the quiz. Each member remains subject to an individual cap, and points are awarded only while supplies last.
For more information, please visit www.notificationvacation.com