I’m About to Reacquire a Taste for Soda
I just came across an excellent deal to get some cheap airfare. AirTran and Wendy’s have teamed up to offer free AirTran tickets with the purchase of Wendy’s drinks. From USA Today:
Would you like a free airline ticket with your Wendy’s combo meal? Just a few credits short of a free ticket on AirTran Airways? That’s nothing a trip to Wendy’s can’t take care of. The fast-food restaurant has teamed up with the carrier on a promotion that offers AirTran frequent-flier members one-fourth of a flight credit for every purchase of a combo with drink, or any 20- or 32-ounce drink at participating Wendy’s restaurants. For those of you already starting to crunch the numbers in your head, here’s how the math breaks down: AirTran offers a free one-way ticket for 8 flight credits, so buying 32 eligible drinks is enough to net you 8 flight credits — or enough for a free one-way ticket. Buy 64 drinks, and you get a free round-trip flight. There is, however, a limit of five drinks per transaction. The details on how to convert the drinks into flights are available on the airline’s website, but here’s how it works: “Participating” Wendy’s will have specially marked combo, 20- and 30-ounce drinks that have a proof of purchase/AirTran flight coupon printed on the cup. Customers must collect those and send them in to the airline, along with a 3×5 notecard containing their contact information and AirTran frequent-flier numbers. Members will receive one flight credit for every four drink coupons, but no single member can redeem more than 128 drink coupons (good for 32 flight credits). AirTran officials tell me the promotion is being offered at more than 3,200 Wendy’s across the USA, though some markets are not included. The offer runs through Dec. 31, or while supplies last.Posted 7 a.m. ET
Wow. *does some math* I could get a round-trip ticket on AirTran for like $90. I just checked the AirTran website, if I wanted to fly to San Francisco in March, it would cost $289.80 for the flight. Holy crap, $90 is a steal.
I think I know how I’m getting to the NYRA Annual Meeting in Berkeley next year. I’m totally gonna do this. I just have to figure out what to do with all that pop.
November 21st, 2005 at 7:03 pm
Call it SODA, you loser!:P
November 21st, 2005 at 8:57 pm
Fuck that. NYRA Road Trip!
November 22nd, 2005 at 3:41 am
ROAD TRIP!!!!
THABOAT is good for another one, right?;)
November 25th, 2005 at 6:48 am
I think you mean soda. Pop is what happens when a balloon explodes.
November 26th, 2005 at 1:05 am
Hey, I already made fun of him for that. Copycat.:p
December 4th, 2005 at 12:55 pm
I would strongly suggest not attempting to buy 64 soda’s for a free round trip ticket.
i just finished reading the terms and conditions of this bogus offer and it looks like Air Tran is out to screw anyone attempting to get a free ticket.
First of all if you must be 18 years or older as of 11/1/05. you must have a A+ account thing with Air Trans. None of the taxes are included, meaning you are still paying over $100 dollars for your “free” ticket. And that is not even the worst part read this quote copied and pasted directly from Air Tran website:
AirTran Airways reserves the right to freeze or close A+ Rewards account or to prohibit the participant of an individual/account holder if fraud or tampering is suspected, or if the account holder fails to comply with any requirement of participant stated herein or with any provision of these Terms and Conditions. This program may be modified or cancelled if fraud or misconduct destroys the integrity of the program.
so that being said wise up dont try this ridiculous offer.
December 4th, 2005 at 3:23 pm
Um, Alex is from Michigan, so he was raised within the linguistic context of “pop,” so I think that he deserves some defending. I mean, I don’t hear people complaining that it’s problematic that a kid who is raised with liberal parents might tend to vote for Democrats. A fellow Michigander, I admit that when talking with my fancy D.C. friends, I use “soda,” so I don’t incur their wrath. But is it fair? Is it really fair?
December 8th, 2005 at 10:34 am
informed, yes, I read through all the rules and regulations before I went and bought the cups. First of all I’m over 18, secondly, its easy to sign up for one of their frequent flyer accounts (its free), and as for the fact they can cancel at any time… well that’s pretty much just a standard escape clause. Every agreement I”ve ever signed online or otherwise always says “we can change the terms of this at any time without notice” or something to that effect.
So that doesn’t mean this AirTran thing is a scam, they are just being as shady as 90% of other companies out there and leaving themselves a way out. I don’t like it, but its not unusual.
An update on this btw, I went and bought all 64 cups at once.
I found a friendly manager at a Wendy’s in Rockville. Then Scott sent me a check and I bought another 64 on his behalf. 
Grand total for 64 cups? $79.97! Sure there are taxes on that, there is no avoiding that. But even so its a hell of a lot cheaper than just buying the ticket outright.