'Twas A Night Before Christmas.

[V2-OMG!]

Eight million hits....and counting.

[V2-OMG!]

Normally don't like WestJet videos but I gotta say this one really spurred my Christmas spirit. I don't mind if companies toot their own horn when it comes to charity, etc...how else will I know? I am just glad big business are donating to charities, if it makes me like their airline then everyone wins ...right?

I have sent the video to two friends in the US who routinely fly with other airlines; they said they will now book WJ whenever they can.

Good marketing floats everyone's boats. I know those who fly for WJ have some issues. I truly hope it works out for those at the helm of that boat - their pilots.

[complexintentions]

Yeah nothing sums up the Christmas spirit like getting the true necessities of life, like a 50" tv or an eight year old getting a tablet. It's kind of like a miracle. Or um, marketing.

I'm sure the employees involved were sincere with their intentions so not picking on them, it IS fun to play Santa. But I'd rather have seen stuff people actually need, going to people who actually need it. Not random strangers getting consumer crap so another corporation can reap the publicity. Yay Xmas!

That's just me, an old Commie I guess. But it was a weird video, as I often find WestJet's schtick. Calculated and almost warm and fuzzy, all at once. Maybe I just haven't recovered from that horrendous video of the middle-aged FA dancing, I dunno.

[complexintentions]

clicked once, posted twice.

[cdnpilot77]

But I'd rather have seen stuff people actually need, going to people who actually need it. Not random strangers getting consumer crap so another corporation can reap the publicity. Yay Xmas!

You don't think that guy really needed socks and underwear?

Of course it was marketing and publicity that was pretty creative and new for a change. They give back to those that support them, where's the problem? Pretty sure they donate a lot of time and resources to charities that are in need also! Lighten up there Mr. Scrooge!

[V2-OMG!]

That's the Canadian spirit! A bona fide success story, and Canadians want to club it over the head.

Yes, it was brilliant marketing. So, what happens when you do not market?

Nothing. (Job layoffs and eventual bankruptcy excepted).

BTW, I had an interesting chat with someone today who works in the transport industry. It is a public company - buses. One of their drivers routinely dresses at Santa and passes out candies to his passengers. The passengers bring toys for needy children. The company honchos told him to quit it.

Oh.....the bus company has been haemorrhaging money, and is heavily subsidized by taxpayers. I did not post this to bash "the other" airline, but I thought it was interesting when my friend said many of these honchos migrated from Air Canada!

Meanwhile, back on You Tube, the hits are now over 10 million.

[MrWings]

Kool Aid or not, this is going viral on social media. Got friends in the States and overseas posting it.

[xchox]

Here ya go. Now you're like the guy that asked for socks instead of a big TV.

I bet you that guy is kicking himself in the balls.

[Beefitarian]

Maybe but he's wearing new socks to do it.

[I WAS Birddog]

Hmmmm...I'm gonna have to watch that again.

I missed seeing the part where new Canadians receive gifts. That's sooooo odd because THAT would have been THE true **West Jet Christmas miracle

A Merry MERRY white Christmas to you too Westjet....and keep fighting the good fight Alberta.





**Edited for the punchline

[Redneck_pilot86]

The American security guard in Albuquerque mentioned it when we headed through YYC bound this morning.

[DH772]

No it has nothing to do with being cold hearted.

It has everything to do with people being so short sighted thinking this is greatest gesture ever. "best airline ever" "most generous act I've seen from an airline" "Christmas miracle from WJ"

This is what the general public is saying! As stated, short sighted.

Yes because donating gifts to guest who probably make more than 90% of the pilots on here is oh so much better than an airline donating to try and save the life of a kid or make it better for those who aren't able to be home for the holiday season.

For those who haven't donated this holiday season yet. Ask yourself how would you feel if you donated to try and save someone's life or make it slightly better vs. someone who is just donating for their own personal gains.

[cyeg66]

Hmmmm...I'm gonna have to watch that again.

I missed seeing the part where new Canadians receive gifts. That's sooooo odd because THAT would have been THE true **West Jet Christmas miracle

A Merry MERRY white Christmas to you too Westjet....and keep fighting the good fight Alberta.





**Edited for the punchline

Have virtually no friggin' idea what you're talking about. Keep up the good work, southern Ontarian.

[Lateralus]

No it has nothing to do with being cold hearted.

It has everything to do with people being so short sighted thinking this is greatest gesture ever. "best airline ever" "most generous act I've seen from an airline" "Christmas miracle from WJ"

This is what the general public is saying! As stated, short sighted.

Yes because donating gifts to guest who probably make more than 90% of the pilots on here is oh so much better than an airline donating to try and save the life of a kid or make it better for those who aren't able to be home for the holiday season.

For those who haven't donated this holiday season yet. Ask yourself how would you feel if you donated to try and save someone's life or make it slightly better vs. someone who is just donating for their own personal gains.

Lol Chill out dude. The airline did something original and it has really connected with people and made them happy. 15 million views and tons of positive comments (except from bitter pilots of course). Think you are taking this way too seriously man.

[ravensrule]

No it has nothing to do with being cold hearted.

It has everything to do with people being so short sighted thinking this is greatest gesture ever. "best airline ever" "most generous act I've seen from an airline" "Christmas miracle from WJ"

This is what the general public is saying! As stated, short sighted.

Yes because donating gifts to guest who probably make more than 90% of the pilots on here is oh so much better than an airline donating to try and save the life of a kid or make it better for those who aren't able to be home for the holiday season.

For those who haven't donated this holiday season yet. Ask yourself how would you feel if you donated to try and save someone's life or make it slightly better vs. someone who is just donating for their own personal gains.

Please don't ever apply to WestJet. I can only imagine you as my captain.

I highly doubt that 90% of our guests make more than a pilot when the national average income for unattached individuals is $31 400 (from Statscan.) I'm also not sure if you are aware, but once the video reached 250 000 views, WestJet donated flights to the Make a Wish foundation, one of our six national partnered charities. It is quite clear we low-balled the impact of this video.

Another thought is, perhaps by giving families these presents, it's less money they have to spend on Christmas presents for their family. They can now use that money to make donations. Here's an example from facebook:

"Yesterday morning I was having coffee with Terry and we were sitting at Starbucks talking about the Christmas video that our amazing company made. Yes, I still say "Our". I am retired but still feel a part of this wonderful family. All of a sudden this gentleman at the next table stands up and asks us if he could tell us something? He said his name was Bill and he was part of that flight that came in from the east!!! With tears in his eyes he told us that he had asked the virtual Santa for an all inclusive vacation for 2 to Cancun! He said that it couldn't have come at a better time and that he and his girlfriend were going to donate $1,000 dollars to the church to give to the kids in need! Now we see that it doesn't just stop at WestJet. It is carried forward. What a coincidence and what sometimes is meant to be, IS!"

[I WAS Birddog]

Have virtually no friggin' idea what you're talking about.

...I don't really care...son xo

Merry Christmas to you and your clan. All the best

Much love

[cdnpilot77]

Someone needs a christmas hug, holy shitballs! Lighten up people, if was a fun gesture to their paying passengers. Someone didn't get the Teddy bear they asked for last year DH772?

[bmc]

No it has nothing to do with being cold hearted.

It has everything to do with people being so short sighted thinking this is greatest gesture ever. "best airline ever" "most generous act I've seen from an airline" "Christmas miracle from WJ"

This is what the general public is saying! As stated, short sighted.

Yes because donating gifts to guest who probably make more than 90% of the pilots on here is oh so much better than an airline donating to try and save the life of a kid or make it better for those who aren't able to be home for the holiday season.

For those who haven't donated this holiday season yet. Ask yourself how would you feel if you donated to try and save someone's life or make it slightly better vs. someone who is just donating for their own personal gains.

Your underwear is too tight, son.

[complexintentions]

Here's an example from facebook:

"Yesterday morning I was having coffee with Terry and we were sitting at Starbucks talking about the Christmas video that our amazing company made. Yes, I still say "Our". I am retired but still feel a part of this wonderful family. All of a sudden this gentleman at the next table stands up and asks us if he could tell us something? He said his name was Bill and he was part of that flight that came in from the east!!! With tears in his eyes he told us that he had asked the virtual Santa for an all inclusive vacation for 2 to Cancun! He said that it couldn't have come at a better time and that he and his girlfriend were going to donate $1,000 dollars to the church to give to the kids in need! Now we see that it doesn't just stop at WestJet. It is carried forward. What a coincidence and what sometimes is meant to be, IS!"

WOW! How fortuitous that someone just happened to be an ex-WestJet employee, just sitting at a coffee shop, and just randomly crossed paths with "Bill", who was willing to share such a detailed story with a stranger, who then was lucky enough to have the facility of social media to share such a heartwarming story! Another Christmas miracle!

Astroturfing: def

"Astroturfing" is the act of trying to boost one's image online with fake comments, paid-for reviews, made-up claims and testimonials."

Look, I readily admit the marketing and execution was brilliant. That aspect of it could be celebrated, no doubt about it. I take no issue with companies trying to promote themselves whatsoever. But I don't enjoy getting manipulated either, or watching people contort themselves with rationalizations about it.

We live in weird times. When companies performing stunts like this one are considered kindly, benevolent entities, yet no critical thought is given to what was actually accomplished. I can assure you that the main net beneficiary of this entire event was not the pax receiving the gifts - it was WestJet! Does that not give anyone with a brain the ability to see where the motivation lay?

But objectivity is rewarded with comments of "lighten up" and "Scrooge" and so on. When in actual fact the opposite is true - I would very much have loved to read a story of how the (not insignificant) amount of resources poured into this (highly successful) publicity stunt had gone to people known to be truly in need - it's not like there's any shortage of them! Of course anyone is free to give as they see fit, but if you're gonna blow your own horn as hard and as publicly as they have here, I think you have to be willing take some criticism about suspect motives too.

Guess you could say I fall solidly in this camp:

Ask yourself how would you feel if you donated to try and save someone's life or make it slightly better vs. someone who is just donating for their own personal gains.

But feel free to measure "success" by YouTube hits, I guess.

A sincere (non-commercialized non-corporate bs) Merry Christmas to all!

[bmc]

24 million views

[cdnpilot77]

Here's an example from facebook:

"Yesterday morning I was having coffee with Terry and we were sitting at Starbucks talking about the Christmas video that our amazing company made. Yes, I still say "Our". I am retired but still feel a part of this wonderful family. All of a sudden this gentleman at the next table stands up and asks us if he could tell us something? He said his name was Bill and he was part of that flight that came in from the east!!! With tears in his eyes he told us that he had asked the virtual Santa for an all inclusive vacation for 2 to Cancun! He said that it couldn't have come at a better time and that he and his girlfriend were going to donate $1,000 dollars to the church to give to the kids in need! Now we see that it doesn't just stop at WestJet. It is carried forward. What a coincidence and what sometimes is meant to be, IS!"

WOW! How fortuitous that someone just happened to be an ex-WestJet employee, just sitting at a coffee shop, and just randomly crossed paths with "Bill", who was willing to share such a detailed story with a stranger, who then was lucky enough to have the facility of social media to share such a heartwarming story! Another Christmas miracle!

Astroturfing: def

"Astroturfing" is the act of trying to boost one's image online with fake comments, paid-for reviews, made-up claims and testimonials."

Look, I readily admit the marketing and execution was brilliant. That aspect of it could be celebrated, no doubt about it. I take no issue with companies trying to promote themselves whatsoever. But I don't enjoy getting manipulated either, or watching people contort themselves with rationalizations about it.

We live in weird times. When companies performing stunts like this one are considered kindly, benevolent entities, yet no critical thought is given to what was actually accomplished. I can assure you that the main net beneficiary of this entire event was not the pax receiving the gifts - it was WestJet! Does that not give anyone with a brain the ability to see where the motivation lay?

But objectivity is rewarded with comments of "lighten up" and "Scrooge" and so on. When in actual fact the opposite is true - I would very much have loved to read a story of how the (not insignificant) amount of resources poured into this (highly successful) publicity stunt had gone to people known to be truly in need - it's not like there's any shortage of them! Of course anyone is free to give as they see fit, but if you're gonna blow your own horn as hard and as publicly as they have here, I think you have to be willing take some criticism about suspect motives too.

Guess you could say I fall solidly in this camp:

Ask yourself how would you feel if you donated to try and save someone's life or make it slightly better vs. someone who is just donating for their own personal gains.

But feel free to measure "success" by YouTube hits, I guess.

A sincere (non-commercialized non-corporate bs) Merry Christmas to all!

So you disagree with all marketing and advertising campaigns? OR, it would be better to give the 50-60k that it would have cost WestJet for this "advertising" to an ad agency and 1-2 30second spots on global? That would have been more "natural grass" in the stadium? Normally you make a lot of sense, but this subject, you have me completely baffled. I thought you were joking at first because no one could possibly be THAT cynical....right?

[Bede]

http://www.thebeaverton.com/business/it ... st-luggage

[bmc]

http://www.thebeaverton.com/business/it ... st-luggage

Beaverton is the best. That is funny.