I'd like to give a jumbo jet-sized, virtual high-five to the just-launched Virgin Atlantic’s Twitter Bot that allows the populace to quickly check their flight status simply by Tweeting. Gone are the days when you have to wait on phones or even open up a whole new web browser to see how bored you will be for the next couple hours of your flight delay. Simply amazing.
All the customer has to do is Tweet @VAInfo with a very specific format such as @VAInfo plus flight number as well as the date like this : @VAInfo VS1 1411. They will then receive an automatic and quite chipper response (Hello Gorgeous!) telling you when and where the flight is leaving and its arrival time.
This is an immense break in the industry where so many elements to flying are tedious and cumbersome. Virgin has also implemented Facebook and Foursquare check-in. This time it has hopped aboard the Twitter bird and in the process, packed along all that makes the medium efficient, namely its 160 character message blasts. The Virgin Atlantic Twitter Bot will clear up room for the customer service team and is a model that will doubtlessly catch on like wildfire throughout the industry and even outside of it.
Mile-High Social Media Check-Ins
Virgin Atlantic's Twitter Bot Launches Tweeted Flight Updat
Trend Themes
1. Automated Customer Service - The launch of Virgin Atlantic's Twitter Bot demonstrates the potential of automated customer service in the airline industry, reducing the need for human interaction.
2. Social Media Integration - Virgin Atlantic's integration of Facebook, Foursquare, and now Twitter check-ins highlights the trend of airlines leveraging social media platforms to enhance customer experience and streamline processes.
3. Real-time Flight Updates - The use of Twitter as a platform for providing real-time flight status updates indicates a growing trend in the airline industry towards leveraging instant communication channels to keep passengers informed.
Industry Implications
1. Airline - The airline industry has an opportunity to embrace automated customer service technologies, like Twitter bots, to streamline processes and enhance customer experience.
2. Social Media - The social media industry can capitalize on the trend of integrating with airlines to offer innovative solutions for real-time updates and customer engagement.
3. Customer Service - The customer service industry can explore the potential of AI-powered platforms like Twitter bots to automate responses and improve efficiency in handling inquiries and support.