Delta postcard about free airline tickets & hotel

/527 Comments/in /by

The strategy has evolved again (maybe just experimenting) by sending out a Delta Airlines postcard.  (See other posts about previous mailings here.) Please comment if you received one with your location.

See below for the postcard images and text.

The postcard says that they have been trying to contact you about free round trip tickets and a hotel stay you have won. Once you go to the sales pitch and sign up, you book through a fulfillment company. I’ve seen two lately: Universal Travel Vacations (website, BBB report) or the The Vacation Station (website, BBB report TN, BBB report SC)

Also, here is another blogger with information about a postcard that looks like it is from Southwest Airlines: http://talestoldfromtheroad.com/2011/11/02/consumer-alert-southwest-escape-offer-grounded/

I have found the answers to this mystery thanks to the great work of the folks at BBB in Tucson, AZ:

http://www.bbb.org/tucson/business-reviews/travel-clubs/southwest-travel-club-in-tucson-az-20007983

http://www.bbb.org/tucson/business-reviews/prize-promotions/patterson-bell-in-tucson-az-20027549

An actual story: http://www.kgun9.com/features/investigations/122887609.html

NEW video from INSIDE THE SALES PRESENTATION: http://www.9news.com/news/article/362984/339/Companies-behind-free-airline-ticket-letters-

Great reporting from WKMG: http://www.clickorlando.com/news/Free-travel-offer-mystifies-consumers/-/1637132/15701330/-/8s7gus/-/index.html

Video from inside the first ever video encounter I’ve seen: http://www.kboi2.com/news/local/Travel-service-vacation-smart-international-us-airlines-vacationanddeals-com-175915611.html?tab=video&c=y

If you would like to read more about these folks, visit this post. You can read all about the sales presentation, the free offer and the what you get for your vacation membership club cash outlay.

ADVICE:

When I read this, it was just too good not to post.  It’s from the Nebraska Attorney General (page 13 printed/page 15 PDF).

Look for the warning signs that may indicate a scam:

  • Benefits sound too good to be true.
  • The company has no permanent address and all presentations are held in rented conference rooms.
  • They can’t, or won’t, provide you with references.
  • They don’t want to give you an itemized list of what’s included in your trip until you have already signed the contract.

What you should do if you suspect a scam:

  • Don’t sign any contract during the travel presentation. They are high-pressure events intended to stir the emotions of an exotic vacation.
  • Contact a respected travel agent in town, give them the specifics of the trip, and ask if that seems  consistent with industry pricing.
  • Shop around. Compare your trip with other travel packages being offered to seniors.

Here is Michigan’s Attorney General’s advice:
http://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,1607,7-164-34739_20942-44762–,00.html

Here is the of the postcard:


DELTA / FLY AWAY ESCAPE

Dear x,

Congratulations! You have been selected to receive 2 Round Trip Airfares to anywhere Delta flies in the continental USA. Call within 48 hours. You will also receive as a  bonus 3 day 2 night hotel stay!

We have been trying to contact you! (This is not a timeshare or land sale offer)

Toll free 1-800-313-1263 (or other numbers)

RSVP xxxx (your ID in their database) MON-SUN 9am to 8pm

Fine print: Certain restrictions apply. Call for details of participation. This offer is not sponsored by or affiliated with Delta Airlines but they are a major supplier. Taxes, processing fees and reservation fees are the responsibility of the recipient. Offer void where prohibited by law. Not applicable to Alaska or Hawaii.

[UPDATE 12/2/2011] Apparently Delta isn’t the only carrier they are testing out in their new postcards — Southwest Airlines is targeted as well: http://talestoldfromtheroad.com/2011/11/02/consumer-alert-southwest-escape-offer-grounded/

Here is what would happen if you did call:

527 replies
« Older CommentsNewer Comments »
  1. Pat McCarthy says:

    Got mine today – January 17, 2012; Homewood, IL. Was suspicious right off the bat so I Google’d the toll free number on the card, and found this site on the first results page.

    It so happens that I had some major problems with a recent Delta flight, and have been meaning to hit that airline up for some sort of compensation – but I certainly didn’t think it would come automatically in the form of this bulk-mailed postcard!

  5. Connie Johnson says:

    Received this postcard in the mail yesterday.
    Knew it was a scam immediately! Had to convince hubby though..
    “If it sounds too good to be true, it’s usually not true!!

  6. Mikey says:

    Received mine a day or two ago, not the official DELTA logo being used and states on back of card that that ‘promotion not sponsored by or affiliated with Delta, …” Also Delta has warnings about this scam on their official sites.

    Anyone that does not check into this type of scam before they reply deserves to lose their money.

    cleveland , OH

  8. Mary says:

    Received exactly the same card except the number has changed, of course, to 877-287-1430

    Martinsburg, WV

  13. tony says:

    interesting, just got this yesterday and called the number. but declined. then i just noticed the fine print. ha !

  14. Karen from Tucson says:

    Tear off sides mailer saying:
    “Congratulations (then My Name)
    “Our Promotional Dept shows that you have been awarded a NEW E-pad Touchpad Tablet complete with Android software! Call within 72 hours and also receive a Polaroid digital camera as a bonus! To claim this special offer, simply call this local number! 1-888-771-1993 Then hidden on the back in small print it says “Call for details. Certain restrictions apply. Must be employed full time. This promotion is not sponsored by or affiliated with Android, but they are a major supplier of the software. …………Look…you said I “have been awarded”…but now I have to have money to get it. Ugh. I won’t call, I can do without the stress and go buy one myself if I want one.

  15. RJ says:

    I received letter yesterday from US Airlines. I’m always leary about something for nothing letters so I decided to look up US Airlines online and found this site. My number to call was 1-866-363-8023. Kristina Bar was my Vice President. Thanks for posting this information it is greatly appreciated.

  16. James says:

    1-20-2012 Escondido, CA We rec’d URGENT DELTA AWARD NOTIFICATION The Final Notice looks like a check. They claim the value of 2 round trip tickets worth $999 TODAY Reference Claim number 3914 FROM: CP PO Box 20389, West Palm Beach, FL 33416 If it sounds too good to be true it is too good to be true. It’s true there is no free lunch.

  17. Candy says:

    I received a letter yesterday from US Airlines. The phone number was 1-866-363-8023 and Kristina Bar was Vice President on my letter also. The letter looked very generic offering round trip air fair up to $1400.00 for travel anywhere in the Continental US. Certain restrictions apply. Glad I saw this even though I wouldn’t have called.

  18. LL from Rockford, IL says:

    Rec’d on 1/20/12. My letter says US Airlines, contact Kristina Bar, V.Pres. 866-363-8023. Must respond by 1/26/12. No return address on the letter and postmark identifies Pheonix, AZ. I am going to call it just for fun. Maybe it is a time share request? The scams are never ending….

  19. Bob says:

    Got one 1/17/12 says 2 round trip Delta airline tickets, phone 1-888-793-0204 from West Palm Beach, FL Permit 3950

    sent to
    Gilbert AZ 85298

  20. Jessica says:

    Got one also from JetBlue Airlines, same thing as the others. SCAM!!! 877-252-1979 is the # listed & it has the West Palm Beach FL address

  22. Nikki says:

    Got one today (1/23/12) from Delta Airlines- must respond within 48 hrs to receive two round trip airfares and 2 nights hotel stay. We have been trying to contact you- this is not a timeshare or land sale offer. 866-464-9183.

  24. Rich says:

    I received this post card yesterday and I followed one of my personal rules…..disregard winning anything that I did not personally enter.

  27. joeg says:

    Received JetBlue Fly Away Escape postcard today in Northern California. The phone number has changed to 1-877-610-4073.

    Dear XXXX
    Congratulations! You have been selected to receive 2 Round Trip Airfares to anywhere jetBlue flies in the continental US.
    CALL WITHIN 48 HOURS. YOU WILL ALSO RECEIVE AS A BONUS
    3 DAY 2 NIGHT HOTEL STAY!
    WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO CONTACT YOU! (THIS IS NOT A TIMESHARE OR LAND SALE OFFER)
    tO CLAIM THIS SPECIAL OFFER, SIMPLY CALL 1-877-610-4073
    RSVP ####
    Monday – Sunday 9AM – 9PM

  30. TeenaL says:

    My card was for jetBlue and included a $100 Chevron gas voucher if responded to within 48 Hours. The “toll free” # is 855-510-7593.
    I received one similar to this a couple of years ago and when I call when the girl explained the terms of the offer mysteriously static would be on the line the whole time. Then she would say do you accept this offer? I made her repeat it about 5 times then told her if she would like to repeat without the static I “might” be interested and started laughing. For some reason she hung-up on me that 30 minutes she wasn’t ripping somebody off. ROFL

  36. Jenni says:

    I received a jetBlue post card today in Cleveland, OH. I figured it was likely a scam, but I have been to legitimate time share offers that were excellent, so thank you for the online scam confirmations.

  39. Willow says:

    I got a Jetblue postcard identical to the photo above but with jet blue and cheveron the number is 877-610-3968 the postcard in fine print says that jet blue not sponsored or affiliated with the mailing..tried the number only got busy signal. thanks for the info.

  41. Hank says:

    Received one from jetBlue with the phone number 855-510-7593. About word for word like the ones above. This is in Knoxville, TN.
    Thanks for the headsup. 2/07/12

  43. Susan says:

    Received a “Fly Away Escape” postcard with 2 round trip airfares to anywhere jetBlue flies in the continental US and a 3 day 2 night hotel stay. What a crock! Received it yesterday in Akron, Ohio. The Postmaster General should be able to put a stop to this!!!!

  44. Claudia says:

    Got a postcard from Delta AND British Airways. The number to call is (610) 518-4911. Foo. I wanted to go to Paris. 🙂 We’re in the Philadelphia area.

  46. Kurt says:

    Also received a Delta/British Airways with an offer to Europe.. Number is 855 661 4928 – not calling based on other posts…

« Older CommentsNewer Comments »

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *