Delta Launches Facebook App for Purchasing Tickets

16 Years Ago Updated 16 Years Ago Emily Banks 0 346 Views

Connect with old classmates, chat with friends...now book flights on Facebook.

Delta Airlines added an application to its Facebook page today that allows customers to search for flights, book them and share them with friends without navigating away from the Facebook page.

For the first time, it seems an airline has taken customers' Facebook interaction with air travel to a new level. Delta and other airlines have fan pages on the social networking site, but the new Delta Facebook app is just the beginning of the airline's expanded marketing plan that intends to be more user-friendly and interactive.

“Our customers are spending more time online and are looking for new ways to connect with us,” said Bob Kupbens, Delta’s vice president of eCommerce, according to the . “We’re now delivering technology where our customers are.”

The airline posted a message on its Facebook wall earlier Thursday announcing the new Delta Ticket Window, which can be found in a new "Book a Trip" tab.

According to the AJC, Delta also redesigned delta.com and will be introducing an iPhone check-in app, as well as other methods for purchasing tickets on sites other than delta.com.

“Unlocking the full power of social media and mobile apps is the next step for Delta,” Kupbens told the AJC.

Dani AI

Generated 9 Months Ago

called out Delta's early experiment with an in-Facebook booking flow, and later noted how airlines were treating social and mobile as channels, not just promotional outlets. Years on, the key lessons are practical and operational rather than trendy. Below are focused, actionable points for teams thinking about embedding a high-value purchase flow inside a social platform.

User experience and trust are the biggest barriers. Keep the flow short and predictable (search → fare selection → passenger details → payment) and surface taxes, fees and change/cancellation rules before the final step. Offer a guest checkout and a "save and email itinerary" so users who distrust a social checkout can finish on a secure site or mobile app. For payments, rely on a PCI-compliant tokenized gateway or a hosted payment page; never store raw card data inside the social app.

On the backend, design for real-time integration and resiliency. Build an API-first connector to the booking system (PSS/CRS), use idempotent operations and queueing for peak loads, and cache only non-sensitive data. Instrument every micro-step (search, select, add traveler, start checkout, purchase) with UTM/event tracking and pixels so you can spot where users drop off and run A/B tests on CTAs, placement, and share prompts.

Privacy, sharing and monetization deserve deliberate rules. Make shares opt-in and explicit, limit what can be posted to friends, and use social channels to sell low-friction ancillaries (baggage, seats, upgrades) or to capture leads rather than force complex itineraries through the social UI. If done thoughtfully, social checkout improves discovery and retention; done poorly, it erodes trust.

Member #949455

13 Years Ago

“Unlocking the full power of social media and mobile apps is the next step for Delta,” Kupbens told the AJC.

I guess Delta is really benefiting the social media and mobile apps:

http://www.mobilemarketer.com/cms/news/content/14578.html

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