When I was running in NYC this weekend with friends, I mentioned the success I had with social media and solving travel issues (read: getting something for my troubles). Last summer when the blog was new, I wrote about my confusion about using Twitter (a year later I have figured some things not all!) That said, one of the reasons I wanted to learn more about Twitter last year was because of an awesome section in Travel and Leisure magazine about social networking and travel. Take a look at “Using Twitter for Travel and “How Social Media is Changing the Travel Industry.” Just the idea that I could tweet a powerful complaint to an AIRLINE and get my problem solved makes my heart sing! Since then, I tried this several times in hotels and IT WORKS. I also try to tweet compliments and accolades when I get exceptional service.
I found two apps that were recommended by Independent Traveler (IT) to help expedite your Twitter interactions (remember there are more than complaints) and provide some “insurance” with travel companies. They have written about how airing complaints on Twitter is often a successful way to get a travel problem solved. That said, unless you know are subscribed to all of the feeds for all of the companies you use, your tweet may not have as much of an impact, or worse, it could go unanswered. The second app helps to “lock” photos to show that they have not been altered and that they are a “trusted” account of events/situations.
- Flyright (iOS, Twitter) integrates with your Twitter account to post a tweet for you, with the added step of sending the tweet directly to an airline’s Twitter handle, so you don’t have to dig up the name yourself. Activity on the app is pretty light but according to IT it still works, so your tweets will get to the right place.
- Splid (iOS) is “borne of a truly 21st-century notion: you can’t trust everything you see in a photograph — and neither can travel companies and courts.” Pictures of dirty hotel rooms, broken airplane seat or scratch on a rental car can be discounted as having been altered in some way, so Splid (iOS) saves photos taken with the app that cannot be edited, which you can use as a “virtual witness” if needed. The “Why use it?” section of the Splid Web site mentions a number of travel-specific potential uses for the app, including saving photos of accommodations, rental cars, travel documents, hospitals, baggage damage, car accidents and more.
I think social media will continue to impact the way travel companies interact with us. These apps offer some new ways to give yourself some additional leverage. I also liked this article on how social media is changing travel from Smart Blogs on Social Media
Have you ever used Twitter or Facebook to try to solve travel or other problems? Would you try these apps?
I found lots of fun summer deals this week – apparently some folks are doing Christmas in July:
- Like RuMe bags? Save 30% on all bags and everything else on their site with the code JULY30 through July 29 for their Christmas in July Sale. Plus all orders over $50 ship free.
- Receive 30% off your next purchase from Gilt – up to a $75 discount. (Not valid on Giltcity.com or Jetsetter.com.)
- Need some new fitness finds?
- Check out the summer clearance on curated fitness items at Fit Frosting!
- Check out Infinity Strap at Open Sky and get an extra 20% off.
- New customers to Bulubox can get a free box with the code TWEET10 at checkout.
- Hey Chicago Runners, register today to save $15 on Hell Run Chicago with code HELLRUN15 through 8/31 or save $12 on the Chicago 10K with code ACTIVE12 through 8/11.
- Check out the flash sale at Abe’s Market – 5 items more than 25% off – last day! Sign up for their newsletter to get these great deals and an additional 10% off.
Get 20% off a Wantable Wantable . Wantable is a makeup and jewelry experience with “on-trend, curated boxes” created just for their customers. Answer a few style questions and they’ll recommend a box with full sized products picked by pro makeup and jewelry artists with your style in mind.
Still Available:
- Check out two great deals at Beauty.com:
- Spend $40 at Beauty.com and receive a skin care trio ($34 value) gift with purchase!
Offer ends 07.13.2013 or while supplies last.
- $10 off $50 at Beauty.com!
- Spend $40 at Beauty.com and receive a skin care trio ($34 value) gift with purchase!
- Hey Chicago runners:
- Enter to win a V.I.P. pass to the Terrapin 5K (on August 8th at Soldier Field) for you and two registered friends by entering on the RAM Racing Facebook page every Tuesday at 2pm CST! Winners are announced 10am the next day with lots of fun ways to win!
- Save $8 on Chicago 10K on August 11 with code ACTIVE8
- Save $10 on the Crosstown Classic 10K with the code CLASSIC10K
- Save $10 on the 2013 Chicago Half Marathon on September 8th with code MKTATHCHM13 through 7/25.
- Like Forever Yogurt? The Chicago Reader has a $5 voucher for $2.50 (and lots of other 50% off vouchers for eats around town!)
- My Red Mango card giveaway has ended. You can try Super Biotic Red Mango smoothies for $2 until July 31 with a voucher from Google Offers or one from Amazon Local Deals (you have to join that one – free and you can link your amazon account). Try them! I think you will like them!
- Save 20% site wide on great “eco-elegant” flowers, food and gifts from OrganicBouquet.com. (Click link for 20% off)
That’s more than enough for now! Have a great week and let me know what you find!
