What’s especially notable about the Southwest/Omni promotion, however, is that it used the existing assets of both brands and redeployed them at modest expense to suit the occasion.
The eclipse’s path of totality runs diagonally from Texas to New England, passing over cities including Dallas, Austin and Indianapolis. As it turns out, Southwest already operates service between Dallas and Pittsburgh (Flight 1252) as well as Austin and Indianapolis (Flight 1721), allowing the carrier to offer prize packages aboard existing flights—no extra crew, no extra fuel, no extra plane.
“We have network and schedule planners, and they determined the Southwest flights that have the greatest likelihood of offering customers on board the best view,” Melle explained.
The contest winners will get more than just a window seat, however. Flight attendants will pour drinks from a special eclipse-themed cocktail menu into eclipse glasses that sit atop eclipse napkins while passengers regard the astronomical event from 36,000 feet. (Printing on one napkin asks: “How’s that for inflight entertainment?”)
Another important perk: solar viewing glasses. As both brands—and this publication—are keen to point out, looking directly at a solar eclipse will burn your retinas and possibly leave you blind. The American Astronomical Society suggests glasses meeting the international safety standard rating of ISO 12312-2.
