By Michael Smith (Veshengro)
Call this common sense marketed extremely well, if you wish. But, then again, Virgin has always been good at marketing but also in social responsibility or why do you think people love working for Richard Branson?
Virgin America has installed "hydration stations" at San Francisco International Airport's "green" terminal. Normally, after the TSA pats you down, X-rays your undies, and confiscates your Poland Spring, you have to shell out $4 or so for monopoly-priced airport water. Not any more – well, not at SFO, anyway.
Sure, you can bring your empty water bottle through security and fill it up at a water fountain at just about any airport (well, not any airport). And SFO has had "hydration stations" for a while now. But now Virgin is jumping in with an endorsement, branding refills as the smarter way to travel, and even pushing water bottles with the company logo. This is Virgin doing what Virgin does best, and making something that's been around seem cooler – the eco-friendly version of on-board lounge music and purple mood lighting.
I must say that the bottle looks rather cool and if it is stainless steel I would love one but at the price of $14 for a branded bottle I am not sure.
The praise that Virgin is getting for its clever marketing of SFO's existing offering is important and well deserved also. Other airports won't step up to the mark and provide refill stations until customers demand it and that is just it. You, er, the customers, have to demand it and then, maybe, just maybe, they will listen and implement what we ask for.
The response, throughout, is positive with fans leaving masses of comments on the associated Facebook page. Maybe others will listen and this could thus become an international trend and not just a national one, at airports, railway terminals and stations, etc.
Mind you, in Britain it would be nice if on railway stations we could get the toilets opened again for use by travellers. And drinking water refilling fountains could be added as well. Chance would be a fine thing though.
Image: Virgin America
© 2011
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