Airline Flies with Facebook to Help Children

Through an alliance with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Southwest Airlines will offer the Foundation $1 in travel each time a customer uses Facebook Deals to check-in at any of Southwest Airlines’ 69 airports.

Facebook users need to use their smart phone to check-in using Facebook Places, and share their location upon arrival at any airport Southwest serves, and claim the Deal. 

Once they’ve checked in on Facebook Places and claimed the Deal, Southwest Airlines will automatically donate $1 in travel to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, up to $300,000.

For Southwest Airlines, this is also a way to promote its business. Today, many companies are trying to leverage social media reach for enhanced brand communications.

Here’s another example. Embedded within the Facebook experience, Elfmas Town users can choose from a selection of fun holiday games to play, earn rewards and share with friends.

Office products company OfficeMax is creating its holiday eGreeting site powered by JibJab, ElfYourself.com, and has announced the launch of ElfmasTown.com. (Read: Go, Play in the Elfmas Town on Facebook)

Film company DreamWorks Animation SKG and Zynga announced that Megamind, the self-described “incredibly handsome master of all villainy,” will become a neighbor to all 17 million game players on FarmVille.

Megamind himself was to launch his very own “Mega-Farm,” a brand new themed landmark within the popular social game that incorporates the storyline and characters from the studio’s feature film, Megamind, which opened in theaters on Nov. 5. (Read: Megamind to Play in Mega-Farm on FarmVille)

Also, the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies announced that it is extending its partnership with Zynga, the maker of FarmVille.

For a ten-day period, Farmers began offering FarmVille players a likeness of its Farmers Insurance Airship, a 246-foot-long Zeppelin.

When players placed the Farmers Airship on their virtual farm, they received free “wither protection” for their crops. (Read: Farmers Airship on FarmVille Facebook Game)

Likewise, ETX Capital has launched a fantasy trading game on Facebook enabling millions of users worldwide to compete against friends on the world’s financial markets.

ETX Capital Trader offers a real time trading experience where users can practice their trading skills with virtual money. (Read: Playing Fantasy Trading Game on Facebook)

“The Make-A-Wish Foundation is proud to join Southwest Airlines in making wishes come true through this campaign,” said David Williams, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America president and CEO.   

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions, and nearly 70 percent include travel to their wish destination. For more details on how you can participate in this offer, visit: www.southwest.com/fbplaces

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“With the holidays right around the corner, we know many of our customers like to find ways to give back to their communities and others in need. With this special offer, we are able to help make wishes come true for seriously ill children on behalf of our Facebook fans,” said Linda Rutherford, Southwest Airlines VP of Communication and Strategic Outreach.

The Facebook Deal offer is a new venture for the airline and it was announced Friday, Nov. 26.