Duane Woerth
Senior Vice President of Airline Relations Sojern
Six Major Airlines Announce Plans to Launch Exciting Free Service to Enhance Passenger Experience
NEW YORK, Jul 15, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The six major network carriers (American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways) today announced their participation in a new, independently-owned company that will provide exciting new destination content and offers to their passengers via the online and printed boarding passes obtained from the airline's online check-in process.
The new company, Sojern, Inc., will be the first to provide valuable information to airline passengers who utilize the airline's existing and convenient web check-in to get their boarding passes.
The launch of the new service will begin on July 15, 2008 with Delta Air Lines, and the first passengers to receive the content will be those booked on flights to Las Vegas. Shortly after the initial launch, Delta will provide the service to all domestic destinations. "With millions of our passengers checking in online at delta.com each year, the boarding pass becomes an increasingly valuable tool for sharing relevant, timely offers and destination-specific content with our customers before they travel," said Marc Ferguson, general manager of Global Partnerships for Delta. "At Delta, we are always looking for innovative, new opportunities to provide added benefits to our customers, and this customized data from Sojern does exactly that."
The other airline partners will roll-out the service to their domestic passengers later this year with specific timing reflective of their internal project priorities. However, all of the partners are very enthusiastic about the new offering.
"Our focus group research has continually shown that passengers love the concept and praise the airlines for providing this innovative offering," said Gordon Whitten, the founder of Sojern and former Ernst and Young Midwest Technology Entrepreneur of the Year. "And, since the airlines connect to millions of high income travelers about to embark on a trip, advertisers are also clamoring to get involved. It is truly a win for passengers, a win for advertisers, and a win for airlines."
"We always focus on providing greater convenience and value to our customers, and this is a natural extension of that effort," said Bella Goren, Senior Vice President of Customer Relationship Marketing and Reservations at American Airlines. "The capabilities of Sojern will enhance our customers' travel experiences, and we are very pleased to pursue this opportunity."
The airlines will continue to operate and develop their respective websites independently, including online check-in. Additional quality content will be provided directly on the boarding passes by Sojern using its patent-pending proprietary technology. "Continental is pleased to be working with Sojern to provide valuable content and offers to our customers via our online boarding passes. This relationship will provide our customers with a new product they will appreciate and value, and will generate ancillary revenue for Continental," said Mark Bergsrud, Continental's senior vice president marketing programs and distribution. "The Sojern team has a great deal of expertise in the advertising space and is the right partner for our industry-leading online check-in products."
Sojern will be the exclusive third-party provider of content on the airline's online boarding passes. "With nearly 40% of our customers using nwa.com to check-in, Northwest is pleased to extend customized offers and deals tailored to customers depending on their destination and other characteristics," said Al Lenza, VP, Distribution and E-commerce. "We are excited to work with Sojern on this multi-airline venture."
The custom tailored content will help passengers plan for the unpredictable and the delectable by providing weather forecasts for the duration of their trip and by helping them locate cuisine choices that fit their budget and lifestyle. In addition, Sojern will provide timely content about events that are happening in destination cities across the nation and customized offers to passengers by working with a wide variety of advertisers who aspire to reach the quality demographics represented by airline passengers. "At US Airways we are always seeking solutions that provide both unique customer benefits as well as new revenue opportunities," said Travis Christ, US Airways' Vice President, Sales and Marketing. "Sojern has found the right formula and we're looking forward to adding another great feature to usairways.com."
The airlines have been very successful attracting partners for their frequent flyer mileage programs and they expect to be able to attract more quality relationships, in the markets they serve, with local companies who wish to provide offers to the airline passengers. "This agreement is consistent with the work that we are doing to offer our customers a more customized travel experience, and we look forward to this exciting opportunity with Sojern," said Dennis Cary, senior vice president, Marketing, United Airlines.
Sojern is funded by two leading Silicon Valley venture capital firms, Norwest Venture Partners and Trident Capital, both with a history of successful travel and advertising technology investments. Their first round investment in Sojern was $16M. Additionally, Sojern has assembled a board of directors comprised of industry experts, including Jeffrey Katz, Founding CEO and former Chairman of Orbitz. "Airlines have again come together to provide a convenient service to their customers," said Katz. "It's similar to how Orbitz and Hotwire were formed, only this time the company will be in the heart of the booming online advertising industry." In addition to their participation, each airline will own an equity stake in Sojern.
Advertisers are enthused about gaining unparalleled access to a highly sought after travel audience. Crocs, Inc., well-known for the lightweight and comfortable shoes that many travelers have come to enjoy, has signed up as a charter advertiser with Sojern. "We are excited to be one of the first advertisers to leverage this new medium," said Edward Wunsch, Director of Marketing at Crocs, Inc. "We are confident that the passenger experience will be remarkable and will reflect positively on our brand to millions of people in our ideal demographic."
For a more detailed demo of the new boarding pass, please visit: www.sojern.com/demo.
About Sojern, Inc.
Sojern, Inc. is an Omaha-based organization that is partnering with the airline and advertising industries to enhance the travel experience by providing destination specific information and offers via the boarding passes that travelers obtain through the airline's web check-in process. Since its founding in September 2007, Sojern has secured partnerships with leading U.S. airlines including American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways. The company is funded by Norwest Venture Partners and Trident Capital. Sojern's patents are currently pending. For more information please visit www.sojern.com.
Senior Vice President of Airline Relations Sojern
Six Major Airlines Announce Plans to Launch Exciting Free Service to Enhance Passenger Experience
NEW YORK, Jul 15, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The six major network carriers (American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways) today announced their participation in a new, independently-owned company that will provide exciting new destination content and offers to their passengers via the online and printed boarding passes obtained from the airline's online check-in process.
The new company, Sojern, Inc., will be the first to provide valuable information to airline passengers who utilize the airline's existing and convenient web check-in to get their boarding passes.
The launch of the new service will begin on July 15, 2008 with Delta Air Lines, and the first passengers to receive the content will be those booked on flights to Las Vegas. Shortly after the initial launch, Delta will provide the service to all domestic destinations. "With millions of our passengers checking in online at delta.com each year, the boarding pass becomes an increasingly valuable tool for sharing relevant, timely offers and destination-specific content with our customers before they travel," said Marc Ferguson, general manager of Global Partnerships for Delta. "At Delta, we are always looking for innovative, new opportunities to provide added benefits to our customers, and this customized data from Sojern does exactly that."
The other airline partners will roll-out the service to their domestic passengers later this year with specific timing reflective of their internal project priorities. However, all of the partners are very enthusiastic about the new offering.
"Our focus group research has continually shown that passengers love the concept and praise the airlines for providing this innovative offering," said Gordon Whitten, the founder of Sojern and former Ernst and Young Midwest Technology Entrepreneur of the Year. "And, since the airlines connect to millions of high income travelers about to embark on a trip, advertisers are also clamoring to get involved. It is truly a win for passengers, a win for advertisers, and a win for airlines."
"We always focus on providing greater convenience and value to our customers, and this is a natural extension of that effort," said Bella Goren, Senior Vice President of Customer Relationship Marketing and Reservations at American Airlines. "The capabilities of Sojern will enhance our customers' travel experiences, and we are very pleased to pursue this opportunity."
The airlines will continue to operate and develop their respective websites independently, including online check-in. Additional quality content will be provided directly on the boarding passes by Sojern using its patent-pending proprietary technology. "Continental is pleased to be working with Sojern to provide valuable content and offers to our customers via our online boarding passes. This relationship will provide our customers with a new product they will appreciate and value, and will generate ancillary revenue for Continental," said Mark Bergsrud, Continental's senior vice president marketing programs and distribution. "The Sojern team has a great deal of expertise in the advertising space and is the right partner for our industry-leading online check-in products."
Sojern will be the exclusive third-party provider of content on the airline's online boarding passes. "With nearly 40% of our customers using nwa.com to check-in, Northwest is pleased to extend customized offers and deals tailored to customers depending on their destination and other characteristics," said Al Lenza, VP, Distribution and E-commerce. "We are excited to work with Sojern on this multi-airline venture."
The custom tailored content will help passengers plan for the unpredictable and the delectable by providing weather forecasts for the duration of their trip and by helping them locate cuisine choices that fit their budget and lifestyle. In addition, Sojern will provide timely content about events that are happening in destination cities across the nation and customized offers to passengers by working with a wide variety of advertisers who aspire to reach the quality demographics represented by airline passengers. "At US Airways we are always seeking solutions that provide both unique customer benefits as well as new revenue opportunities," said Travis Christ, US Airways' Vice President, Sales and Marketing. "Sojern has found the right formula and we're looking forward to adding another great feature to usairways.com."
The airlines have been very successful attracting partners for their frequent flyer mileage programs and they expect to be able to attract more quality relationships, in the markets they serve, with local companies who wish to provide offers to the airline passengers. "This agreement is consistent with the work that we are doing to offer our customers a more customized travel experience, and we look forward to this exciting opportunity with Sojern," said Dennis Cary, senior vice president, Marketing, United Airlines.
Sojern is funded by two leading Silicon Valley venture capital firms, Norwest Venture Partners and Trident Capital, both with a history of successful travel and advertising technology investments. Their first round investment in Sojern was $16M. Additionally, Sojern has assembled a board of directors comprised of industry experts, including Jeffrey Katz, Founding CEO and former Chairman of Orbitz. "Airlines have again come together to provide a convenient service to their customers," said Katz. "It's similar to how Orbitz and Hotwire were formed, only this time the company will be in the heart of the booming online advertising industry." In addition to their participation, each airline will own an equity stake in Sojern.
Advertisers are enthused about gaining unparalleled access to a highly sought after travel audience. Crocs, Inc., well-known for the lightweight and comfortable shoes that many travelers have come to enjoy, has signed up as a charter advertiser with Sojern. "We are excited to be one of the first advertisers to leverage this new medium," said Edward Wunsch, Director of Marketing at Crocs, Inc. "We are confident that the passenger experience will be remarkable and will reflect positively on our brand to millions of people in our ideal demographic."
For a more detailed demo of the new boarding pass, please visit: www.sojern.com/demo.
About Sojern, Inc.
Sojern, Inc. is an Omaha-based organization that is partnering with the airline and advertising industries to enhance the travel experience by providing destination specific information and offers via the boarding passes that travelers obtain through the airline's web check-in process. Since its founding in September 2007, Sojern has secured partnerships with leading U.S. airlines including American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways. The company is funded by Norwest Venture Partners and Trident Capital. Sojern's patents are currently pending. For more information please visit www.sojern.com.
