Man Offers To Do Anything For JetBlue Pass, Gets Wings
Looking to take advantage of a now-expired JetBlue promotion that lets you fly as much as you want in a month for $600, 28-year-old Brendan Ross polled the Craigslist crowd to see if anyone was interested in sponsoring him in exchange for doing, well, just about anything.
Wired did a story on Ross:
Ross said he isn't looking for money, just a chance to see as many airports as possible. In exchange, he's willing to do just about anything his sponsor asks. He'll spy on a significant other, act as a human courier, take photos of homes for out-of-state buyers, promote Golden Palace ("They've bought all sorts of crazy crap off eBay, why not buy their own personal guy who flies around?"), or even rate the efficiency of TSA screeners by city. You name it and he'll probably do it. Perhaps some right-wing interest groups will fly him around the country as a semi-professional Town Hall meeting protester.
Not exactly media shy, Ross e-mailed us the story and asked us for some help:
The passes were more popular than JetBlue expected, and they capped them before I could get one. I have offers rolling in now, thanks to the exposure I've gotten, so it's no longer an issue of not having the money. I'm thinking that if I could convince the JetBlue execs that it'd be great free exposure, they'd be willing to make an exception for me — so how should I go about this? An email carpet bomb seems like a good idea, but I've never tried it, so I could really use some advice for that, or any other ideas that might work.
Following our EECB advice, Ross got ahold of a JetBlue executive who, in Ross' words, let him "get his hands" on a pass. Sounds like code to "free" to me, most likely from JetBlue itself, although possibly paid for by one of Ross' many Wired-inspired benefactors.
It turns out all Ross had to do for his pass was go public with a bold, silly idea to be richly rewarded.
JetBlue Hopeful: Want Pass, Will Travel [Wired]
(Photo: Meg Marco)
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Comments:
Good enthusiasm...$600 for just about anything should get him a gig pretty quickly.
"Perhaps some right-wing interest groups will fly him around the country as a semi-professional Town Hall meeting protester."
Great job Wired, nothing like bringing politics into it.
I will do anything* (not illegal) to have a McMansion with a Tesla Roadster or two parked out front. Just include your offers below.
*Some restrictions may apply, all rights reserved, professional driver on closed course, new customers only, To avoid suffocation, keep away from children, no animals were harmed in the making of this comment, Limited time offer, call now to ensure prompt delivery, may contain nuts, credit card payment subject to 15% processing fee, you're gonna' love my nuts.
an email carpet bomb? isnt that supposed to be reserved for customer service issues that aren't being taken seriously and stuff like that?
It's nice that he got his pass, but using an EECB? Not a smart tactic; if too many people abuse the EECB, then those of us who get genuinely screwed over by a company will likely have our EECB's junked from overuse. This is a dangerous precedent being set for readers of the Consumerist.
This is exactly the kind of person I wouldn't want buying or using this pass if I were JetBlue's CEO.
@hungryhomer: I agree. This was an abuse of EECBs.
I'm even a little disappointed that Consumerist is promoting that it worked.
@citking: I think his point was, why? The comment has absolutely nothing to do with the story, it's simply an editorial non sequitor tossed in to establish the writer's liberal bona fides. Jokes are funny and/or edgy. This is neither. It's lazy and dumb.
@citking: If it was a joke, it was a bad one. Banzai was right to get irked at such a troll.
Besides, I don't think right-wing interest groups need to pay anyone to protest at town halls. There are plenty of regular citizens willing to do it for free.
@jokono: What you don't find funny others find humorous. While the web and comments aren't tailored to you or me, I respect the fact that some people don't find things funny. That doesn't mean it needs to be removed entirely. If you don't find it funny, don't laugh at it and move on.
Those of us who pay attention to politics and enjoy a good satire appreciate the subtle humor here. Every time I turn on CNN and see more hired protesters at town hall meetings I shake my head. This is a decent stab at it.
There, now it isn't funny seeing as how I beat it to death. You're welcome.
@citking: "Every time I turn on CNN and see more hired protesters at town hall meetings I shake my head. This is a decent stab at it."
Making fun of the concept of hired protestors is a harmless joke that may or may not be funny.
The implication that it only happens on the right is nothing more than a completely unnecessary out of nowhere jab at conservatives. And people wonder why everyone casually tosses around the term "liberal media"
I suggest the Nascar route, and get a Jumpsuit with patches on it. Then just promise to shake everyone's hand at each airport for maximum exposure. Also, try an LED nametag. I heard they look spiffy.
I also admire Jeff's enthusiasm in getting a coveted jetBlue Pass. Maybe he just likes the color blue. I heard blue labcoats are nice.
@citking: Who suggested removing anything? And, who suggested that everyone's sense of humor ought to match? It was a poor stab at the protesters, quickly defended by you as a joke. Banzai (and all other readers) have the prerogative to call the author out on the bad "joke." Just as it is your prerogative to continue to live in a fairy tale land where CNN provides an accurate account of civil dissent.
@citking: "Those of us who pay attention to politics and enjoy a good satire appreciate the subtle humor here. Every time I turn on CNN and see more hired protesters at town hall meetings I shake my head. This is a decent stab at it."
Sorry, "subtle?" Really?
And please, by all means, please offer any evidence at all of these hired (right wing) protestors at town hall meetings. The only ones I've seen have been on the left, and they've been doing it for years now. If the "joke" was commentary on an actual frequent occurance, it might be funny. But all it is is a completely unsubstantiated, recycled government talking point, that would actually apply much more accurately to the left. When did it become funny or cool to parrot government propoganda?
@citking: It's a "dig"; you know it, I know it, the rest of the board knows it. Stop trying to defend it as a "joke". A well-intentioned joke would be something that would make "everybody" laugh, not just one side of a political divide.
"Every time I turn on CNN..." That pretty much says it all.
Hey McDonalds, just when you're about to end the limited-time McRib sandwich calamity, give me a bunch of them for free so I can tell everyone how good they are. Don't worry, if I don't initially get your attention I'll just whore myself all over the internet until you notice me.
Man, what a great article. That guy's a genius.
Good lookin, too.
It may be meant as a joke, but the only evidence I've seen thus far is the left-wing extremist groups paying people to protest.
But, I like many progressives and liberals, want them to keep referring to anyone that opposes Obama care as "astroturfers". It'll only fire them up even more.
One change Obama did deliver is that people are actually starting to pay attention to the games and bs inside the beltway. It's about time we hold our elected leaders accountable.
I sense a new advertising campaign in the making.