Delta Launches First Airline Social Media 'Ticket Window,' Revamps Home Page - Aug 12, 2010

Delta Launches First Airline Social Media 'Ticket Window,' Revamps Home Page - Aug 12, 2010

So if you haven't been under a rock the last decade, you know just how the term 'social media' has evolved, and how it's importance grows everyday. This includes the business world and retail. It was announced today that something was done for the first time. It's likely to have a huge impact across the world of business and entertainment and retail. Delta Airlines today became the first airline to allow people to purchase airline tickets through Facebook. They have created what they call their "social media ticket window" that is the first of it's kind. The move coincides with the airline's revampment of it's website landing page. What was a whiteboard style setup now has the punch and colorful, eye-popping feel of something like Bing.com.

Given that 300 million people all over the world are on Facebook, and the amount of time the average person spends on the site, this only makes good business sense. This gives Delta first-crack at a massive market, and aggresively positions their brand at a younger demographic. I would have thought a low cost carrier would jump on social media ticket windows first, either JetBlue or Virgin America, two airlines that already brand themselves as an edgier, younger entity. Since it's merger with Northwest, Delta airlines has re-branded itself with a cleaner, younger and almost edgier look. The legacy carriers need to begin to battle the likes of JetBlue, Virgin America and Airtran in terms of a youthful and energetic appearance. For the first time in a decade or more it seems the airline might be able to solidify it's brand image and reputation. However, it will be overtaken as the world's largest carrier when the United and Continental merger goes through. The Facebook move may give Delta a top-of-mind awareness with social media users in the United States, a major advantage in an increasingly competitive airline market.

This will spark a whole new wave of social media ticket and purchase options in the coming couple years. Prepare to see every other airline in the country on-board within a year. Furthermore, prepare for movie and entertainment ticket purchases, rentals and possibly even fast-food purchases to come along soon. I can already see Ticketmaster frothing at the mouth. What really has the possibility of happening is that social media online purchases may one day over take online purchases from company websites. Example being; instead of going to Delta.com or priceline.com to find airfare, you jump on Delta's Facebook ticket window to browse and purchase, and then use the actual airline website simply to gather accessory information for your trip.

So now after Facebook, who will be first to make a secure purchase option available on Twitter?