Qantas to Flyers: Ditch Your Kindles, Read Our Custom Books

[Rinelle]

What do you think of this campaign from Qantas?

http://adage.com/article/news/qantas-...

I'm not sold. Not least because of the books on offer, but also because I prefer to pick my own books for the flight, and I love my kindle!

[Steve]

Rinelle wrote: "What do you think of this campaign from Qantas?

http://adage.com/article/news/qantas-...

I'm not sold."

I'm not either.

"...the average reader consumes between 200 and 300 words per minute..."

Not on this forum they don't. :-)

I would much rather Qantas used the weight to carry more choices of food or movies rather than a bunch of books like a lending library. And you just know that after eight or ten flights, most of them are going to start looking very grubby indeed.

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Why would they bother? And how can they even guess what I want to read and how long I may want to read for. Even I don't know that. Not that I ever fly Qantas any way.

[★ Jess]

Scored my first (hopefully of many) A+ for year 12 in a business report :))))

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Congratulations Jess, that is fantastic! But I think you might have accidentally put it in the wrong thread?

[Katie]

I don't think much of the idea. When I read, I like to choose how long I'll read for and what I'll read. If I don't like a book in the first three chapters, I'll stop reading it and start something else. If I really like a passage, I might go back and read it again. There are just too many factors they can't possibly cover. Silly idea, if you ask me.

[Steve]

Ashleigh wrote: "Also, I am assuming we pay extra for this service."

It's Qantas, not Ryanair. :-)

I suspect it will be the usual Qantas dodge of free for international, and pay for domestic.

[Liam || Books 'n Beards]

I sure as hell don't read 200-300 words per minute.

[Kate]

It's not a service I can ever see myself using but as an idea I don't think it's too bad. I always travel with kindle and spare paperback in my hand luggage just incase.

And considering how picky I am... not sure they'd be able to cater to my specific specifications.

But I can see why it would be a draw for other people.

[Rinelle]

I think what really bugged me was the "our exclusive paper books are better than your inferior kindle ones". Playing on a little bit of a bias there I think, and I don't like that.

I believe the books are offered for a specific class of traveller, not everyone, though I don't fly often enough to understand the destinations between different airfares.

[★ Jess]

Brenda wrote: "Congratulations Jess, that is fantastic! But I think you might have accidentally put it in the wrong thread?"

indeed

[★ Jess]

I dont mind the idea, its alright for those who get on a place and want to kill some time, but I certainly would not ditch my own reading material for it.

[Donna R]

★ Jess wrote: "Scored my first (hopefully of many) A+ for year 12 in a business report :))))"

Good for you and a sign of things to come :))

[Donna R]

Stephanie thinks the bespoke books reflect the sophistication of the Q brand and David suggests that the humble paper back is surviving solely at 40000ft with readers who are curled up no less! I can see the creative team now, huddled around a table eyeing off the shiraz meant for dinner firing off brain storming one-liners like crazed beebee gunners. Its scary when a half baked idea gains traction.
The campaign is aimed at ffers/skew male (puhleeze) and I would love to see what the team has on offer for the platinum class hazard bedecked ffers who wing their way north from Perth each week or two - "Mum and I - a Tale for Horse Lovers" by T Waterhouse; OR "Murder in the Dump Truck" Insp Johnno 28 by Wayne Flouro!
Frankly, sophistication is not the word that comes to mind when I think Q and good luck to Emirates in their efforts to elevate the Q experience.
Seriously, the only upside I see is the relationship forged with the publishing house who's name I forget.