American Airline's New Marketing Strategy: Diagnosing me with a disease.

Today I received a concerned email from American Airlines. Apparently, they are worried that I have a disease, the terrible Wanderlust.

       The only cure? 1 million frequent flier miles, which only 4 will receive.  What do I have to do to be in the running for the cure?  Only buy a roundtrip, transatlantic flight, of course.  Who would fall for this?

The Email:

      

Dear Meghan __________,

Are you experiencing symptoms of The Wanderlust? Do you feel: [ ] Trapped in your own home or office? [ ] Like you haven't taken a vacation in years? [ ] Consumed by thoughts of exotic lands? [ ] All of the above?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you have the Wanderlust. In celebration of our newly enhanced relationship, American Airlines and British Airways have found the cure. Together we will turn four travelers into Miles Millionaires*.

To become eligible to enter The Miles Millionaire Contest, register, then book a qualifying round-trip transatlantic flight on American Airlines, British Airways or Iberia now through June 17, 2011, and complete your travel on or before June 30, 2011. Once you complete your travel, you'll receive an email** with details on the contest entry process. You just have to creatively answer this question: "If you were cured of the Wanderlust with 1 Million Miles, where would you go and what would you do there?"

         As I read this, I became increasingly irritated at how much American Airlines underestimated my intelligence.  Part of me wondered if American Airlines takes note of the people who routinely buy their transnational flights less than 2 weeks beforehand, and if we alone were targeted in this absurd marketing ploy.  Just because I'm spontaneous/indecisive does not mean that I lack the critical thinkings skills that allow me to see this, the potentially worst deal of all time (If you spend $1200+ on a transatlantic flight, we'll give you a statistically insignificant chance at winning 1,000,000 frequent flier miles...on American Airlines, rendering your miles useless as AA hates redeeming FF miles more than they hate edible food), for what it is. 

       These terrible deals, the business equivalent of "I'll trade you 5 shiny pennies for 1 old quarter" have become a reoccuring theme of American Airlines emails to their FF customers.  Thank you, AA, once again you have made me feel valued.