'American Idol,' Frontier Airlines Give Travelers 'Golden Ticket To Hollywood'

ABC’s reality music show "American Idol" gave passengers on several Frontier Airlines planes the surprise of a lifetime during the weekend.

Upon arrival at check-in to their flights, the 2,070 passengers were handed a "Golden Ticket to Hollywood" that mirrors the ones that contestants receive on the "American Idol" tv show after auditioning. These tickets give the singer a pass to the Hollywood round and a chance to win the title. 

When passengers arrived at their seats, they found a $200 flight voucher and set of American Idol earbuds waiting for them. They also heard announcements and information about the show from the pilot and flight attendants.

The giveaway began Friday on several flights headed from airports in Georgia, Colorado and Florida to Los Angeles for nine flights between Friday and Sunday.

"American Idol" returned to television on ABC in March with Judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie as well as host and producer Ryan Seacrest, after leaving Fox in 2016. Now the network is shaking up advertising plans behind the music reality show, putting about 40% or more of its advertising into digital just for the launch campaign, said Becky Daugherty, executive vice president of marketing for ABC Entertainment and ABC Studios.

ABC designed a new American Idol app that is now available for iOS and Android devices, which allows fans to watch highlights and will soon provide the ability to vote for their favorite contestant.

Fans using the app can interact with the show by playing trivia games, answering questions, keeping up with the American Idol community and seeing what’s trending on social media from judges, contestants and fans. Later this season, the app will allow fans to vote for their favorite "American Idol" contestants.

ABC also released an Action app for the Google Assistant that allows users to interact with the content using their voice. It works on devices running Android phones, iPhones, and speakers like Google Home.

The voice app guides users through immersive experiences including a trivia game, custom American Idol music playlists, and more information about the contestants. Content will be updated throughout the season to create an engaging experience in the home and on the go so that audiences can stay connected to the show.

Part of the strategy is also focused on conquesting to introduce fans to contestants on mobile during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics, Grammy Awards, Golden Globe, and Super Bowl. What these musicians do is "not unlike athletes,” Daugherty said. “They work really hard.”

ABC also kicked off Hollywood Week on Sunday with a helicopter carrying four 15-foot-tall cutouts of the superstar judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, as well as host and producer Ryan Seacrest. The cutouts flew high above the Hollywood and Burbank. 

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