SriLankan Airlines is planning on rewarding consumers if they help secure bookings for the carrier through a new search application developed for Facebook.
The airline has created the app so that Facebook users can embed the search tool on their own profile pages, sending them to the main website's booking engine to secure fares, make payments and enter personal details.
While the idea of search widget is not new (EasyJet, Malaysia Airlines, Delta, to name a few, have all introduced a similar service), giving users the option to have it on their own pages is certainly an interesting development, especially as SriLankan plans to offer a commission system.
An official says it is targeting members of its frequent flyer programme who will be able to include it on their pages and have a special promotion code for bookings, as well as allowing external fan pages to feature the app.
Over time, the official adds, SriLankan says it consider introducing a commission system so users with the app can earn an undisclosed fee for sending bookings to the airline.
In August 2010, UK-based HolidayNights introduced a system (initially called Google Bypass, a poke in the eye of the search engine) where Facebook users can earn discounts on its products if they successfully recommend and refer Facebook friends to the brand for a booking.