Air iPod

As the October issue of Incentive’s the cover story ("Let the Music Play," p. 22) notes, downloadable music is well on its way to becoming the next big thing in the promotion market. MP3 music files are even being looked at as rewards in incentive programs.

Now Air France has taken this trend a step further, offering a free Apple iPod Mini digital music player to every customer who books an Air France's l'Espace Affaires business class ticket from the United States to a European destination. The tickets must be purchased by November 15 and travel completed by January 15.

Air France isn't the first company, or even the first airline, to offer iPods as a promotion. The low-cost carrier Song is giving away green iPod Mini's to customers who fly three roundtrips during a monthlong window in September and early October. One flight is good for 100 free songs to be downloaded from Apple's iTunes digital music store.

The players are not handed out on board. Rather, flyers have to mail in proof of eligibility and will get their silver iPod mini by mail about six to 10 weeks later.