Use Caution with Free Air Travel Vacation Offer

Postcards are showing up in mailboxes offering "Two Round Trip Airfares," but the state Department of Consumer Protection warns the offer may not be what it seems.

The postcards show the logo of Southwest or Delta Airlines, but the travel companies offering the trips have no business relationship with the airlines.

The cards mention the recipient has been selected to receive a free roundtrip plane ticket and lodging in a hotel room. They are directed to call a toll-free number.

A Connecticut consumer who received the post card this month called the number was told they had reached Berkshire Concepts, a new travel agency in the area.

The caller was then offered airline tickets on Delta or Southwest for two people, valid for one year, and a bonus hotel stay. However, in order to “qualify,” the caller was required to answer questions about their income, marital status and age, and was told they must attend a 90 minute presentation at a hotel in Windsor.

In states where similar travel promotions have been offered, according to the Connecticut consumer protection department, complaints indicate that the offer is really a gimmick to get recipients to sign up for a pricey travel club or website subscription.

The Department of Consumer Protection urges any consumer who has received a promotional air travel postcard to be wary and avoid signing up for a travel club they do not want or cannot afford.

“We have confirmed that Southwest and Delta airlines are not affiliated whatsoever with these offers,” Consumer Protection Commissioner William M. Rubenstein said.  “We are alerting consumers that these offers require careful scrutiny and consideration.”