United Airlines has introduced a new generation of collectible aircraft-specific trading cards. Don’t forget to say hello to your pilot on a future flight and ask for one!
United Airlines Updates Aircraft Trading Cards
Back in my youth, I used to collect “battleship gray” trading cards that were slightly larger than a business card and offered aircraft information like cruising speed, range, wingspan, and capacity. These were fun mementos from flying and in many cases, I would request that the captain sign them.
These cards have continued through the years, though they are not well-advertised. Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines also offers airline-specific trading cards and those cards have an almost cult-like following from Delta loyalists.
The Delta cards are fancy and have a reflective gloss over them that gives them a premum feel.
Recently, United has updated its own trading cards and they now have a similar feel, with metallic-colored finishes and a fresh design to reflect United’s new brand theme and latest livery.
First time seeing the new @united airplane trading card. It’s pretty slick if I do say so myself ✈️ #beingunited #avgeek pic.twitter.com/Kn02heSnoC
— SLy (@solitarybrother) July 29, 2024
Little Momentos Build Loyalty
Like airline-branded junior wings or swizzle sticks, these little mementos are tangible reminders of real-life experiences. When connected to good flights or memorable trips, these cards can build loyalty over a long-term period. For example, on United’s final 747 flight I had the flight crew sign a 747 trading card…and that remains a special memento.
I doubt anyone is going to fly United to pick up these cards, but I do suspect loyal United flyers may choose aircraft type based on being able to pick up a new card. I’ll still choose my routes based on pricing/timing, but if I have some flexibility I might definitely take, say, an A319 over a 737-800 if it means a new trading card.
CONCLUSION
To all kids and kids at heart, do not neglect to ask for a trading card on your next United flight. These trading cards serve as a fun reminder of the aircraft you have flown and mark a small but smart way for United to build loyalty.
image: @solitarybrother / X
I love it. United has a great strategy of marketing that has high impact and low cost. Whether it is the purser coming to me on the A321 inaugural to wish me a happy early birthday, or the coloring book/wings at boarding, or the sanitizing wipe and trading card…. it’s something tangible and probably a lot more memorable than a billboard sign at a sports stadium. A good friend of mine (who has been in the airlines for a long long time) had the purser on his UA redeye the other night come to him right after take-off and wish him a happy 35th anniversary of being a Mileage Plus member. He posted that to social media, and is connected to most airport air service development people in the US and lots of industry contacts.
When I was with AirTran, our head of marketing Tad Hutcheson (who is now back at Delta) was big on things like that. He always found it hilarious when he’d see a Delta agent with an AirTran chapstick holder clipped to their lanyard at ATL.
A friend of mine who joined UA a couple years ago as a F/A said they were told in training that it’s these little things that they hope will create a customer for life because they feel good about United. Aspirational? Certainly. But you sure remember these things and talk about them. And how many kids are going to bring that trading card to school for show and tell??
United has actually had trading cards for a while, these are just an update. Not sure if I’d call it copying Delta but they are certainly doing this after seeing the Delta ones go viral
The article made it clear United has had trading cards for years as has Delta. Delta’s cards went viral after they updated them now United is doing the same, they’v updated their cards with a new look and feel. Hopefully United will find the same success with their new up to date trading cards. Don’t get caught up or bent out shape on the word copy.
Matthew, back in the days when airlines put postcards in the seatbacks, I still have one with a Delta Convair 880 from my youth. Still in very good condition after the years. Wish I had kept more…
United has had these cards for many years. These are the updated versions of them.
United airlines had trading cards for a while they just now updated them they did not copy at all
They copied Delta’s style…nothing wrong with that.
Actually they did not. Jesus what are you an immigration lawyer with all the mistakes? Don’t turn into Fatty Leaf at VFTW. Check your fa ts first kid.
They did copy Delta’s style.
Another fa tually incorrect article. The proto-German is turning into Leaf at this point, how sad.
UA had cards before Delta kid….oy.
I want it I want it I want it!! LoL