Letter from US Airlines about free airline tickets
Here’s another mailing about free airline tickets, only instead of coming from a fake incentive company, it is from a fake airline called US Airlines – “Fly the US skies”! (See other posts here.) Please comment if you received one.
They have a variation that includes an award notification and boarding pass. See below for pictures.
It tells you that you have qualified for an award of 2 roundtrip airline tickets. It looks like it was actually signed by Barbara Dion or Alexia Pitt or Kate White or Loretta Cape or Ann Roy or Charlene James or Angela King or Marcia O’Neal or Janelle Kelly or Candice Bray or Phyllis Neal or Melanie Car or Jessica Clay or Katherine Cota or Christina Jud or Shauna West or Jane Austin or Hillary Baio or Jessica Nish or C. Ray or Dorothy Wade or Linda Ford or Jade Beal or Nicole Clay or Valerie Fay or Erica Bale or K. Mane or Loretta Pine or Alexis Doug or Kristina Bar or Brittany Hunt or Doris Jack, the “Vice President.” They hand write the address on the envelope and use a real stamp (sometimes!).
Here is the cheesy website for this letter. Once you go to the sales pitch and sign up, you book through a fulfillment company. I’ve seen two lately: Universal Travel Vacations (website, BBB report) or the The Vacation Station (website, BBB report TN, BBB report SC)
I have found the answers to this mystery thanks to the great work of the folks at BBB in Tucson, AZ:
http://www.bbb.org/tucson/business-reviews/travel-clubs/southwest-travel-club-in-tucson-az-20007983
http://www.bbb.org/tucson/business-reviews/prize-promotions/patterson-bell-in-tucson-az-20027549
An actual story: http://www.kgun9.com/features/investigations/122887609.html
NEW video from INSIDE THE SALES PRESENTATION: http://www.9news.com/news/article/362984/339/Companies-behind-free-airline-ticket-letters-
Great reporting from WKMG: http://www.clickorlando.com/news/Free-travel-offer-mystifies-consumers/-/1637132/15701330/-/8s7gus/-/index.html
Video from inside the first ever video encounter I’ve seen: http://www.kboi2.com/news/local/Travel-service-vacation-smart-international-us-airlines-vacationanddeals-com-175915611.html?tab=video&c=y
If you would like to read more about these folks, visit this post. You can read all about the sales presentation, the free offer and the what you get for your vacation membership club cash outlay.
LETTER:
I am pleased to inform you that you have qualified for an award of 2 roundtrip airline tickets. Congratulations. These tickets are valid for travel anywhere in the Continental U.S. The retail value of this award is up to $1,400.00. Certain restrictions apply.
We have attempted contacting you several times without success. This is our last attempt. If we do not hear from you soon, we may need to issue the ticket vouchers to the alternate.
Please call me today at 1-866-995-7151 (numbers always changing).
Regards,
VP du jour (see above)
Vice President
AWARD NOTIFICATION/BOARDING PASS:
Here is what would happen if you did call:
ADVICE:
When I read this, it was just too good not to post. It’s from the Nebraska Attorney General (page 13 printed/page 15 PDF).
Look for the warning signs that may indicate a scam:
- Benefits sound too good to be true.
- The company has no permanent address and all presentations are held in rented conference rooms.
- They can’t, or won’t, provide you with references.
- They don’t want to give you an itemized list of what’s included in your trip until you have already signed the contract.
What you should do if you suspect a scam:
- Don’t sign any contract during the travel presentation. They are high-pressure events intended to stir the emotions of an exotic vacation.
- Contact a respected travel agent in town, give them the specifics of the trip, and ask if that seems consistent with industry pricing.
- Shop around. Compare your trip with other travel packages being offered to seniors.
Here is Michigan’s Attorney General’s advice:
http://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,1607,7-164-34739_20942-44762–,00.html
Yup, got one today also signed by Kelly Mane, 866-444-4383.
Figured it was a scam.
I received the letter a few days ago. I live in Indiana. Also signed by “K Mane” (Kelly Mane). The # it has is 1-866-444-4383. I actually called it to see what it was about. Then decided I’d google it and found this website!!! Thank you for having this. I don’t understand why these people are even able to distribute “junk mail”. I mean, I have our cell phones and home # on the “do not call list” for telemarketing. Isn’t this the same thing?? Someone needs to do something to put these people out of commission!!! Thanks again for the intel on this site!
Got one today I live in Chicago, IL. Also signed by Kelly Mane with phone # 1-866-545-0737. What a scam, considering when did you actually got something for free from any Airlines? I do not even fly US Airlines even if it would be a real deal LOL.
I got the same letter but with some changes, the terrible letter head said “Fletcher Adams” and instead of an airline the letter claims to come from the Travel Awards Division. They seem to have realized people were onto them so they changed it a bit, even have some website but continue to recycle the names of their VP. Envelop was hand written, used an actual stamp, and had no return address but was stamped at a AZ post office.
This letter was signed Kelly Mane, Vice President of Travel Awards Division phone number 1-866-517-2406
I received one of these letters today…from Kelly Mane. Ph # 8664449606. Glad I googled “US Airlines Letter SCAM”!
Got one today from Vice President Kelly Mane 866-540-8438
Yep. I got one too in Denver. It was signed by VP Kelly Mane 866-656-0867. This has been going on for a year and a half!! What stupid people. What a waste.
Here in Tiverton, RI: Husband received same letter today with different name of a vice president. Envelope hand-written, regular stamp, no return address. Letter too plain with no address, web site, etc. to look legit. Googled it, and got to this website. No need to call so they can get our phone number. Husband wondered what their plan was, so thank you to Martus’ posting of February 7, 2012, to explain it’s about a time-share program. SCAM!
I got one today in Austin. With Megan Base as the VP and 866-513-2984 for a phone number. I’m going to shred it as soon as I finish here.
My personal invitation arrived in Tampa today. It appears to be a check that you tear three sides off and then open. This one is signed by Laura Car and the phone# is 866-513-4497. Thanks to whomever created this website to allow us to share our “good fortune” with each other. LOL
My letter came today….thanks for the BLOG, not that you have to be a genius to figure this out, but hey sometimes it feels good to be part of the collective….The number given on our letter was 1-866-245-0295. Indianapolis, IN
Got the letter today and it’s identical to what’s above with one exception, it was signed by “Megan base” Vice President of “US Airlines”. Attached phone number is/was 1-866-513-2984.
Megan Base is evidently the new VP of signing letters. Hand-written envelope posted in Phoenix, no return address, phone number is 866-226-9301. Reference at bottom is FU-xxxxx (how appropriate). I’m in the Boston area.
Mine is a little different – no postmark, handwritten address, no return address. Just “US Airlines” at the header, no logo, no address.
February 27, 2012
Name and Address
NOTE: You must respond no later than March 7th, 2012
Same nonsense about being qualified for an award, congrats, two tickets any where in continental US, value of up to $1400. last attempt at contact.
1-866-226-9749
Megan Base, VP
FU-xxxxx
called to see what they were saying the company name was : The travel awards division, British woman, recorded message, the call hung up. About 20 seconds later, Nathan called from US Airlines, as a follow up to my missed appointment. I told him that I had never heard of US Airlines, responded: well we are only calling if you didn’t show up for your scheduled appt, would you like to reschedule? I said no. and hung up.
I called again, this time using *67, the same think happened, I got a call back, from a different fellow (lower voice different tone) named Nathan. Same thing, calling to reschedule appt, I didn’t have an appointment, well we can schedule you today, I don’t fly, he hung up.
Got one of these letters today, but it was from “traveldeals” not “US Airlines.” The VP listed at the bottom was “Hillary Blue” and the letterhead looked very amateur. The phone number was 866-226-8704, and I live in West Michigan.
Just received by letter today, March 5th, 2012 in Austin, TX. Exact same letter as in video except the phone number is 866-513-5984 and the “Vice President” is Megan Base. Immediately thought it was a scam based on the
1) two-bit company logo,
2) handwritten address,
3) postal stamp of a horse not even stuck to the envelope evenly,
4) lack of return address/business reply address on the envelope or letter,
5) the fact that the vice president personally signed a mass marketing letter,
Add to the that the fishy promises, the “Congratulations!” written in the letter is “Congratulations.” (it falls kinda flat for getting me excited about a supposedly awesome deal), and the high pressure 2 day deadline to contact them and you have a textbook fraudulent scam alert. I could not have created a better academic example of a scam. And of course US Airlines is not a real airline company.
Just for fun check out youtube for some obviously fake testimonials from people who got the tickets and had the trip of a lifetime! Don’t forget to link to their unofficial website from the video post!
My husband received the letter today. No return address, hand addressed, and a stamp. The letter on the inside had a header that would make people mistake it for was US Airways instead of the fake company of “US Airlines”.
A line stated: You must respond no later than March 7th, 2012.
They were offering him 2 roundtrip tickets worth $1400.00. They said they had tried contacting him a number of times this was their last attempt
Call today at 1-866-226-9501.
signed Megan Base
Vice President
I went on the web–Phone number didn’t check out to any airline by that name. There was no such person as Megan Base as a VP of US Airlines(or even US Airways!).
I won’t call b/c I don’t want them having my phone number, but I will go after them if they force me to!
Got a letter here in Indianapolis! These losers should spend their time getting real jobs like the rest of us.
Thanks for having this page to let us know about these jerks! Received Official Documents Enclosed 2112 Final Notice today. Inside said “US Airlines Award Notification 2 round trip airline tickets woth up to $1298. Call 1-866-218-7061. Note: This is not a timeshare or land sales offer.”
It was embarrassing to me b/c it was incorrectly delivered to my neighbor and she brought it to me. She probably thinks we got a final notice on a bill! Grrrrrr!
I forgot to say that I’m in Jacksonville, Florida.
Why isn’t this considered mail fraud?
Just got mine in the mail, looked fishy to me and my wife. weht on line ,found a couple of web sites exposing this fraud.living in Indiana. the new # is 866-207-9245 and the vp is Megan Base, signed MBase
I just got one in the mail… Metro Denver area.. Same as all of the above. I called and spoke to Brian x89 at 1-866-225-7160 it is just a shame that these types of companies are still in business. I would like the BBB to step in and shut these scam artists down.
It is Attorneys General that need to do it…
Forgot to mention it is postmarked from AZ and signed Megan Base VP.. Isn’t there something more that we can do as consumers????
We live in Ft. Myers, FL and received a letter today. Same story as the other folks. Hand addressed envelope and signed by “Mary Jay”, Vice Pres. Like I need more junk mail! Thought it looked suspicious, so did a search for US Airlines on Google and found this site. Thanks for exposing these losers!
We are in Indiana and had received the same letter with the free tickets worth of $1400 from US Airlines on the letter signed by Mary Jay in the hand written envelope. This was also the last notification and other nonsense about trying to contact us before with not success. I searched the internet and found this site. Letter sounded too good to be true. It is unbelievable! Scam artists still send these letters out.
Thanks for posting the info about the scam.
my husband got one in today’s mail (3/17/12). Mary Jay is the VP, already threw out the letter so i don’t remember the phone number. cape coral/ft myers, FL area.
Looks they are making there way around the U.S. I am in Muncie, IN and my husband got one today. Love Google!! Stupid scam artists!! Thanks for posting this =)
I received this letter today, March 17, 2012, and was puzzled by what was in the envelope which was addressed by hand in blue in with no return address and an actual stamp on it. When I opened the envelope and saw the cheesy letterhead and fake airline name I knew this was some kind of scam. I am Indiana and the phone number on my letter was 1-866-710-9325 and it was signed by Mary Jay, Vice President. Must be kinda slow in Mary’s office if she has time to hand sign all these letters. I wonder if Mary is the one who is hand addressing all the evnelopes too? No company would send out free airline vouchers without a catch, not to mention companies do not hand address envelopes. If you fall for this scam then you get what you deserve for being an idiot!
Thanks so much for your comments. I received the final notice in the mail and was suspicious and when I googled, it brought me to this website.
Got mine last week. I’m in Denver Co. Mary Jay is the VP and the # is 1-866-740-7215.
Received on 3/19/12, Mary Jay, VP of US Airlines……wonder why US Airways doesn’t threaten some type of legal action
Oh well, more junk mail, wonder how they got my name and address?
Received this letter on March 22nd, I live in the Chicago area. It was signed by Mary Jay. Knew it was some kind of scam. This site confirmed it. Thanks!
Received the exact letter that was used on the video except the Vice President signed mine: Mary Jay…signed M Jay #1-866-826-6873
Bottom code GC-1xxxx
Call by March 28th, 2012
Got my letter today, Saturday, March 24, 2012 in Fort Myers, Florida 33905.
I also received the US Airlines letter today, March 24th. Chicago suburb. Signed by VP Mary Jay who seems to have many phone numbers. On my offer, her number is 866-826-6939. Too bad one of those political robo call operations couldn’t hound this scam outfit.
Got ours today from Mary Jay. We only got a letter- no fancy “official” boarding pass. So weird. As mentioned above I thought it strange it was dated “march 19th”, hand signed by a VP of nothing, and came hand addressed. (not to mention that it came from a non existent airlines. Glad this site exists. I suppose they should be commended for their tendency to appoint (many) female VPs?!
I received the same scam letter in Chicago today, March 19th, response due March 28th.
Contact number was 866-844-8454
Vp, Mary Jay
Just a letter.
We live in the Denver area. Received our letter today from the bogus “US Airlines” dated “March 19th, 2012” from the vice president “Mary Jay”. She signed in blue ink with only her first initial – “M Jay”. Same letter message as mentioned above, with the phone number 1-866-855-8499. The code at the bottom is GB-6xxxx. Can’t we do something to stop these liar scam artists?
Yup, got mine too 3/26/12. Good ole Mary Jay (that must be what shes smok’n. ). Tel # 1-866-826-6868. Geeeez, how many phone numbers do these creeps own.
I got the same exact Thing.
“OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS ENCLOSED very same words on at the end said sincerely, Awards Department,
1-866-824-2778. On back was a boarding pass. US AIRLINES.. Two round trip Airline Tickets..
worth up to $1298 Today!
I live in SC.
Received one today… 03-28-12 Florida
SCAM and we shredded it:)
Got mine today. We live in Florida, number given was 866-804-0266. Not even signed by a person, just signed “Sincerely, Awards Department” Letter just screams SCAM!!
got one myself today. i’m in orlando. straight to the trash.
I got one here in Chicago. I thought I was special. I think they are trying to get you to a location where pushy salesman will get you to commit to buying something.
Rudy
Looks as though this scam has made it’s way to Florida recently. I just got a letter today signed D Hall (Debra Hall Vice President) in the same blue ink as on the envelope. It was addressed to my maiden name, even. Where do they get their information and why is this still going on 2 years later?
Just received this letter today in Indiana. Seems they now have a new vice president by the name of Mary Jay. Phone number attached was 866-826-6873. Handwritten address with a stamped envelope post marked from Phoenix, AZ. Nice try!!! Going to turn it over to the Indiana State Attorney General’s office.
Got one today in MA also. Same thing, signed by Debra Hall with phone number 866 815 9702. Forecast is for snow overnight so burning this will help start my fire tonight though I am really tempted to call and mess with them for a while.
Got my letter today in Indiana. It appears a new VP is in charge now. Good luck to Debra Hall. Perhaps her tenure will last longer than her predecessors. Phone number listed was 866-815-9945.. Threw it in the trash.