How to fly around the world for free

by Iuli

Yes, it is indeed possible and it is in fact done now as I'm writing by the aid of KLM and its 'Tile and Inspire' campaign. What was in the beginning a simple idea has turned to be one of the world's largest participation events – a project that has got the attention and involvement of more than 100 000 people across the globe.

As a travel addict and fun lover, I have joined the contest myself and created a tile that was afterwards selected and stuck on the KLM Boeing 777-200 plane by which my picture and message are now traveling around the world.

Starting from the idea of its Dutch roots, KLM has used the design of the Delft blue tiles as a support for its fans' pictures and messages, starting a Facebook campaign by which users were invited to create inspiring quotes that would be later on placed on an aircraft set to travel all over the world. More about the idea of this campaign is to be read on the KLM blog.

After the contest has ended, the 4000 winning participants have got an e-mail on their registering address, stating they would receive proof of their tile being on the plane that took off on June 15^th 2011 from Amsterdam.

 

 

“With this Delft Blue aircraft, KLM is establishing a link between its history and the social media. The successful online Tile & Inspire campaign has enabled us to actively involve our passengers in relation to an age-old Dutch product: Delft Blue. Delft Blue is of course inextricably linked to both Dutch culture and KLM. Since the 1950s, KLM has been presenting miniature Delftware houses to its World Business Class passengers travelling on intercontinental flights. We are extremely proud that one of our aircraft now boasts a complete Delft Blue exterior,” said KLM managing director, Erik Varwijk.

It has taken several weeks and a lot of hard work for the team KLM to print, figure and stick the tiles on the plane itself. The result is however an awesome personalized aircraft that has taken off with more than 4000 faces on and off board, carrying inspiring pictures and messages around the world.

Today I have got my own proof that I am 'on board' of this special plane, also via an e-mail containing the link to the clip of my tile being attached. The only sad thing is that KLM has not considered making these clips downloadble so that the happy travelers would get their own hard-copy and be able to access it offline, too.

By the time I can get to do some real traveling by KLM to all the destinations this aircraft would land, I am enjoying a cup of coffee off-board watching the making of the 'Tile and Inspire' plane.

The making of the 'Tile and Inspire' aircraft