Airlines May Give Travelers Free Samples

Starting next year, airline passengers may walk off the plane with more than just some luggage and an air sickness bag.

Two new firms are trying to tap into one of the largest captive audiences in the nation--30 million commercial airline passengers each month--by offering them free product samples as they board or leave the jets.

Starting in February, Product Research Network of Brentwood plans to hand out such items as cosmetics, cigarettes, chewing gum, razors and mouthwash in gift packs of 10.

“We decided two years ago that there was some big business here,” said Alan Rosenfeld, the firm’s managing general partner. “For the first time we’re putting product sampling up in the air where there’s no competition for the consumer’s attention, as there always is on the ground.”

Most product sampling is now done through the mail or by door-to-door distribution, he said.

PRN has signed seven airlines and expects to distribute products to 4.1 million passengers in 36 cities during its first month, Rosenfeld said.

However, there is one hitch: No manufacturers have signed up. But Rosenfeld said he is working for commitments with several makers of packaged goods, including the giant pharmaceutical firm Warner Lambert.