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The Freebird app allows people to earn rewards for using rideshare apps. (Laura Figi)
Are your rideshare apps making your wallet hurt? Freebird, a new app relaunching in Austin, could reward you for taking a ride to a local business.
The free app has two goals: Drive traffic to local businesses and reward rideshare passengers for doing so.
From Los Angeles, Freebird is launching in Austin as the first city since the pandemic. The Freebird app connects to rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft and gives passengers points for taking rides to local businesses. The points add up to be rewards and perks for participating places.
"During the pandemic, Austin received more Bay Area transplants than any other urban area. This huge influx of transplants continues to fuel an ever-expanding nightlife scene in Austin and we want to play a role in this growth," Freebird CEO Kurt Brendlinger said. "So we built an app that's all about discovering new venues, enjoying worry-free fun, and earning rewards for going out."
The app is already being used in LA and Boston, where Brendlinger said the company saw "a lot of momentum" and led to a national expansion. Brendlinger said if success is seen in Austin, the company will expand to other markets.
Local businesses that partner with Freebird can hold promotions for riders with customized offers.
A few of the app's current offers include a $5 reward at Kinda Tropical, 3501 E. 7th St., when you spend $15, and a $5 reward at Indian Roller, 10006 Menchaca Road, or Emmer & Rye, 51 Rainey Street. Locations that sell alcohol may offer discounts on safe rides home "when they need them most."
Brendlinger said one of the app's goals is to help revitalize the food and entertainment industry after weathering a harsh year due to COVID-19.
"Freebird is a platform that supports Austin's bar and restaurant industry by driving guests to their businesses," Brendlinger said. "We're working with merchants to drive customer traffic and support revenue recovery post-COVID."
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(AUS airport/Instagram)
With major entertainment events slated for October, the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is gearing up for a busy month.
Artists and music lovers are set to pack into Zilker Park for The Austin City Limits Music Festival in the coming two weekends. Following that, Formula One will bring racing fans to the Circuit of the Americas.
For those two events, the airport is anticipating high passenger days with 30,000 or more people departing flights.
ABIA recommends arriving at least two and a half hours in advance for domestic flights on those days. For ACL, it's expected on both Sundays of the festival along with the Monday and Tuesday after. The F1-driven high passenger days are expected on Oct. 20-21 and Oct. 23-26.
\u201c#AustinCityLimits visitors, you\u2019re in for a weird and wild ride \ud83e\udd18\u262e\ufe0f \n\nFlying in or out of our airport? We got firm and fun tips for you: https://t.co/RawVRalOXN\u201d— Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) (@Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)) 1664894083
F1, especially, could draw in loads of travelers as the three-day event saw 400,000 attendees last year. ABIA warns that highways leading to the airport may see even higher traffic than usual around the event and that travelers should plan their route accordingly.
Bailey Grimmett, a spokesperson for ABIA, said travel numbers come in 24 hours in advance. So, it's hard to predict if the airport will see travel volumes at the same levels that have happened around previous F1 races or if it'll top ACL's flight traffic.
Still, she says historical knowledge points to a chance for it.
“We've had that Monday after F1 break the record for single busiest in airport history," Grimmett said. "So context clues I would say yes, but I can't confirm that. But the historical background points to that."
In anticipation of the high volume of flyers, the airport received additional TSA officers for security screening through the end of October. To prepare even further, the Department of Aviation and partners hosted a job showcase and hiring fair to address the continued labor shortage the airport has experienced.
Relief from hectic travel days is on the horizon with November likely to see a slowdown.
"I don't anticipate it will be as busy as October just because we don't have as many events going on," Grimmett said. "Thanksgiving is kind of our primary holiday that we see a lot of passengers coming in and out of the airport."
