Airline ribs Blagojevich with 'seat-selling sale'

[December 09, 2011]  CHICAGO (AP) -- He's been a pitchman for pistachios and a contestant on "Celebrity Apprentice." Now, ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has become the unwitting face of a discount airline's fare sale.

A day after Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in prison on corruption charges, Spirit Airlines announced $14 one-way fares from Chicago to seven cities.

It tells customers to buy now or risk missing a "seat-selling" sale.

Blagojevich was caught on tape trying to sell or trade the U.S. Senate seat once held by President Barack Obama.

Spirit also notes that customers "don't have to live in the Big House" to buy fares. Blagojevich was barred after his second trial from leaving northern Illinois without a judge's permission. He's scheduled to report to prison Feb. 16.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.