AMERICAN AIRLINES TELLS PASSENGERS TO STRAIGHTEN UP, FLY RIGHT
Airlines have taken a good, hard look at the horror of modern air travel and decided what the real problem is: you, the passenger. In a ground-breaking advertising campaign debuting this week in newspapers across the country, American tells its passengers how to be better flyers. The headline asks, “What Does It Mean To Be A Great Flyer?” Great flyers, the airline’s ad says:
– “Always ask before opening or closing the window shade.”
– “Just like they always relinquish the armrest to the person in the middle seat.”
– “They love babies, but bring noise-cancelling headphones.”
– “They can sleep anywhere, their head against a pillow or a much-loved, wadded-up jacket.”
– “You know a smile goes a long way on a short flight.”
– “You know to ask before reclining your seat.”
– A good passenger is “always upbeat” and “makes the best of their situation, no matter where they’re sitting.”
– “If you could sit by anyone on the plane, would you choose you?”
* Most annoying ad campaign ever? Your thoughts?
* What is American Airlines’ strategy here? To get everyone to fly United and Southwest?
* The only thing more intolerable than this would be a campaign from the Internal Revenue Service lecturing us on “What Does It Mean To Be A Great Taxpayer?”
* What is a great passenger? A great passenger is someone who even smiles when the plane is crashing.
* Pardon the expression, but this ad campaign is going to go down in flames.
* How about not urinating in the aisles? Can we include that?
* How about not traveling if you’re about to give birth? That would help too.
* Hmm, all this talk of great passengers and yet, no mention of the Mile High Club.
CLIP: Our “Put Your Seat Back” song.
