Comments on: In-Flight Hostage Marketing

By: Airline Marketing Strategies and Travel Advertising | Online Marketing with Jacob Wolfsheimer - WolfTrust.com

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:14:52 +0000

[...] So if Google lets me buy advertising on radio, in newspapers, in search engines, why not en-route? Why not on airplanes, in airplanes, on airline tickets, in in-flight entertainment, from the in-flight magazines to the in-flight television? Why not let me sponsor the inevitably coming flying wi-fi? And while they’re at it, why don’t those ads subsidize the cost of my flight? This isn’t about Google and the ad networks, it’s about the airlines needing to embrace simpler forms of discovering how I can advertise with them. And it’s also about co-branding. For every offline marketing advertisement, is an opportunity to better brand the airline and discuss its benefits over competing airlines. And just like that, on my summer vacation, I had spiraled into thoughts on airline marketing strategies and the many opportunities that airlines are missing out on in the advertising world. I can fly cross country for $350, sometimes less, but I’m perpetually on the search for the cheapest flight. I don’t care much who gets me to my destination, simply that I get there as cheaply as possible, and preferably, on time, with the fewest connections. I don’t mind being bombarded by advertising while I travel, (though I may be alone,) there’s a great post from a while back on “in-flight hostage marketing.” But apparently, at least someone, the Inflight Marketing Bureau is trying to capitalize in this area. But really, unlike the profitability concerns described about Skybus, I think we can have cheap, safe, on-time flights in many destinations, and I think advertising is how it’s done. [...]

By: Amanda

Amanda — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 04:51:02 +0000

This is why I fly Southwest and only Southwest… you get where you need to go, on time, and drinks and smiles are truly free (I hate to quote commercials but it’s true!) It disgusts me how much advertising you had shoved in your face for one flight. That’ll settle any thoughts I had about flying another airline, if they pull stuff like that!

By: Stephen Denny

Stephen Denny — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 22:29:06 +0000

This falls in that category of thinking that says, “if all my ball bearing customers drink milk, then HEY!, let’s advertise our ball bearings on milk cartons!”

Just because we’re here doesn’t mean we care (right now).

I think passive in-flight is good — I’ve routinely pulled out articles or jotted down notes from the in-flight video on things I’ve seen.

I’d request an extra barf bag if subjected to the non-sense you guys apparently went through.

By: elle m. nopee

elle m. nopee — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 02:52:25 +0000

I had a very similar experience in August… I felt pretty put off that after being squished into coach and charged for my snack box, that I couldn’t even get off the ground without an infomercial about a credit card.

I haven’t flown US Air since.

What the worst part of my commercial was that the flight attendant doing the pitch was so monotone, I had flashbacks of a college history course I took. I’ve been in therapy ever since.

By: Mr. Steve

Mr. Steve — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 17:17:57 +0000

Okay…so here comes the Rhetoric major, trying to connect this post to Spike’s “Boneheads” post.

You see, ad agencies that assume the public is dumb enough to fall for this, also assume that the public is too stupid to tell us what they want. But companies that assume their consumer is the smartest person in the capitalist system, are more likely to sit down and ask what the consumer thinks.

So, the next logical question is, what kind of world do we want to live in? One where we are talked AT, or where we are talked to?

Remember, oh wise and all-powerful Ad agencies…..you’re consumers too. And no, you are not smarter than everyone else. You wouldn’t appreciate it if I got in the backseat of your limo and talked to you about pay-day cash advances, so don’t push credit cards down my throat on the airplane (the food is hard enough to choke down).

By: Heather

Heather — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 19:21:31 +0000

Oh my, hostage indeed! What a waste of time. I really like you guys’ website. My Career Planning Teacher assigned it to us. We’re working on personal Branding Right now. I’m A Senior in high school and this is my favorite class. Your individuals made me smile.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 17:54:10 +0000

Some of these I don’t mind but I don’t agree with putting the flight attendants in the role of advertising spokespeople. They’re is some “captive” advertising I really like. On the TV show, The Office they frequently mention names of restaurant chains and office supply companies. If fact the situation where one of the office workers was using a paper shredder was quite funny and talking about real places and products in a show makes it seem more real. I can’t stand it when fictional work creates fake brands just so it won’t be advertising. This was also done a lot in the very early days of TV and radio with one example being the George Burns and Grace Allen Show where they constantly espoused the benefits of a certain milk product in their skits.

However having to endure blatant advertising pitches when I have already paid for something feels like my time is being stolen. Several examples of that include. Advertising on DVD’s and before movies where I have already paid quite enough to watch the movie or buy it. It also feels very odd to be asked to give to the Will Rodgers Institute before the movie begins. Not only do I feel unnaturally pressured but I’m suspect because that’s the only place I hear of this particular charity.

By: olivier blanchard

olivier blanchard — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 16:37:07 +0000

Your title says it all.