Caught Up in The Air on my last UA flight.

Did anyone at UA think that one through?

The entire movie is a plug for AA and its top product offerings. It was obviously plugged so that Clooney's domestic flights featured lie-flat seats and there were plugs for their Concierge Key.

Sitting in F or having status with UA wouldn't sway, but for the masses in the back of the bus viewing this movie, I wouldn't be surprised if they would try AA based on what they saw.

Anyone else feel the same way?

"Up In The Air" is being shown on just about every airline this month. I caught it on a DL flight last week and all visual references to AA (e.g., logo on tail of M80) were "whited out". I assume this version is shown on just about every airline except AA....

Most people watching wouldn't even know about Concierge Key (and that it is an AA product) anyway....

Watched it on BA, fantastic Movie.

Also, anyone watching 2012 will see USairways, and also, which shocked me as I did not see it the first time, a BA 777

on my UA and DL flights the AA was edited as well.

Alex

ugh i was not a fan of this movie, but i saw it on DL. Just because it plugs an airline doesn't mean they can't cut parts out or white out logos etc. Yes AA is plugging their services but i'm sure DL and UA etc have services something like this. not a big deal.

Quoting UA777222 (Thread starter): I wouldn't be surprised if they would try AA based on what they saw.

I saw it and I wouldn't try AA, i fly SAN-ATL all the time and DL has nonstop flights with AVOD, neither of which AA has so to me the movie isn't going to make me move to AA

Quoting dl767captain (Reply 4): I saw it and I wouldn't try AA, i fly SAN-ATL all the time and DL has nonstop flights with AVOD, neither of which AA has so to me the movie isn't going to make me move to AA

Your not the target market. I would imagine the target was someone who is looking at an Orbitz screen and says, "oh look thats American like the movie" and buys that ticket for their small leisure trip. I dont really believe American thought they could move a savy business traveler with that movie.

Quoting UAL747DEN (Reply 5): Your not the target market. I would imagine the target was someone who is looking at an Orbitz screen and says, "oh look thats American like the movie" and buys that ticket for their small leisure trip. I dont really believe American thought they could move a savy business traveler with that movie.

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Quoting UA777222 (Thread starter): Sitting in F or having status with UA wouldn't sway, but for the masses in the back of the bus viewing this movie, I wouldn't be surprised if they would try AA based on what they saw.

Thanks for the better explanation.

It's showing on AC this month too

Just watched it on DL. ATL-TLV

Yet in part of the movie that is shot at DTW you can clearly see the NWA gate signs (which is even more visable in the poster) and an NW 744. Who cares, happens all the time.

Quoting UAL747DEN (Reply 5): Your not the target market. I would imagine the target was someone who is looking at an Orbitz screen and says, "oh look thats American like the movie" and buys that ticket for their small leisure trip. I dont really believe American thought they could move a savy business traveler with that movie.

I find it hard to believe that the folks will base their airline selection on 'Up in the Air,' I would tend to think that other factors like cost, times, and number of stops will have a much greater impact. I watched the film, (shame it didn't win anything at the Oscars) and couldn't help but think how much AA shelled out for this product placement. Seems to me that in this day in age airline choice for non-business travelers is based pretty much on fare and not product, and biz travelers don't base their airline choice upon what they see George Clooney do. And just so people don't dismiss me as a bitter DL fanboy, I would have said the same if it were DL doing the plug.

Cheers from BDL,   
DeltaGuy767

Better for them to show it whited out on their airline, so that the passengers can say they've seen it and not watch it in the cinema with logo's all over  

Quoting fca767 (Reply 11): Better for them to show it whited out on their airline, so that the passengers can say they've seen it and not watch it in the cinema with logo's all over

Maybe it's just that I'm an aviation enthusiast, but I thought 'Up in the Air' was one of the few cases where the logos and product placement actually improved the movie, as it added a nice authentic (and sometimes humorous) touch. Especially the way they used AA advertising posters in certain shots to emphasize certain themes. (I like the particular shot where the frame was 'split' by Clooney's face, and one side of the frame had a couple running into each others arms while the other side of the frame had a poster advertising AA's domestic network, visually telling us the difficult choice he's facing on whether to continue his life of solitude onboard airplanes, or whether to start a family with the sexy Vera Farmiga character, ow ow)

I really wanna see this movie but im 13 and its rated a 15 over here!! Will have to wait till it comes out on iTunes!!

They had it on UA900 during my mileage run back from SFO to FRA.

I had already seen it when it came out and found it wuite enterraining. I am a UA Million Miler and I would not mind being handed one of these (non-existing) 10 Million Miler cards some day...

I was sitting in a comfy Business Class seat facing forward with 4 windows at my side and I preferred looking at the beautiful views from the window rather than watching the TV - other than the sky map.

My seat neighbor was watching it in the meanwhile - he kept watching movies all along the flight even during the nice long dinner we were served on the flight. I preferred the real "up in the air" from the windows to watching the movie.

I got some really beautiful views and pictures from that flight. This was a lucky 3 days trip all the way and back.

        

Quoting lhr380 (Reply 2): Watched it on BA, fantastic Movie.

No problems it being on BA as it is a One World partner of AA. QF is also showing it and likewise is a One World partner of AA.

Quoting T8KE0FF (Reply 13): I really wanna see this movie but im 13 and its rated a 15 over here!! Will have to wait till it comes out on iTunes!!

So just download it then... piratebay or the likes.

Quoting deltaguy767 (Reply 10): and couldn't help but think how much AA shelled out for this product placement.

Actually, nothing. American Airlines simply let the producers film on board AA aircraft and use AA employees. It seems like a good deal for AA to me!

Matt

I watched it on SQ earlier this month. Didn't think it was worth the Oscar nominations.

Quoting UA777222 (Thread starter): Anyone else feel the same way?

No. Travelers already know about American.

I saw the movie, and although AA was featured prominently, I don't think it will sway anyone. AA was featured in a way such that they were an accessory to the story.

I've always wondered if Titanic was ever shown in any cruise ship movie theaters.

[Edited 2010-03-13 04:50:43]

There is a subliminal message there for people to choose AA. Probably not going to draw too many people to AA, but I'm sure AA did get some money just for using their product. Clooney's an okay actor, but not my type of movie. I'll wait for it to come on network tv like on a Sunday morning and I'm bored, then maybe I'll take a peek.

I preferred looking at the beautiful views from the window rather than watching the TV - other than the sky map.

I agree with you on that one. IMO there is more interesting things to see outside, especially flying over land. Sleep is also an option for some of us. However, I'm glad there is in flight entertainment on flights though. It can break the boredom on long flights. And for those pax who don't fly much or don't like flying, it's a great distraction. One pays enough for a ticket, why not throw in a movie?

Today I flew in to NRT from HKG on CX520. I was quite exited to find that the prime movie was "Upin the Air", but unfortunately when the IFE started there was a notice from the FA apologising for technical problems with this movie and that there would be an alternative offered.  

I wonder why?   Well I am sure it was not for any reason due to "hiding secrets". First AA and CX are oneworld partners and, second, not much of a competition going here, is there?  

I watched it on UA, flying HKG to ORD. Maybe it was just my PTV, but i could have sworn the strips on the American jets were altered to be green.

It is supposed to be showing eastbound on US this month. But when I was returning from HNL they just showed the same movies as westbound. Fine by me. Seen the movie and it was a redeye.

That movie was the longest infomercial I've ever seen  

A few mistakes were made, such as being in the DTW tram and McNamara terminal a lot for flying AA exclusively.

Quoting burnsie28 (Reply 9): Yet in part of the movie that is shot at DTW you can clearly see the NWA gate signs (which is even more visable in the poster) and an NW 744. Who cares, happens all the time.

I didn't see any NW signs, and the 747...if you don't know that fountain is in the McNamara terminal and DTW is (was...) a NW hub, there's no way telling that 747 is NW

Quoting FURUREFA (Reply 16): use AA employees

Was the captain with the huge mustache a real AA capt?  

Quoting xtoler (Reply 19): I agree with you on that one. IMO there is more interesting things to see outside, especially flying over land.

On most my flights, my view tends to consist of endless white  

I just saw it last night for the first time - it's a great flick. I was surprised to not see "American Airlines" as a producer of the film!

Drew   

Quoting UA777222 (Thread starter): Sitting in F or having status with UA wouldn't sway, but for the masses in the back of the bus viewing this movie, I wouldn't be surprised if they would try AA based on what they saw.

Those in the back of the bus likely chose to fly UA based on price. They also would likely cringe at the costs of AA's first class product (any airlines first class product, really).

I saw it on Amtrak Thursday  

I saw it on UA during my STL - SFO trip.

I thought it was hilarious how much edited the movie, it really doesn't do the movie any justice. Entire scenes are missing that get referenced in the next scene. If you hadn't seen the movie before you saw it onboard, you would probably end up hating the more.

Quoting deltaguy767 (Reply 10): and couldn't help but think how much AA shelled out for this product placement.

AA didnt pay one dime for it! Thats the beauty of it. Free advertising!

They just let them film where they wanted and paved the way to make it easy for them.

I enjoyed the movie but only because as a frequent flier I chuckled at a lot of things.

AA wasn't stupid to allow the movie to be filmed and I even wondered if they paid promotional fees on top of that.

For a similar reason the Keg Steakhouse and Bar restaurant chain in Canada sponsors sports commentary programs and purchases ads on sports events. Not only is that their target market but if you are watching a hockey game at the competitor Canyon Creek Chophouse, you see Keg commercials on the screens.

From what I read in a couple of news articles, AA supposedly didn't pay any product placement fees, but did provide complimentary air transportation to cast and crew, as well as provide planes and other facilities for filming.

All in all, not a bad investment for some major free advertising.

Although did anyone else notice that the movie seemed to feature Hilton Hotels as much as, if not more than, AA? I was a little surprised that the movie didn't spend more time than it did following Clooney's character's actual travels. Felt like he was checking in and out of and hanging out in Hiltons more than he was flying AA.

Was the captain with the huge mustache a real AA capt?  

Quoting KaiGywer (Reply 23): Quoting FURUREFA (Reply 16): use AA employees Was the captain with the huge mustache a real AA capt?

NO. The Captain (Maynard Finch) was played by actor Sam Elliott.

The only thing I thought missing from the end of the movie was that with the 10 million miles, a planes is also named after you. they should have panned away from a plane with 'Ryan Bingham' written on the side.