JC5280 From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 530 posts, RR: 6 Posted (8 years 3 months 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 8684 times:
Could it be? Will it be? If you live in the Denver area, you will eventually see subtle orange and blue signs around town that "Ted" is coming. A farmer was on the news last night because someone layed out a huge bunch of sod in the shape of the letters, TED. He has no clue who did it. When the news channel asked around at the garden stores nearby, one simply mentioned that "we will find out who Ted is soon".
Interestingly enough, the farmers land can be seen on approach to DEN.
If you look at http://www.rockymountainnews.com you will see an ad banner that simply says "who is Ted?". When you click on it, it takes you to http://www.meetted.com which has several pictures of the orange and blue stickers at Invesco Field, with Mayor Hickenlooper, and at local malls. If you read into the ad campaign enough, you will start putting the pieces together as I have.
SFOJFK From United States of America, joined Feb 2001, 74 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (8 years 3 months 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 8441 times:
I just did a whois on meetted.com. I'm not going to post it here but it's registered to an individual in Plymouth, MN. It doesn't look like a corporate registration at all, but again it might be UAL's way of disguising things until TED comes out.
JGPH1A From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (8 years 3 months 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 8434 times:
The website is all very cutesy-poo - full of young 'n trendy hip concepts ( "cutting knee deep powder" - one assumes they mean snow not cocaine) mixed with good ol' Amurrican values ("when you shovel your driveway, do the whole block"), intended one assumes to appeal to visceral sentiments rather than putting across a specific idea. Good for a teaser campaign, but a bit obvious.
JC5280 From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 530 posts, RR: 6 Reply 7, posted (8 years 3 months 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 8333 times:
Thanks Andersjt...
You just reaffirmed my theory. Now I am CONVINCED its UAL. From being on the inside, I can assure you, UAL employees know nothing about this. Thats how anonymous this is.
If you try to contact them to share sightings, it gives you a hotmail.com email address (meettednow@hotmail.com). As anonymous as you can get.
Midway2airtran From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 864 posts, RR: 2 Reply 8, posted (8 years 3 months 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 8322 times:
TED? That's definitely a unique concept, especially coming from United. Probably an attempt to grab the spotlight. I'll have to find out more about this.
UA744Flagship From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (8 years 3 months 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 8309 times:
Interesting...
The font is *the same* as the Helvetica Bold United uses in many of its marketing materials.
The blue is the *exact* same CMYK color as "United Blue" (I checked it).
And the orange = fun/hip. Note how Delta, in comparison to jetBLUE, used a neon Green. Naturally, the only choices for United's LCO would be red or orange... Orange goes better with blue (United Blue especially).
Althought we could be reading too much into this... it is intriguing.
Worldwide From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 35 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (8 years 3 months 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 8229 times:
Personally, I would like to see United reinventing itself rather than starting a new airline-within-an-airline that probably won't work and may be the final nail in the coffin for UAL! If they can come up with this stuff for a new airline, why can't they do it for United?
Ord747cle From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 239 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (8 years 3 months 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 8204 times:
A whois lookup shows that the domain is owned by someone in Minnesota:
Organization:
Charles Murphy
Charles Murphy
15820 9th Avenue North
Plymouth, MN 55447
US
Phone: 612-599-9816
Email: ctmurphy@mac.com
Created on..............: Tue, Oct 14, 2003
Expires on..............: Fri, Oct 14, 2005
Record last updated on..: Thu, Oct 30, 2003
Administrative Contact:
Charles Murphy
Charles Murphy
15820 9th Avenue North
Plymouth, MN 55447
US
Phone: 612-599-9816
Email: ctmurphy@mac.com
The mac.com lookup takes you right to Apple's website. Also note that the domain was created on October 14, 2003. You'd think their marketing department would have been working on a campaign for at least a month before releasing it...
Ord747cle From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 239 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (8 years 3 months 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 8186 times:
Also, a reverse phone lookup does not take you to a business, it takes you to someones home.
Andersjt From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 390 posts, RR: 2 Reply 17, posted (8 years 3 months 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 8153 times:
"If you're going to shovel the sidewalk, why not do the entire block?"
Whereas Song focused on Northeast to Florida, TED is the choice for coast to coast. Using DEN as a hub offers more flexibility or options in getting a TED flight from non-TED cities.
Wasn't there a thread mentioning that Delta was starting and planning on increasing Song presence in SLC?
You're probably right Potomac - this may be a lot of wasted energy on our part.
[Edited 2003-11-06 19:31:30]
Oh how I long for the day when the skies were truly Friendly!
Ord747cle From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 239 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (8 years 3 months 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 8135 times:
A search of advertising agencies in Plymouth, MN show two:
Bistro1200 From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 337 posts, RR: 5 Reply 21, posted (8 years 3 months 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 8008 times:
FYI...
As United uses 4-digit nose numbers for their fleet, the new nose numbers for the LCO will be 49XX series. The current A320s are 46XX.
B1200
Measure to the millimeter, mark with a crayon, cut with an axe.
Us330 From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 3455 posts, RR: 17 Reply 22, posted (8 years 3 months 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 7925 times:
I am willing to put my money on Ted being UA's new LCC. Too many "coincidences" for it just to be a fluke. If you've explored the website and seen the pictures, it appears as if a massive ad campaign and giveaways have begun, one that, considering the size of it, only a corporation with significant assets could fund.
Potomac From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 713 posts, RR: 1 Reply 24, posted (8 years 3 months 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 7873 times:
www.flyted.com would cause this to make more sense that just www.meetted.com - but that website doesnt bring up anything...
25 Lymanm: "In 2002 they were named Chicago's largest trademark law firm and United Airlines is one of their biggest clients." That doubles the credibility of it
26 Andersjt: Potomac: Nothing may come up, but United didn't plan on starting up "TED" until February 2004. It doesn't change that flyted.com is taken, and there i
27 Cessna172RG: Are you all sure this is gonna be an airline thing? I mean...maybe a new computer system? A new chain of restaurants? A fanatical religious cult? I ha
28 Potomac: well thats what i'm saying - i buy into this connection a lot more with the www.flyted.com site and the indirect links to UA than i did with just www.
29 RiverVisualNYC: The meetted.com website doesn't look very professional to me. Is "Ted" anything like Burger King's infamous "Herb?" Does anyone else here agree that i
30 JC5280: The LCO is due out in February of 2004, but, we start selling tickets on it by December. So it makes sense to advertise with an ad campaign now. How c
31 Mikey711MN: It is certainly something affiliated with United. Here's how: Registry info for flyted.com (specifically look at the DNS entries at the bottom!) -----
32 JC5280: Bingo.....nice work Mikey. I knew I was right! There are changes abound for the A Concourse in Denver!!! Gosh, I wonder why the LCO would use the A...
33 Mariner: "Why would the LCO use the A"? Because they can. Might these be some of the A changes? http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/business/article/0,1299,D
34 JC5280: Bistro1200... Dont forget the 47XX series. Those are A320s as well. Not just 46XX
35 RiverVisualNYC: the photos and graphics on the meetted site look real cheap to me...in fact, i did a website for my small, 3 employee business that has graphics and p
37 Lindy field: Is www.meathead.com any relation to this site you're talking about? Incidentally, I can't help but like an airline that's named after me!
38 USAFHummer: Wow "TED" makes "Song" sound good... Greg
39 Aa757first: Here's to Hollywood blockbusters. Two possible meanings: 1) IFE, 2) service to Hollywood/LA.
40 Andersjt: The graphics on the meetted.com web site may not be cutting edge, but the other collateral materials (stickers, handouts, jumbotron postings) are defi
41 F9Widebody: This whole advertising campaign is strangely familiar to the mLife campaign a few years ago. Spend a ton of money, launch a website, and don't tell an
42 Syncmaster: Here's even more proof: (CHICAGO) Thursday, May 2, 2002 - UAL Loyalty Services, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of UAL Corporation (NYSE:UAL) responsi
43 RiverVisualNYC: 2 more observations The website is very orange, which is the color associated with Easyjet in Europe. Stelios (Easyjet's founder) said he picked it be
44 Cessna172RG: I hope Ted isn't an oily stinky businessman soaked in sweat that keeps falling asleep on my shoulder... Or the dorky kid in the church camp group who
45 Bistro1200: First TED aircraft: N495UA. A320, goes into paint shop very soon, possibly this weekend. Delivered to UA 30AUG2002. This times very well with the meet
46 Mikey711MN: One thing I didn't immediately notice about the registry entry was this... Domain Name: FLYTED.COM Created on..............: Fri, Sep 26, 2003 Expires
47 RiverVisualNYC: If the rationale behind TED is that it's half of the word United, when can we expect to see an LCC from AA called "Rican"....Of course it will special
48 JC5280: The website is not supposed to mimick a large corporation. I think is intended to look amateur. The denim reference could be to the new uniforms or ev
49 Cessna172RG: Maybe they're gonna split up United... UNI and TED. Uni...hmmm...wonder what routes they will fly. Central America? Or flights with low revenue (a pla
50 Potomac: i dont think the current domain expiration date has much to do with the lifespan of this business venture. you could look those up for any company and
51 RiverVisualNYC: 172 - wonder how many a.net members have already emailed, hopefully someone will get a response and post here JC- as for the intentionally amateur loo
52 Aa757first: Well, I for one think this is a great advertising campaign. Since everyone is so hung-up about it in the Denver area. I have to give it to United (if
53 RiverVisualNYC: being from NYC, i have only read about all the promotions in DEN and visited the website, but it should be pointed out that buzz creation doesn't sell
54 JC5280: RiverVisualNYC .... good point. I think the look of meetted.com is just until the LCO is revealed. I am sure there will be another domain such as flyt
55 Triscl: I think they're just trying to establish a brand identity right off the bat. I don't imagine it can cost that much in the grand schme of things. And I
56 Triscl: oh, and the amateurish-ness also lends itself to the anominity! Whodda thunk it? (not counting JC)
57 RiverVisualNYC: Since no one else mentioned it, may I remind everybody that UA's last big marketing idea was Avolar, the stillborn private jet operation. Well, at lea
58 JC5280: Triscl....I wouldn't give me too much credit. If I hadn't been watching the news and heard a flight attendant mention it this morning, I would never h
59 Triscl: JC5280- Ah well, I have been sitting here explaining all of this to my friend here in NY--he's from DEN--and he's saying, "Wow, I'm so impressed, I be
60 ORD747CLE: Regarding the meetted.com website, if you see the pictures at the football stadium, all of them were taken where the DENVER Bronco's play. Also, what'
61 RiverVisualNYC: Maybe they are going to sell Papa John's onboard. At least then the cabin would smell like a pizzeria and not the usual melange of odors caused by 150
62 UA744Flagship: FALLON MCELLIGOT http://fallon.com is United's domestic advertising agency, headquartered in none other than Minneapolis, MN. With the law firm *speci
63 Frntman: Instead of www.meetted.com, how about www.meettheartistformallyknownasshuttlebyunited.com
64 UA744Flagship: JC5280 you sneaky bugger!!! No wonder United has started (weekend only) service into Cancun and Grand Cayman. Is it gonna be preseason for the new emp
65 JC5280: All of the pictures on the meetted.com website were taken in Denver. You will see a picture of Mayor John Hickenlooper in there as well. The others we
67 JC5280: I was right! And Rocky Mountain News did all of the dirty work for us.... 'Ted' unmasked By David Kesmodel, Rocky Mountain News November 6, 2003 Who's
68 Andersjt: JC5280 - It sounds suspiciously like the Rocky Mountain News got wind of your post, and the follow-ups. I saw the link to rockymountainnews.com, but d
69 Redngold: I just hope nobody finds their aircraft to be mighty DEN-TED! redngold
70 UA744Flagship: I'm very impressed by your metaphorical skills, Andersjt! However, I think everyone so far has been wrong about "Denim: the original workwear". I thin
71 JC5280: I didn't see it in the rocky mountain news until someone posted that link. I did not even think to look at the printed paper. I am willing to bet that
72 Mariner: JCS280 made the original post on this thread some several hours before the article appeared in the (internet) RMN. I read about "Ted" here first and w
73 JC5280: The denim will not be a part of a uniform. All crews, on the ground and in the air, will be interchangeable with UA mainline. Mariner...thanks for the
74 F9Widebody: I hope they sell Chipotle burritos onboard. Mmmmmmmmmm. Regards, F9W
75 Fly-K: The yellow of the website is very close to LH's too
76 JBirdAV8r: I hope they sell Chipotle burritos onboard. Mmmmmmmmmm. Oh holy..... Burritos.... High cabin altitudes....
77 BoingGoingGone: There's something a little fearful about flying around in an orange plane. Kind of like a Military target drone.
78 UA744Flagship: . The DP writes an article about aviation message boards online JGPH1A, you are quoted!!! http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E26385%257E17
79 Andersjt: UA744Flagship Thanks for the link. I was a little taken by the side column with "Today's Other UAL in Crisis Stories." I know United is important to D
80 JGPH1A: Fame at last ! I should demand a quote credit and HUGE copyright fees !
81 Ord747cle: UA744Flagship - thanks for the post about the article. Maybe it does appear that reporters lurk, and perhaps post on these message boards! I would als
82 JGPH1A: Ord747cle - re: I would also venture to say that executives at many airlines lurk these board to pick up the latest news I'm sure if that was the case
83 UA744Flagship: I know for a fact some airline analysts lurk here. BTW, this is their favorite humor website.[Edited 2003-11-07 18:29:20]
84 JGPH1A: So then why AREN'T there hot and cold running geishas in every coach cabin ? Come on you analysts, get it sorted ! All us experts here insist that thi
85 Bistro1200: Plane getting painted in ARA - New Iberia, Louisiana, USA. Any spotters down there?
86 Aloha717200: UA744Flagship, thanks for the article! This is excellent! News websites gleaning info from a.net. You gotta love it. After reading all the replies on
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 530 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
Printer friendly format 
