SEVEN_FIFTY7 From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 957 posts, RR: 4 Posted (12 years 4 months 2 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 1357 times:
They used to have quite memorable commercials, using the Boston Pops' version of "Rhapsody in Blue" theme and that famous narrator (forgot his name). They showed different spots frequently on TV, and was arguably the most recoginzed domestic air brand because of those beautiful commercials.
I know here in New York, we never see anymore UA televison spots. They seemed to have stopped even well before the "summer of hell" last year. Does UA still do TV ads regularly elsewhere in the USA? (That pitiful apology ad with inept Jim Goodwin DOESN'T count). -What about overseas? Do you Europeans, South Americans, and Asians get still see many commercials for United?
I love airline commercials. And I think United's most famous ones were the very best.
As an aside, why have certain carriers like Northwest, America West, & USAir always seemed to have resisted TV ads? (These carriers, for better or for worse, seem to have always needed them the most.) I know TV advertisement is expensive. But doesn't pay off eventually?
Currently, I think BA's commercials are the very best. "The world's favourite airline." I love it.
Imkeww From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (12 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 1293 times:
Methinks that famous narrartor you're speaking of is Gene Hackman. He's been the 'UA voice' for well over a decade now.
I, too, remember UA's old ads quite vividly. Especially the one where the 747SP silhoutte is taxiing in Hong Kong Kait Tak. There is nothing lilke the crescendo of the wonderful Gershwin piece towards the end of UA TV commercials.
It's too bad UA doesn't showcase its ads online, unlike some others. For some, advertising is legitimate entertainment-- take a gander at AdCritic.com! Also, planebusiness has a great *.mov of a recent nostalgic UA 'apology' commercial. Note that this one does not feature the foibling Badloss, I mean Goodwin, but rather, short clips of various old UAL metal.
As for United's advertisomg budget, I seriously don't know where all the $100 mil goes every year?! There is hardly any UA ad exposure anywhere, as far as I can tell, and boy, I tell you what, I sure look out for these things-- advertisin's my element!
Maybe when I get my ad/branding/logo agency, tentatively named "Ad Astra", or 'Astra: a subsidiary of imkeww LLC.' for short, up-n-running, I'll make a pitch to the folks over at Elk Grove Township. And in turn for services rendered, they'll grant me my own personal trip 7. imkeww.com -- the best thing since canned fruit!
Hawaiian717 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 3095 posts, RR: 8 Reply 3, posted (12 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 1282 times:
I haven't seen any in a while, but I do remember seeing USAir commercials. I remember USAir spot that parodied Fantasy Island's "Da Plane! Da Plane!"
Also I'm not sure exactly, but I think I remember seeing America West commercials. They might focus more on the southwest for their advertising, rather than New York.
Johnboy From United States of America, joined Aug 1999, 2477 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (12 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 1269 times:
Perhaps with all the airline bashing going on in very public forums (fora?) these days, the majors feel it's better to target ads for new service in specific markets. However, perceived "positive" spots, such as the above-mentioned Economy Plus product are splashing the airwaves now (keeping up with AA no doubt).
SEVEN_FIFTY7 From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 957 posts, RR: 4 Reply 5, posted (12 years 4 months 1 week 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 1246 times:
Wow. UA actually is TV airing their Econ Plus product in certain regions? (FINALLY). What took those numbskulls in Chicago so long to spread the word across the airwaves? I wonder if they're only doing it now because they realize their archrival is winning over a lot of people with their (better and more common sensical) MRTC product.
I don't know how long you guys have been seen those Econ Plus ads in your neck-of-the-woods. But in the New York/New Jersey region, I STILL don't see any TV commercials related to UA. Only some newspaper pages.
Tan flyr From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 1854 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (12 years 4 months 1 week 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 1245 times:
The best ad that UA ever ran was the one where a business owner hands tickets to all the sales staff to have them visit customers with himself to see an old client that had just fired them. Very effective IMHO. I practice that same thing as face to face is still the best way to build business relationships.
JetService From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 4798 posts, RR: 13 Reply 7, posted (12 years 4 months 1 week 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 1225 times:
For what it's worth, I just saw the Economy Plus UAL ad on the History Channel. I'm in FWA.
Stratifier From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (12 years 4 months 1 week 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 1223 times:
My very first impression of UA was a TV commercial in the 80s... something like a f/a ran out of the gates to hand a gift over to a pax who bought it for his daughter.
UPS Pilot From United States of America, joined May 1999, 867 posts, RR: 3 Reply 9, posted (12 years 4 months 1 week 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 1209 times:
It's kind of hard nowdays to sell the "FLY THE FRIENDLY SKIES" slogan isn't it?
SEVEN_FIFTY7 From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 957 posts, RR: 4 Reply 11, posted (12 years 4 months 1 week 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 1190 times:
N628AU From United States of America, joined Oct 2000, 324 posts, RR: 2 Reply 12, posted (12 years 4 months 1 week 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 1187 times:
US Airways ran ads again right before the merger announcement, and then stopped. SEVEN_FIFTY7, I think there are many reasons US did not run ads for a while, the most believeable is, that when you are running consistently heavy loads, why advertise something that may not be available? Also, US is much more dependent on loyal, repeat business travellers, than to discretionary leisure travellers than other airlines. If this is good or not, I can't say, but it is true.
Travelin man From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 3316 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (12 years 4 months 1 week 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 1180 times:
For what it's worth, I saw the Economy Plus ad (with the "Rhapsody in Blue") this morning on the Weather Channel, which I believe is seen across the nation.
(I travel a lot, so the Weather Channel is nice to have!)
Also, in L.A., United spent a lot of money on billboards all around the city. The billboards say something like "LA and New York.... United" showing a picture of footprints in sand next to footprints in snow. They did this for a lot of cities, and I can remember specifically billboards for New Yor and Paris, but there are a lot more cities (and the billboards were/are everywhere throughout LA).
That may be where some of their advertising budget went!
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