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United Airlines - It's time to make a really weird commercial (oh, and fly too)

by Scott Carmichael (RSS feed) on Sep 10th 2008 at 3:30PM

Sure, the quality and merits of a TV commercial are a really personal thing, and I'm sure some people reading my article will disagree with my opinion, but this new ad for United Airlines has to be one of the worst airline commercials I have ever seen. It's Little Mermaid meets Yellow Submarine.

The message United is trying to deliver is that their new international premium cabins with flat sleeper seats are awesome, and that it is time to fly. The message they are actually delivering is that their planes fly really low, and that they apparently know of a top secret island ruled by crab people and tuba playing whales.

Also, am I the only one that is really really tired of Rhapsody in Blue? It's one thing to take a great American masterpiece and use it for a couple of commercials, it's another to play it till you want to punch yourself in the face. But like I said; it's a personal thing, so don't mind me.

And of course, when they say "flying will never be the same again", they mean it has finally become a competitive product, and is now potentially on-par with other Transatlantic carriers like Virgin Atlantic and British Airways, who have been offering flat seats in Business Class and First Class for years.

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Brenda SFO Sep 10th 2008 4:52PM

To each his own, personally, I like it!

Thomas Sep 10th 2008 8:46PM

No matter how great the commercial I will never fly United again. I have a horrible experience every time I fly with them.

Marilyn Terrell Sep 10th 2008 9:22PM

How bizarre! What are those gray tubular things emanating from the mouths of the fishes? It's like a rather bad remake of the classic Disney scene "Under the Sea" scene from The Little Mermaid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgA2xo0HYrE

Karen Sep 10th 2008 9:44PM

That commercial creeps me out.....low flying planes indeed....creepy crustaceans..

teenagertc Sep 10th 2008 11:57PM

This commercial does not make me want to fly United. They played it to death during the Olympics, and it creeped me out. Will I be sitting next to a gigantic crab if I fly United? This is a really good commercial, but it fails at selling the product.

Marabou Sep 11th 2008 4:59AM

Whaaaaat in the world does this have to do with air travel?

Brenda SFO Sep 11th 2008 9:55AM

LOL...and what does a duck have to do with insurance, (AFLAC) or how about those Budweiser commercials during the Super Bowl? What do most of them have to do with beer? Many commercials have nothing to do with the product that they're trying to sell. I think the idea is for them to get your attention, have you stop what you're doing, and pay attention to the commercial, and hopefully it will subconsciously imprint the Brand in your head.

Mike Sep 11th 2008 12:53PM

THANK YOU! I have been saying for a couple years now about how I have been hearing the same theme song since I was a little kid and how annoying it is getting. Its time for them to switch up their image. As for the commercial United has always had quite artsy commercials although this one more so then others it seems to be inline with the normal ones.

Kimberly @ GoGreenTravelGreen Sep 11th 2008 3:56PM

I actually this commercial. Weird? Definitely. But also creative and (I think) entertaining. And well enough branded that I definitely remember what it was advertising long after it's over. I think it does what it needs to do.

Minh Van Le Sep 12th 2008 7:13PM

I booked a round trip ticket for my grandma to come to Vancouver from San Francisco airport on Sept 5 10:45 am Flight #1116 and return on Sept 8 at 3pm on flight 8255. When she got to the airport on her way to Vancouver she was denied boarding because she was told by the agent there that they wont let her board without a US passport and all she had with her was a Vietnamese passport with a US green-card. She had to take a taxi from the airport back to her home in Alameda. I contacted UA and was told by the representative that she in fact can come to Canada and the agent at the airport was wrong. A not was put in place. She had to go back to the airport for a 9:55pm flight on Sept 5. Now, since her initial flight was missed and that there was a number of things she had to do on Sept 5 which did not take place because of what happened she had to do them on Monday therefore cannot make it back to the US as originally scheduled. I contacted UA customer service and rescheduled her flight. The agent who helped me reschedule originally asked for $150 but after explaining what happened she told me that the flight is rescheduled and left it at that. Now, come Sept 12 my grandma went to the Vancouver airport to return home. She was again stopped by the check-in attendant and demanded that she had to pay for the rescheduled flight. The attendant was very un yielding and force my grandma to pay or else no check-in. My grandma is 73 years old woman with Limited English and cannot take all the stuff from the check-in attendant thus paid the full amount. I'm writing this complaint and will attempt to reach UA refund department for refund. If this failed I will take further action.

Carrie Oct 14th 2008 10:56AM

Is this really the place to vent your anger with an airline? I personally love United but won't fly Delta, but that doesn't mean I need to go on a rant if Gadling posts something about Delta on here.

Carrie Oct 14th 2008 11:00AM

While I understand your anger regarding the airline, is this really the place to go into detail about your problems? I personally refuse to fly Delta after some problems I had, but I won't go into a rant over it. Positive energy is best!

Cappi Sep 13th 2008 3:48PM

Being a United employee, the commercial made me smile as it is clever. And an airplane shadow you can see on the water from 35,000 feet. But bad airline service is not acceptable and should be corrected. Have a nice day. Come fly with me and you will be treated well!

rob Sep 15th 2008 8:17PM

UNITED has always had some pretty creative advertising over the years but one thing that ALWAYS says UNITED is the "Rhapsody in Blue" theme music.....the song is a classic, just like the airline. The industry has been a changing (for better and worse) but I still respect UA and the history they represent. I work in the industry (not UNITED) but Give them a Thumbs UP! KEEP THE SONG.....forever and ever and ever!