Airtran miffed at Budweiser

[starchkr]

And also hire civilian guys to help get the military guys thru training and show them what to wear to the bar on overnights.

Now that was funny, I dont care who you are, that was funny!

GIT 'ER DONE!!!!! <---- In yer best Larry the cable guy voice...

 

[Clyde]

I'm glad I fly freight. Nobody ever makes fun of us and we get nothing but respect.

 

[InTransit]

I'm not surprised at how something so "tasteless" to management becomes such a gem for the pilot group. That ad embodies so much truth it's scary - and also quite funny.

 

[sweptback]

http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/1024wsj-budlight24-ON.html

 

[schafjet]

How can you get it so you can save it. The link won't allow you to save a copy.

 

[reospeedwagon]

Discount Air Carrier
May Bump Bud Light
Over Air-Safety Joke

AirTran Airways says it may stop serving Anheuser-Busch Cos. products on its flights to protest a radio ad for Bud Light that ridicules discount airlines and their pilots.
The ad, part of the "Real Men of Genius" campaign created by DDB Chicago, is a comic tribute to discount-airline pilots, commending them for their "minimal experience" and for putting "the fly in fly-by-night." It also questions the safety of low-fare carriers: "Sure we're concerned for our lives," the announcer says -- "just not as concerned as saving nine bucks on a round-trip to Fort Myers."
Anheuser-Busch says it pulled the ad after one airing in January, but it has remained posted on an ad-industry Web site and recently made the rounds online among some pilot groups and airlines. It also has continued playing on Anheuser-Busch's phone system: When AirTran Airways Director of Marketing Tad Hutcheson called to complain Wednesday, he listened to the offending ad while on hold.
ANHEUSER ADVERTISING

AirTran Chairman and Chief Executive Joe Leonard sent a letter to Anheuser-Busch CEO Patrick Stokes on Thursday demanding an apology. "You may deem the commercial to be satirical, but I find it highly offensive," Mr. Leonard wrote. Mr. Hutcheson said the airline is considering dropping Budweiser from its flights.

GIVE ME A BREAK!

You want to know what I found "highly offensive"? When smokin' Joe Leonard said in a recent interview that he needed oil prices to go up to $80 a barrel and stay there for a while so that some of the competition would go away. What a HYPOCRITE! His airline gets a little "bad" press (if you want to call it that) and he gets his depends in a wad! LIGHTEN UP OLD MAN, IT WAS A JOKE! Dont worry, the white trash will still want to fly Airtran; I guess now they may have the option of Pabst Blue Ribbon or Milwaukee's Best! Sounds like a win-win to me.

 

[furloughed dude]

I like the new one: Real Men of Genious:

Mr Air Tran Scab pilot guy...Oooh, wanna real job

Continue with the rest of the "Discount airline pilot guy"

 

[TheDonger]

...it's that we're all "discount airline pilot guys" now. :crying:

Isn't that the truth! :beer:

 

[Flic1]

Leonard needs to pull the Bud Light bottle out of his a**. Why can't anyone present any humor these days without being threatened, sued, etc??? AirTran looks really silly doing this......

 

[jehtplane]

Discount Air Carrier
May Bump Bud Light
Over Air-Safety Joke

AirTran Airways says it may stop serving Anheuser-Busch Cos. products on its flights to protest a radio ad for Bud Light that ridicules discount airlines and their pilots.
The ad, part of the "Real Men of Genius" campaign created by DDB Chicago, is a comic tribute to discount-airline pilots, commending them for their "minimal experience" and for putting "the fly in fly-by-night." It also questions the safety of low-fare carriers: "Sure we're concerned for our lives," the announcer says -- "just not as concerned as saving nine bucks on a round-trip to Fort Myers."
Anheuser-Busch says it pulled the ad after one airing in January, but it has remained posted on an ad-industry Web site and recently made the rounds online among some pilot groups and airlines. It also has continued playing on Anheuser-Busch's phone system: When AirTran Airways Director of Marketing Tad Hutcheson called to complain Wednesday, he listened to the offending ad while on hold.
ANHEUSER ADVERTISING

AirTran Chairman and Chief Executive Joe Leonard sent a letter to Anheuser-Busch CEO Patrick Stokes on Thursday demanding an apology. "You may deem the commercial to be satirical, but I find it highly offensive," Mr. Leonard wrote. Mr. Hutcheson said the airline is considering dropping Budweiser from its flights.
Other airlines said they, too, were outraged. "Totally tasteless," said Southwest Airlines spokesman Ed Stewart. "To joke about safety is awful. It's out of bounds."
Anheuser-Busch, in a statement, offered an apology. "This campaign was meant to poke fun at slices of everyday life, but this execution clearly crossed the line and is in poor taste," said Michael J. Owens, vice president of sales and marketing.
AirTran, which is the former ValuJet Airlines, and other discount flyers have long fought perceptions that low-price fares mean less safety. Previous generations of discount carriers flew aging planes, offered bare-bones service and suffered a lack of confidence after ValuJet Flight 592 caught fire and crashed in the Florida Everglades in 1996, killing 110 on board. But discounters today opt for new airplanes and many provide upscale amenities.
The current generation of discount carriers has had a strong safety record: Southwest has flown for more than 30 years without a fatality. And discounters today can hire experienced pilots from the U.S. military and legacy carriers that have furloughed hundreds of pilots.
Bud Light's "Real Men of Genius" campaign won the Grand Prix for Radio at the International Advertising Festival in Cannes, France, in June. The prize recognized 11 spots, including the 60-second "Mr. Discount Airline Pilot Guy."
Most of the ad campaign's targets aren't corporate. Ads pay homage to "Mr. Basketball Court Sweat Wiper Upper," "Mr. Bathroom Stall Dirty Joke Writer," and "Mr. Hot Stock Tip Giver Outer." Last year, a TV spot in the series, "Mr. Really Bad Toupee Wearer," drew complaints from the American Hair Loss Council. Anheuser-Busch refused to pull it.
While airline rivals fumed, discounter JetBlue Airways did find some humor in the ad: It said the spot couldn't be aimed at its nonstop flights: "We think there is a difference between flying in

They should be more upset about that picture of Elton John on their planes.

 

[mdf]

I guess the LCC wheel of slam has landed on Air Tran this round.

 

[800Dog]

I guess the LCC wheel of slam has landed on Air Tran this round.

Lets redirect our anger back to jetblue and their emb-190 rates. Just kidding jb guys, I am sure you all will raise those rates in the near future.

 

[commode Air]

Hey MR. Leonard, wern't you the one that was responsible for killing all the people on board that Amereican Airlines DC-10 which engine fell off. you should be more concerned with that you butt head.

 

[commode Air]

about the above post from CommodeAir,and the things he/she said, that was posted from someone else. Not me People don't forget to log OFF on public computers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

 

[FN FAL]

Leonard needs to pull the Bud Light bottle out of his a**. Why can't anyone present any humor these days without being threatened, sued, etc??? AirTran looks really silly doing this......

So they are going to take it out on their customers by not providing the beverage? Smart.

Maybe Airtran should just raise their ticket prices so they can run off the Budwieser level customer and get more of the Corona or Negra Modela customers on board.

 

[RP 04]

Why doesn't Leonard address the poor customer service in ATL, instead of a "offensive" commercial?

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

So they are going to take it out on their customers by not providing the beverage? Smart.

Maybe Airtran should just raise their ticket prices so they can run off the Budwieser level customer and get more of the Corona or Negra Modela customers on board.

I agree. Taking Bud off would be a service to their pax. Go with Sam Adams or some Shiner.


Give me another beer 'cause "I can't feel my legs!"

 

[FN FAL]

I agree. Taking Bud off would be a service to their pax. Go with Sam Adams or some Shiner.


Give me another beer 'cause "I can't feel my legs!"

I could see the employees or the employee's union addressing the issue with the Anheuser-Busch company and I could see the union sending a letter to it's employees asking them not to patronize Anheuser-Busch.

However, I don't think that an airline or it's employees has any room for forgetting who it's customers are. Not in this economy.

I don't really care for Bud Light or Budweiser products myself, but it would seem dumb for any airline to deny service to it's customer.

 

[SlapShot]

I did not get bent out of shape when AB made fun of my invention of jean shorts. In fact I was a little flattered that my invention was going to make a come back since they are "casual enough for a picnic and dressy enough for a family reunion".

 

[C-150ETOPS]

What arse clown at Airtran thought this ad was aimed at them?

I'm AA and thought it was funny as chit and aimed at me.

I get paid less than nearly every other Major/LCC pilot based on my years of service, especially Airtran guys hired years after I got on at AA. If I lived near an Airtran guy I'd probably be cutting his yard