WHAT DO YOU THINK OF SOUTHWEST’S NEW PAINT JOB?

By The Flying Pinto

This is an article from USA Today, I’d love to hear what your opinion’s are.

TodayswimsuitjetSouthwest’s decision to paint one of its planes with a photo of a swimsuit model is turning off at least some of its customers. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram wrote about the story Friday, saying “some passengers complain that they’re being forced to board an aircraft plastered with soft porn.” But the story –- like the swimsuit model on the plane -– appears to have some legs to it. One of the latest newspapers to pick the story is The Courier-Mail of Brisbane, Australia -– a country that’s thousands of miles away from the nearest Southwest destination. That newspaper’s (somewhat dramatic) headline: “Passenger anger over ‘porno plane.’ “

The Courier-Mail says Southwest “has received a flood of criticism on its corporate blog about the promotion, with many passengers complaining about having to board an aircraft ‘covered in pornography. ‘ ” The Star-Telegram adds some customers feel the image adds an adults-only vibe that some passengers –- especially those with children –- may prefer to avoid. “Many women do not enjoy having their husbands exposed to explicit pictures or explaining to young children why the lady on the plane is ‘showing her boobies, ‘ ” Texas customers Chris and Sharon Kraemer say in a letter to Southwest that’s quoted by the Star-Telegram.

Among other reactions, the Star-Telegram found this comment posted by a reader on Southwest’s corporate blog: “Does anyone else find this kind of trashy for Southwest? Having a woman in a bikini on the side of the plane hardly seems like the epitome of the friendly, down-home airline I’ve grown accustomed to.” Ironically, of course, one of the things Southwest is most-remembered for throughout its 30-year history has been irreverent marketing, which included some flight attendants wearing hot pants and go-go boots during the 70s.

As for the latest flap, Southwest spokeswoman Brandy King acknowledges the airline has received negative feedback. But, she says those opposed account for only about 25% of feedback on the subject. “As with anything that’s different and unique, you do hear from some people who disagree,” King tells the Star-Telegram. She adds the company gave careful consideration to make sure the Sports Illustrated cover model’s image “was in good taste before we put it up on the aircraft.”

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7 comments

  1. Jim Mantle @ 2009-03-05 13:37

    What do I think of the paint job?

    I see a very pretty girl in a bikini, not “soft porn”.

    I also think some folks need to go back to putting pants on their piano legs (lest Queen Victoria be shocked), and then go pull the pickle out of their butts because their uptight pucker factor is getting much, much too high.

  2. Aviatrix @ 2009-03-05 18:25

    Young children really ought to know what boobies are for, and grown-ups shouldn’t be afraid of a depiction of the female form. We women are wonderful, and I understand the one on the airplane is a particularly choice-looking specimen. Go us!

    I’d be proud to fly that airplane.

  3. camerapilot @ 2009-03-05 18:26

    These "some passengers"…. what a bunch of whiners, get a life! Complain about something important- the Mexican drug cartel violence spilling into our country or the rise of "Honor Killings" across America.
    Painting a woman on a plane is not original. The B-17 my uncle crewed on during WWII had a gorgeous babe painted on it's nose, so what?
    My brother the FO for SW, I'll toss him the idea of SW offering red & blue blindfolds to any Puritan that requests one.
    We have lost our minds.

  4. Postcards and Coasters @ 2009-03-06 16:49

    I heard about this awhile ago but didn’t realize how BIG the picture would be. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised since SWA was so into the hotpants. I bet if they could they’d bring them back. 🙂

    I’m not sure what SWA was thinking putting this on our plane. With the economy the way it is do we really want to loose business with families? I fly out today, I’ll see what everyone is saying (I’m flying with a very conservative FA so this should be interesting). I mean we’ve gone from Shamu to the Pinup.

    I know this wouldn’t go over well in my community. Recently everyone made a big deal about a huge Victoria Secret picture on a billboard at a new outside mall. I personally thought everyone was over reacting.

  5. I love your posts 🙂 I like Jim see a pretty girl in a bikini not “soft porn.”

    Is the side of an airplane the best place for it? Maybe not, but they may be trying to promote travels to warmer weather. It is no worse than all of the Ron Jon Surf Shop billboards posted all over FL.

  6. the Cusack in the O'Hearn Family @ 2009-03-07 00:04

    While I don’t see “soft porn”, I do see the objectification of women to make a little more money. I think we have enough of that in this world, and as a woman…I’m not really interested in seeing anymore.
    oh…and I think it looks tacky! 🙂

  7. Beachbillies @ 2009-03-08 06:52

    My beef with this is that it doesn’t make any sense. They’re not selling bathing suits, there’s no stripping allowed during the flight(at least not that I’m aware of, but I could be wrong), they’re not selling weight loss and there not selling time in a tanning booth. Where’s the relevance? It’s like putting a big picture of a mattress in the store window of a Gap. One has NOTHING to do with the other. How in the world is a girl in a bikini relevant to selling seats on an airplane? If they want to promote a tropical place, use palm trees and hammocks by the beach so you can appeal to everyone, not just horny 18 – 35 year olds. Of course, if your numbers are low in that demographic, more power to you; but still…have a little creativity, please. Using this type of advertising is just so outdated – haven’t we moved past this overdone, mundane, juvenile cliche yet?
    Of course it’s their porogative to advertise however they want…I just think it’s stupid and very unoriginal.