Newsstand - UA's New Ad Campaign - 'United for a Better Journey'




dilbert
Jan 7, 00, 9:11 am
United Airlines Launches New U.S. Advertising Campaign

New Ads Reinforce Commitment of Employees 'United for a Better Journey'

CHICAGO, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines (NYSE: UAL - news), the world's largest airline and the largest employee-owned company, tomorrow launches a new national advertising campaign that embraces its own people as well as the airline's frequent business travelers. The new 60 and 30-second TV spots, which air for the first time during the NFL playoffs on January 8, are a bold departure from other airline category advertising.

``First, we are leveraging our own name ... no other airline can mark out the territory 'United for a better journey' with the same power we can,'' said John ....r, United Airlines vice president for advertising and communications. ``Secondly, we recognize that it's United's 100,000 employees around the world who deliver on our brand promise to create a better journey. Third, we're taking the high ground in airline category advertising by using emotion to emphasize the theme of bringing people together.''

The new TV spots, which were produced by Minneapolis-based Fallon McElligott, recognize the strength of the word ``united'' and the equity that particular word carries back to the brand.

``By leveraging the word united and the symbolism associated with it, we can create a strong link between consumers and United Airlines,'' said ....r. ``The fact is, United is a very powerful word and we 'own' it. Not only does it speak to the global traveler and road warrior, but it also describes our unique corporate culture.''

For example, one 60-second TV spot, ``Gatherings,'' opens with scenes of plazas, town squares, courtyards and other common meeting areas that are found throughout the world. People begin to appear and it becomes more apparent they are meeting with others. Rhapsody in Blue is playing. As more people begin to come together a voiceover recites the copy: ``Why is it that every city, every town, every neighborhood, no matter where you are in the world, all have something in common? A place for people to come together. It's quite simple. Humans are a social bunch.'' The visual changes to a pilot flying a United plane. ``That's why we fly more places than anyone else. Because it's important for the human race to stay United.''

In addition to similar branding spots, ....r said that United's 2000 advertising will continue to support specific product enhancements and introductions being made by the airline.

In 1996, United became the first airline to acknowledge the stresses faced by frequent business travelers and reaffirm its commitment to improve air travel. Since then, United has led the industry by investing heavily in new technology, products and employee training designed to make air travel more hassle-free.

In addition to investing more than $51 million in additional airport ground equipment and $10 million in baggage handling improvements, United recently introduced Economy Plus, the airline's enhanced Economy product that gives eligible customers up to 36 inches of legroom versus the industry standard of 31 inches. United is currently reconfiguring its entire domestic fleet of aircraft for Economy Plus, and expects the product to be available on all aircraft in April 2000.

United's industry-leading advertising strategy was quickly copied by competitors, prompting the airline to find new ways to continue building the United brand, while still connecting with the target audience-frequent business travelers.

As the world's largest airline and the largest employee-owned company, United Airlines offers nearly 2,300 flights each day on a route network that spans the globe. It is a founding member of Star Alliance, a network that currently includes eight of the world's leading airlines.

SOURCE: United Airlines

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Dan
"It is not doing the things we like to do, but liking the things we have to do, that makes life blessed." - Goethe

[This message has been edited by dilbert (edited 01-07-2000).]


Catman
Jan 7, 00, 9:46 pm
For me, "Flying the Friendly skies" will always be my United ad campaign/slogan.

What U-A should do for their new campaign is at least one spot featuring some facinating and beautiful and handsome United Mileage Plus members from this forum. We are their best spokespersons.

Just put all the U-A Flyertalkers in a upper deck area and let us talk about United! :0

Or just run a tape of the PIP Express, because we were all "UNITED FOR A BETTER JOURNEY!" l(

RichG
Jan 8, 00, 12:04 pm
I'm with Catman on this one, even though he'd find the journey even better if they had Pepsi instead of Coke. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

United should pay close attention to the fact that, to this day, any mention of the Friendly Skies always gets a smile from UA employees.

[This message has been edited by RichG (edited 01-08-2000).]


Danial
Jan 12, 00, 12:16 am
"United for a better journey", my FOOT, Most UA employees in Asia just don't know how to treat a 1K properly.
For example, in SIN, she demands a 500 upgrade cert for United Shuttle (LAX-SFO) and I told her politely that United doesn't take any certs for United Shuttle from 1K pax. Then she ask me again, show me your 1K membership booklet. I told her again and my patience is also running out, I am a new 1K as of 14th Nov 1999 and United has not send me anything and even till today none arrived.
She then called up someone to verify and also failed to get any answer. By the time, she could open up her mouth, I gave my lecture to her in a higher tone and she back down. After standing 20 minutes for checkin and 10 minutes with her, I don't think a 1K deserve to wait that long just to get boarding passes. Do we need to carry membership booklet?, not to me, every United employee who are at the checkin counters should and shall know what 1K's are entitle to. I will only carry if I need something like from hotels as they are not United and will of course not know what are the benefits.
In NRT, how many of 1K's/1P's travel in and out of NRT and when the flights are almost full (not 100% full), they will assign someone to sit in the middle next to you. And when you go around the plane after taking off, mind you, there are many more empty middle seats in the back. They seems to take things easy when they see the front seats are empty, snap, they just assign someone without even bother to see if that seat rows are 1K's or 1P's.
So, anybody willing to share their UNunited story here. I think it will never end here. I am so jealous especially to the US 1K's that they are really being taken care of and pamper with when I was in SEA, SFO, and LAX 1K room to watch and admire the angels who just do anything they can do for their 1K's. In Asia, the only answer they know is .... CAN NOT, fare change, pay change fee and etc.

Rudi
Jan 12, 00, 8:49 am
confirmed upgrages on UA shuttle need certificates - the free upgrade to 1K's is only on a stand-by at check-in basis.

danville 1K
Jan 12, 00, 9:20 am
Rudi, I'm not sure what the rule book says, but I fly the Shuttle with some frequency. I always request an upgrade at the time of booking and 98% of the time am confirmed in FC 100 hours ahead.

I've never been asked for an upgrade certificate at check-in.



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Robert Johnson
danville 1K

Danial
Jan 12, 00, 6:49 pm
I did checkin at the SMF airport last week and I did ask the wonderful agent and she said and I quote her again, 1K pax doesn't need to hand over the upgrade certs for United Shuttle.
But Rudi too is right based on the statement on UA website, "The special offer allowing 1K members to upgrade on United Shuttle flights at the gate with no certificate, if space is available".
But like Danville says if yours are cleared within 100 hours, it is UA computer whom upgrade 1K first, and not us. I think what the statement above meant was if you need to upgrade well in advance before even the 100 hours, then of course one needs a certificate or mileage to do it.
I may be a 1K for a few months now but like I say earlier on, the American UA agents know better than any other regions like Asia and if Rudi is from Europe, then my guess is every UA staff outside the US are .... they just don't care "show me the certs".
I am only standing for our rights as a 1K no matter where we are and not to be taken lightly from UA staff. If we can't even tell United to trained and properly informed their international agents, then just forget it. Anyone wants to comment on this.

jeffreyt
Jan 12, 00, 7:38 pm
Regarding United's new ad campaign:

Yawn

dw
Jan 12, 00, 9:28 pm
Frankly I thought the ending was a little cheesy: "It's important for the *human race* to stay... United."

seeyou
Jan 12, 00, 11:10 pm
Will labor strife put UA's new ads in the same vein as UA Rising ?
The pilots will be looking to get their pay back to pre-ESOP days. What will UA's service be like ?



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