US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-2005 America West merger) - New tray-table "enhancement"

Brought to you by the same folks that have already removed Powerports from A32X planes, we'll now be greeted with ads on the tray-tables on planes.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/9/prweb287354.htm

And the "enhancements" continue to roll in...

This may be good. They may have to promise to keep the tray tables clean to enhance legibility. That would be a change.

Next thing you know the safety video will have commercials.

It doesn't bother me at all. I think it is a plus for two reasons: 1) it brings more money to the airline and 2) it gives me something to look at instead of a blah color try :)

It doesn't bother me at all. I think it is a plus for two reasons: 1) it brings more money to the airline and 2) it gives me something to look at instead of a blah color try :)

It also provides a new target for the ink pen marks.

Yeah especially when we don't like what they're advertising....

you know - if it keeps fares low, this isnt really that bad as long as they aren't too obnoxious looking

This is no surprise. The tray table concept has been around at America West for some time now. What is the big deal? It does bring in additional revenue.

I think some will probably hope they don't get to see the same scenery out the window from the press release though :rolleyes: I think someone needs to rethink that a bit.... :td:

I think some will probably hope they don't get to see the same scenery out the window from the press release though :rolleyes: I think someone needs to rethink that a bit.... :td:

yea that's seriously morbid post 9/11

I am just tired of seeing ads. Admittedly, I work in PR, so I see promotional material all day long, day-in and day-out. But I would just like to be able to go 20 dadgum seconds without being told to buy things. [/rant]

Anyway, just a technical question, are there ads on the back of the tables, i.e., what you see at take off and landing?

Next thing you know the safety video will have commercials.

It will be really funny if they had a commercial break during safety video :D




well... for maybe not.

Just to mention that the ads won't be on the F trays.


Anyway, just a technical question, are there ads on the back of the tables, i.e., what you see at take off and landing?

No just when you're using the table tray. When it's in the up position it looks like any other table tray.

Anyway, just a technical question, are there ads on the back of the tables, i.e., what you see at take off and landing?
As Byrd said, no. But HP thanks you for the idea....That's twice the number of ad space...

Personally I don't don't mind the ads on the tray tables. If someone wants to give the airlines money and it helps keep them flying and my costs down, put ads on the tray tables. I know some people think we are one step away from Nascar but in the grand scheme of things as long as they don't put commercials in the "middle" of the movies then it doesn't bother me. Heck we already paint our planes with designs for sports teams...why not get a sardine company to sponser all the CRJs and have them painted to resemble a Sardine Can? I'm sure they could make one of the 757s look like a nice big bottle of Pepsi/Coke (whichever wins the bidding war). Or maybe a package of XOXO's??? :D

Lance

This is no surprise. The tray table concept has been around at America West for some time now. What is the big deal? It does bring in additional revenue.


Yea, the cheap-ening of US Airways ala America West style has begun. Next the US Airways website will be displaying the big Saab ad right at the top. This is an airline, not a car dealership.

America West already had advertisemnts on the video demo, well after it and druing flight for ColdStone Creamery and others that say 'America West is our Airline of Choice" so. . . .

coming to a seat back near you. . . . . aicCommercials!

Personally, advertisements don't really bother me. They are everywhere already anyway. As many others have already said, they bring in additional revenue, which should help keep fares down (and, hopefully, the airline afloat). There are actually many other avenues for advertisements onboard an aircraft (ie: overhead bins, the bulkhead walls, etc.). Heck, even the crew's uniform can be plastered with sponsors willing to pay a premium. In this day and age, it's all about bringing more revenue to cover your costs, and I am all for moves that don't jeopardize safety or customer service. Think about it, what would you rather have? A friendly FA on a clean aircraft plastered with advertisements or a rude FA on a plain, dirty aircraft? Your choice.

LAX

Advertising on tray tables is a horrible idea! Not only is it annoying, but its very unprofessional. It takes away from the flight experience, it just keeps reminding me of wal-mart! Uhhhh!

Heck we already paint our planes with designs for sports teams...why not get a sardine company to sponser all the CRJs and have them painted to resemble a Sardine Can? I'm sure they could make one of the 757s look like a nice big bottle of Pepsi/Coke (whichever wins the bidding war). Or maybe a package of XOXO's??? :D

Lance

Here in DC, some of the subway cars have been entirely painted over on the outside with advertisements for extra revenue. McDonalds is one of the advertisers.

As I truly love US Airways, this is not very aesthetic, and it makes me barf when I here that this is actually going to hapen. Im truly excited about the US Airways Merger as it opens routes to the world, but some thins I just dont like! THIS IS ONE OF THEM! Im curious if they will but ads in the F cabin on trays! I have 5 more ideas on how you could possibly advertise on the airplane. I will be keeping them to myself. Lets hop the the new team is dumb enough not to figure them out.

Well folks just like the moderator of FT of the AWA portion said, we are going to have to forget about the old us airways, as this will follow the awa model.

We still got until Sep 27 to object! Anyone up for it!

It takes away from the flight experience, it just keeps reminding me of wal-mart! Uhhhh!

There hasn't been a "flight experience" on US since just after September 11th. Welcome to the new reality. But as the old saying goes...ya pays fer whats ya gets.

I wouldn't wish any merger or company to fail because they put ads on tray tables.

Big deal, so what if they do put em in? Most likely there will be at least one of the following items covering the ads so its a non-issue:

- Laptop (covers the entire tray)
- CD Player
- Beverage w/ napkin
- Minis
- Snacks
- Meal tray

(yeah, those last 3 depend a bit on if you ride in the back or the front of the bus :D )

The trays in Y are a fairly easy thing to replace as they're external. The FC trays may not be so easy to replace and I'm guessing for some type of "luxury" feeling they may want to keep them their normal off-white color.

I flew Airtran back in '04 and they had Hertz materials and other types of ads on the plane. It didn't make one bit of difference during my flight as I got from BWI-ROC safely and ontime.

-JC

I am ROTFLMAO at the people that believe ads on the tray tables (only when they are lowered) are somehow cheapening your "flight experience!" :rolleyes:

When's the last time you had a truly pampered flight in First? Certainly wasn't on any domestic carrier.

Frankly I forgot HP was doing this until a couple of months ago. They are unobtrusive and the ads I finally noticed were for a resort in Scottsdale (No FF freebie upgrades there, figure on a $700 day spend on your stay) and one for America West vacations.

I'll complain about advertising when I see it on an int'l F flight when I am paying F class fare. How's the saying go? "Snowball's chance in....." :D

I know how many of you guys feel. I was raging in the exact same way when I found out HP was going to do this a year or so ago.

However, to tell the truth I really don't notice them. They're not that obvious.

If you fly a lot of short hauls you'll only see them for the short bev service, and you'll never see them if you sit up front.

Ads bug me at times. I used to really look forward to Hank Williams pre-Monday Night Football tune, but this year its basically an ad for GMC trucks and it bugs me so much I now skip it. Commercials during the game, I often look forward to.

Still when I have my G&T in a glass on top of a tray table with ads, I'll have to see how much it bothers me.

Advertising on tray tables is a horrible idea! Not only is it annoying, but its very unprofessional. It takes away from the flight experience, it just keeps reminding me of wal-mart! Uhhhh!


Oh yes I too miss the "flight experience" of yesteryear. When men wore 3 piece suits and ladies were dressed in silk or satin dresses. Flight Attendants, oh excuse me, Stewardesses wore cute little hats tilted on the peak of their head. Looking oh so perky. Oh and the champagne flowed with the lobster dinners. The stewardess would come to your seat and place lovely slippers on your feet to make you feel real comfortable too. I miss those days.

:rolleyes:


"Flight experience" definition in 2005............Get me from point A to point B. Be ontime and don't loose my luggage. And don't rape me with overpriced fares. Because I have to repeat this weekly and my time and money is valuable.

Lord I love infrequent flyers.


:rolleyes:

When's the last time you had a truly pampered flight in First? Certainly wasn't on any domestic carrier.


United PS between SFO-JFK, beats international business on many carriers.

"Flight experience" definition in 2005............Get me from point A to point B. Be ontime and don't loose my luggage. And don't rape me with overpriced fares. Because I have to repeat this weekly and my time and money is valuable.

Lord I love infrequent flyers.


:rolleyes:
You Better Not Be Talking About Me!! Yes, there isn't much "experience" on the airplane any more, but adds on t.t.'s just seem so trashy! I fly a lot, and i know how annoying it can be. Yea everybody knows the flight attendants don't wear tilted hats, but to me flying is something great no matter how small my seat or how rude the crew is.

You Better Not Be Talking About Me!! Yes, there isn't much "experience" on the airplane any more, but adds on t.t.'s just seem so trashy! I am as frequent as flyers get!
I will feel trashy flying with a company using the name "US Airways", so I guess that makes us equal. Brrrr! I can never let my clients know that I am slumming it. :rolleyes:

Well Bud, get used to it. I'll be the guy pulling down $1.6M/yr sitting next to you with the Treo 650 plugged in during loading, listening to Ultimate Fakebook, Unwritten Law, Pepper, Train, Trapt and a load of bands you will roll your nose up at. Advertising on trays makes you feel trashy? How do you think I feel sitting next to you? I am sooooooo damned glad that I will never live in the USA East of PHX. AMS and PHX are the perfect match for me.

Let's stay on topic and avoid getting personal; this has always been a pretty civil board. I also don't care how much you make. If you want to be hostile, take it to OMNI.

What makes me laugh is the marketing company's assertion that the ads will reach an "affluent and captive audience". Captive, yes. But affluent? Advertising in a platform catering to those search for the lowest price is not targeting affluence. The airline's numerous steps to direct the business traveller away from its planes tells me that there are better ways for those types of advertisers to reach their markets.

What makes me laugh is the marketing company's assertion that the ads will reach an "affluent and captive audience". Captive, yes. But affluent? Advertising in a platform catering to those search for the lowest price is not targeting affluence. The airline's numerous steps to direct the business traveller away from its planes tells me that there are better ways for those types of advertisers to reach their markets.

It's relative. US certainly isn't targeting the trailer park crowd.

Well Bud, get used to it. I'll be the guy pulling down $1.6M/yr sitting next to you with the Treo 650 plugged in during loading, listening to Ultimate Fakebook, Unwritten Law, Pepper, Train, Trapt and a load of bands you will roll your nose up at. Advertising on trays makes you feel trashy? How do you think I feel sitting next to you? I am sooooooo damned glad that I will never live in the USA East of PHX. AMS and PHX are the perfect match for me.
FYI, bragging about how much money you make is a sure-fire way to offend Dutch people.

FYI, bragging about how much money you make is a sure-fire way to offend Dutch people.

I obviously wasn't responding to a Dutch person as he's trying to sound holier than thou. BTW, I am Dutch and meant that as a poke in the eye to someone who obviously feels they are better than others, and not to brag. There are several US Air customers that are making these sorts of statements on FlyerTalk and all I can do is roll my eyes and thank God that I don't live in the eastern part of the US as this "I am better than you" attitude seems to be prevalent there. It makes me feel glad that the Dutch rid themselves of the eastern US and got the Brits stuck there! :D