United Ad Confuses Shanghai & Kyoto
#16
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: AS MVPG, HH Diamond
Posts: 232
True, though it looks like they sent a crew there to film (or else really lucked out on stock video matching the style of the other clips) so either the folks editing it didn't know where the filming took place or, and I'd bet this is more likely, the ad team just figured it looked "close enough" and since they wanted to promote Shanghai, they put on a graphic for Shanghai.
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,969
Not a stupid question, but this is not just some random all-purpose "stock image" scenery for Asia. It's the famous Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, and given the complicated history between China and Japan, this would be something akin to captioning footage of the Taj Mahal with 'Pakistan'.
The ad reminds me of the old UA "we are singing your songs" commercial. I can't find it on youtube - something similar to this but not exactly:
Kind of sad the point is to brag their global reach, yet they don't understand the cultural implications.
#18
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,856
Here in California (where many ads are filmed) we are very used to some of our scenery being "misattributed"
Frequently see add scenes for non-California locals of locations from California.
Frequently see add scenes for non-California locals of locations from California.
#20
formerly skyccord
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: United Premier Platinum, Hertz President Circle, Marriott/SPG Premier Plat Elite, Avis Preferred
Posts: 269
#22
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: New Yawk
Programs: Delta Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, Mosaic 3, ⓥ for the animals
Posts: 477
There's a 30 Rock episode where they joked about shows supposed to be set in New York but clearly in California. In one scene, Liz is supposed to be in a Horse and Carriage in Central Park, but you can clearly see the palm trees in the background.
#23
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,603
Let's not forget "Murder, She Wrote" which was set in Cabot Cove, a fictional town in Maine. The opening of each episode featured Angela Landsbury biking or walking around Mendocino, CA.
#24
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 969
UA would send stuff by mail with the address "Hong Kong, Japan". Took a loooooooong time get here. At least the Japanese remember where they invaded.
#25
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
Had you posted this about a month ago, you would have been right, but KIX is back in business! Actually not a bad airport, and really easy train ride into Kyoto Station (or places on other lines). KIX is actually closer to Kyoto than NRT is to Tokyo...
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,462
A lot of airports are closer to their nominal cities than are NRT and Tokyo.
#29
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: UA GS ,QF Plat
Posts: 686
General Disclaimer ...I am not an expert in Bamboo /or Bamboo forests...I have just been to a few
Last edited by wanderingkev; Nov 5, 2018 at 3:16 pm Reason: typo