You've got to hand it to Virgin America. They're really trying to break through the clutter of a crowded industry and differentiate themselves as a hip and with-it airline that gets how fliers like to be treated. Take the recent launch of the airline's dedicated YouTube channel. They could have done the typical lame-o corporate thing and just put all their TV commercials on it, but instead they've got content that you might actually want to watch. Okay, maybe we're a little hung over today, but we just spent 4:39 viewing a refreshing take on the airline safety video shown before every flight. It covers all the required stuff, of course, from finding the nearest exit to strapping the oxygen mast on yourself before helping your kid, but it does it with just enough cheekiness to get you to pay attention. To demonstrate the seat belts, for example, the video shows a clueless cartoon matador sitting next to a bored-looking bull as the voice over guy says "for the point zero zero zero one percent of you who have never operated a seat belt before, it works like this." (Note to the matador community: Virgin America thinks you are unsophisticated.) Other videos on the site include a mini-promo on the Virgin America and Virgin Galactic Race for Space, footage from the launch party for its San Francisco service, and the Victoria's Secret In-flight fashion show. And for airplane geeks, there are several videos of Virgin America jets flying over scenic landscapes like San Francisco, the Bay Area, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Yosemite, all set to a background of chillax music. It's kind of like those "Visions of ... " shows they have on PBS, except with cooler tunes and a Virgin America jet in every shot.
Related Stories:
· Virgin America YouTube Channel [Official Site]
· Virgin America Coverage [Jaunted]]]>
Delta's marketing sensation, flight attendant Katherine Lee, made a huge splash when she appeared in the airline's new safety video. And now she's back, prettying up the carrier's newish Flickr page. (That's "American Idol" singer Josh Gracin at right.)
You can also get more of Katherine on Delta's YouTube channel, where she hosts a new video guide to Atlanta. Something tells us it might rack up more views than this marginally useful guide to Paris. Check it out post-click.]]>
The men who are allegedly responsible for orchestrating the plot to blow up transatlantic flights with liquid explosives are currently on trial in Britain--and they say the whole thing is a big misunderstanding.
Abdulla Ahmed Ali, the accused ringleader of the would-be bombers, says he and his terrorist homies were simply working on a "publicity stunt." Ali told a British court that the videotaped confessions police found with him and his fellow terror suspects were just supposed to be part of a video for YouTube.
Even if Ali really is guilty of nothing more than dreams of internet celebrity, his bomb plot is the reason air travelers now have to deal with all those complicated liquid rules, which are pretty much the worst thing ever. Terrorist or not, there's no forgiving him for that.
Related Stories:
· Airline Plot Was "Publicity Stunt" [The Sun]
· Airport Security coverage [Jaunted]]]>
Ah, Eurovision. Such a quirky invention, and the world might not have ABBA if it wasn't for the quirky contest. The 2008 Eurovision scene is starting to heat up, with the semi-final allocations taking place last month. This year's Eurovision will be held in Belgrade with 43 competing nations: San Marino and Azerbaijan are new, but Austria's decided to pull out because they reckon the whole thing's unfair.
And unfair it probably is, but we just love seeing the weird things that countries vote as their best song. In Ireland at the moment, one of the frontrunner candidates is a turkey. Unfortunately not a live turkey that they've taught to sing--that would actually be cool--but this sad looking puppet instead. His name is Dustin and he's from a kid's TV program, and he's our secret tip to be a Eurovision finalist this year. Watch this space.
Related Stories:
· Puppet Gives Two Fingers to Eurovision [news.com.au]
· Eurovision Coverage [Jaunted]]]>
How did we not already hear about this?! Apparently a couple that met on a Virgin America flight on New Year's Eve is now vlogging their relationship. (That or the pair is virally marketing the airline!)
The initial video introduces them, and then things start getting weird. A still-frame clip set to "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" is from what looks to be a creepy road trip to Santa Cruz. The pair goes camping in Joshua Tree National Park. And things start getting really strange when Alexandria drives Harlan to an airport on "Day 26." What's next? WHO KNOWS??
UPDATE: We just got off the phone with Sir Richard Branson himself as he's about to step on for an interview with Jimmy Kimmel. The big man assures us that these videos are real and not produced by VA.
Related Stories:
· We Met on Virgin [Official Site]
· In-Flight Dating on SkyEurope [Jaunted]
· Airline Dating Tested by Lisa Loeb [Jaunted]
· Global Warming Travel: No Joshua Trees National Park [Jaunted]]]>
Passengers have all sorts of takes on Southwest's new fare system and its new boarding procedure, and though the reaction so far doesn't sound too, too critical to us, maybe CEO Gary Kelly hears something we don't.
To preemptively stamp out passenger concern--and show how hip to technology he is--Kelly's taken to YouTube to explain why Southwest is shaking things up. Luckily for him, the video isn't an emotional apology for massive service disruptions.
Related Stories:
· Flight Review: Southwest's New Boarding Policy [Jaunted]
· Southwest Airlines coverage [Jaunted]]]>
The San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau is jumping into the YouTube game with an update from agency president David Peckinpaugh. San Diego is "ready and open for business," he says. Also on camera is a family of three visiting from Dayton, Ohio that hasn't had any trouble due to the fires.
We have to hand it to the SDCVB for embracing technology to get the word out, and tourism dollars can certainly help recovery efforts. But the video has that classic tourism marketing sheen that says, "Fires? What fires?" A deeper look at SoCal's post-wildfire situation might leave us feeling a little more informed.
Related Stories:
· San Diego Attractions Reopening As SoCal Recovers [SDCVB]
· Is Amanda Bynes a Hotel Diva? [HotelChatter]
· US Airways Eyeing Colombia Flights [USA Today]
· Visitors Too Fat For "It's A Small World" [Consumerist]
· Leisure Travel and Costs on the Rise [AP, via Mercury News]]]>