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Title: Is Southwest's "Model Plane" In Poor Taste? (Guys Ya Better Look And See)
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Published: Feb 12, 2009
Author: wired
Post Date: 2009-02-12 09:47:05 by tom007
Keywords: None
Views: 270
Comments: 11
Is Southwest's "Model Plane" In Poor Taste? By Keith Barry EmailFebruary 11, 2009 | 11:43:03 PM Sione_051 In a promotional tie-in with Sports Illustrated, Southwest Airlines has plastered the exterior of one of their 737s with a massive image of Swimsuit Issue cover model Bar Refaeli. The plane's new, temporary livery debuted at LaGuardia airport yesterday with a live appearance from Refaeli in the shadow of her 100-foot-long nearly-nude likeness. "This definitely seals the deals on Southwest Airlines’ FUN and edgy factor!" Southwest spokesperson Christi Day gushed on the airline's official blog. "It is an absolutely beautiful plane, and hopefully you'll get to travel on this sometime soon!" After witnessing Southwest's previous co-promotion with Sea World featuring plane-size renderings of Shamu the whale, we'll have to agree that "SI One" is edgy, indeed. We also want to warn anyone with a ticket for seat 4A that you might feel kind of skeezy looking out a window in the middle of a giant bra. Day calls the reveal of SI One "one of the coolest plane events ever!" but more than a few commenters disagree. Many found the image degrading to women, while others worried what Grandma and Junior would think when they saw SI One pull up to the gate. Indeed, the advertising campaign may come as a shock to all who thought the "coffee, tea, or me?" days of stewardesses in short skirts ended with in-flight smoking. "Southwest never claimed to have first class but I've never thought of them as low class," wrote one user. "Promoting SI on a plane is fine, but how about putting an SI cover with Venus Williams holding up a Wimbeldon trophy instead?" asked another. We were especially interested by the remarks of a poster who claimed to be a Southwest employee. "SkyGuy" commented on SI One in light of the ridiculous story of Kyla Ebbert, a 23 year old who was famously reprimanded by a Southwest employee for dressing provocatively. "After the whole Kyla debacle this makes our company look hypocritical," he wrote. Still, our favorite comment is from user "Don," who wonders "how many teen-age boys are fare paying customers." We're also sure a few planespotters found the flight noteworthy only because it landed at LaGuardia. Your turn: Will you be drooling at the gate windows or protesting at Southwest headquarters? Photo courtesy Southwest Airlines
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 8.
#2. To: tom007 (#0)
Why couldn't they put an American girl on the plane?? Have we offshored ALL of our jobs????
Hey now... Gurls are gurls, never mind the details. heheheheh
She's Israeli.
Sheesh. I agree with you. I have been boycotting Israel, as much as I can, for years.
tom... We need to repent and boycott Southwest.
How's the lump holding out - is she awake yet?
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#3. To: Lady X (#2)
Why couldn't they put an American girl on the plane??
#4. To: Cynicom (#3)
#6. To: Lady X (#4)
She's Israeli.
#7. To: tom007 (#6)
#8. To: Cynicom (#7)
Replies to Comment # 8.