Mile High Marketing

It’s a new year, y’all! Each year new trends and innovations cause the marketing industry to evolve – which leaves brands scrambling to keep up.

Looking back at 2014, there were a few airline brands that caught our eye in making major marketing advancements and pushing the boundaries of conventional marketing in the industry with creative digital content.

Southwest

Major takeaway of 2014: The airline reinvigorated its logo

Diverging from the comparatively sterile logo with an airplane graphic, the new logo displays an airline-blue typeface punctuated by a small, striped heart. Simple and modern.

“The heart emblazoned on our aircraft, and within our new look, symbolizes our commitment that we’ll remain true to our core values as we set our sights on the future,” says Southwest Chairman, President, and CEO Gary Kelly. [source]

Jet Blue

Major takeaway of 2014: Jet Blue’s #FlightEtiquette video series

Jet Blue gets social to show their spunky side, posting videos to Twitter with the hashtag #FlightEtiquette. The videos depict awkward situations we’re all too familiar with: having to use the restroom while your neighbor is sleeping in the aisle seat — do you crawl over them? Wake them up? Hold it? The videos bring a bit of levity to the often poor associations we all make with in-flight neighbors.

That moment during a flight when things can get plane awkward. How do you handle it? #FlightEtiquette https://t.co/eJ804KtgSL

— JetBlue Airways (@JetBlue) January 2, 2015

You've been in their shoes (seat) before. How do you handle it? #FlightEtiquette https://t.co/H1sd2F776x

— JetBlue Airways (@JetBlue) January 7, 2015

Delta

Major takeaway of 2014: Delta revamped its pre-flight video into something worth watching

Delta amped up its sense of humor in its new pre-flight safety videos. No more run-of-the-mill pantomimes by fight attendants. Instead, Delta shares its safety and security info through a video of a flight attendant narrating her usual spiel, intercut with amusing clips of people “acting out” the regulation. For example, the “no smoking” reminder is paired with video of a disgruntled passenger with a T-bone steak on his lap, who slams shut the smoker grill he’d carried-on. Silly, cute, and much more entertaining than a traditional, live-action safety monologue.

What do you think about these advancements in airline marketing?