Southwest Sued by Producers of the Price is Right

[tonyw]

Seems like they think it's a little too close to their show.

http://www.brandweek.com/bw/news/rec...03794089&imw=Y
GSD&M Idea City, an Austin, Texas-based agency that holds major accounts like BMW, Southwest Airlines and the AARP, this week was named in a lawsuit that alleges the agency used a song similar to the hit game show's The Price Is Right for a Southwest Airlines TV ad.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, presents Southwest Airlines as a co-defendant and asserts that the advertising "is likely to cause confusion, deception and mistake" among consumers.

The broadcast spot, called "Spin & Win," portrays a hurried passenger approaching an airline counter to ask about his flight. Two attendants launch into game show mode and the passenger is asked by the attendants to spin a wheel for a shot to win a seat on a larger plane. Meanwhile, a variation of "The Price Is Right" theme song plays. "On Southwest, you'll never fly on a small plane," the narrator says. "We guarantee that every seat on every flight is on a big, comfortable Boeing 737."

The theme song playing is probably what got them in trouble.

And they should be sued for false advertising, anyway.

Their seats are NOT comfortable. Unless you're in business or first, no airplane seat is comfortable!

[darrenf]

Originally Posted by tonyw

Seems like they think it's a little too close to their show.

http://www.brandweek.com/bw/news/rec...03794089&imw=Y
GSD&M Idea City, an Austin, Texas-based agency that holds major accounts like BMW, Southwest Airlines and the AARP, this week was named in a lawsuit that alleges the agency used a song similar to the hit game show's The Price Is Right for a Southwest Airlines TV ad.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, presents Southwest Airlines as a co-defendant and asserts that the advertising "is likely to cause confusion, deception and mistake" among consumers.

The broadcast spot, called "Spin & Win," portrays a hurried passenger approaching an airline counter to ask about his flight. Two attendants launch into game show mode and the passenger is asked by the attendants to spin a wheel for a shot to win a seat on a larger plane. Meanwhile, a variation of "The Price Is Right" theme song plays. "On Southwest, you'll never fly on a small plane," the narrator says. "We guarantee that every seat on every flight is on a big, comfortable Boeing 737."

The theme song playing is probably what got them in trouble.

And they should be sued for false advertising, anyway.

Their seats are NOT comfortable. Unless you're in business or first, no airplane seat is comfortable!

If your quoted text is accurate, they didn't say the seats are comfortable.

[Alchemy]

I think southwest is a fine airline, but I despise that advertisement, partially because it hits to close to home and partially because the aircraft type is listed right there on the website when a customer buys their ticket (this is required by federal law, I believe). I have no sympathy for people who are too lazy to research what type of plane they're flying before the make a purchase, especially when it's right there in plain english before the make the purchase. If you want to avoid a "small plane" it can usually be done by driving to a larger airport or choosing a different flight time. Small Jets and turboprops have been around for decades now, you should not be shocked about the type of aircraft you will be flying on when one shows up at the gate.

[youngflyer]

Originally Posted by Alchemy

I think southwest is a fine airline, but I despise that advertisement, partially because it hits to close to home and partially because the aircraft type is listed right there on the website when a customer buys their ticket (this is required by federal law, I believe). I have no sympathy for people who are too lazy to research what type of plane they're flying before the make a purchase, especially when it's right there in plain english before the make the purchase. If you want to avoid a "small plane" it can usually be done by driving to a larger airport or choosing a different flight time. Small Jets and turboprops have been around for decades now, you should not be shocked about the type of aircraft you will be flying on when one shows up at the gate.

QFT. I never understood while people hate small planes. It is always the people who have almost no experience with aviation. They think turbo-props and RJ's are more dangerous for absolutely no reason.

[Minuteman]

Er, what music?

[ryount45]

Originally Posted by youngflyer

QFT. I never understood while people hate small planes. It is always the people who have almost no experience with aviation. They think turbo-props and RJ's are more dangerous for absolutely no reason.

QFT, my best flying experence came on united's reginal jet. The entire plane had leather seats as well as a ton more leg room. That trip I left from ORD to Houston and it was the best 2 hour flight of my life. Then I puddle jumped from houston to San Antonio on a much larger but a lot more cramped 737 and that 45 min flight sucked in a lot of ways.

[Seggy]

Beech 1900Ds have the best flying experience for the flying public. Every seat is an aisle and a window, we have a spacious first class cabin, and they get to look out the front window.

[sixoneseven]

Sad what the world has come to. Hopefully this gets tossed out.

[tonyw]

Originally Posted by Alchemy

Small Jets and turboprops have been around for decades now, you should not be shocked about the type of aircraft you will be flying on when one shows up at the gate.

But, but, but, I want a 747 or A380 to fly me from Dallas to Austin. Anything else would be just wrong!

People are idiots. Get on the plane, sit down, shut up, and get off when it gets to the gate at your destination. If you don't like it, take the bus.

[scramjet]

Originally Posted by tonyw

But, but, but, I want a 747 or A380 to fly me from Dallas to Austin. Anything else would be just wrong!

People are idiots. Get on the plane, sit down, shut up, and get off when it gets to the gate at your destination. If you don't like it, take the bus.

Haha yeah. I seriously do agree with that. There's nothing worse then being squished in the center seat between two people bitching about the quality of service. Well, what did they expect? You get what you pay for, that's why service has gotten worse...

[Ramp Romeo]

Originally Posted by Alchemy

I have no sympathy for people who are too lazy to research what type of plane they're flying before the make a purchase, especially when it's right there in plain english before the make the purchase. If you want to avoid a "small plane" it can usually be done by driving to a larger airport or choosing a different flight time. Small Jets and turboprops have been around for decades now, you should not be shocked about the type of aircraft you will be flying on when one shows up at the gate.

Amen brother!
One of my pet peves as a ramper is when the pax on an arrival complain about how long it takes to get the gate checked bags back up.
"Well it fit in the other plane" Too bad. If You pack so much CRAP that it doesn't fit in a bin, you have to deal with the consequences. And if you honestly cared at all, you would look up what aircraft you'd be flying, and you would/should have looked up bin sizes.

[minitour]

Originally Posted by youngflyer

They think turbo-props and RJ's are more dangerous for absolutely no reason.

Maybe it's when they look up front and see two people comparing notes from third period History class that they get nervous.

sorta

-mini

[Qgar]

GOD, I love you guys! You've all said what I feel. I'm always amused when I watch people board the plane while I'm "A" FA and they stop to "stare" at the turboprops. Some of them have looks of horror on their face, some of them look confused. The comments are pretty entertaining, from "they still MAKE turboprops?" (ME - "Yes, sir...this a/c is only a week old,") to, "Is the ride smoother than a bigger a/c?" We had one gentleman yesterday who shot this question at me while boarding and then when he deplaned, shot me a nasty look and stated, "This plane is NOT smooth during turbulence!" AROO? My favorites are the ones who ask if the plane is "safe" or not.
GOD, I love my job....just for the entertainment factor alone!

[Doug Taylor]

The same guy who's afraid of riding on a turboprop is probably driving a 89 Pontiac Fiero with bald, underinflated tires.

[wayway8]

Originally Posted by tonyw

People are idiots. Get on the plane, sit down, shut up, and get off when it gets to the gate at your destination. If you don't like it, take the bus.

Brilliant!

BTW, that's my motto: People are idiots.

[darrenf]

Originally Posted by wayway8

Brilliant!

BTW, that's my motto: People are idiots.

Are you people??

[Seggy]

Chicks dig Beta

[Qgar]

Yes they do, Seggy, YES THEY DO!!!!
(And the guys that fly 'em too!!)

[SpiraMirabilis]

Originally Posted by Seggy

Chicks dig Beta

That they do... that they do. It's something about the sound or the vibrations or pheromones or something.

[Qgar]

Vibrations? I never noticed...

[germb747]

Originally Posted by Alchemy

I have no sympathy for people who are too lazy to research what type of plane they're flying before the make a purchase, especially when it's right there in plain english before the make the purchase.

Most of the general public doesn't know the difference between a Boeing 737 and an Airbus A330, so even if they see the equipment type listed, they're not going to know what the plane looks like until it pulls up to the gate. Sorry, bro, these are YOUR customers, not mine. I fly freight

[ASpilot2be]

Originally Posted by SpiraMirabilis

That they do... that they do. It's something about the sound or the vibrations or pheromones or something.

Apparently the chick sitting across the aisle from me on a Dash 8 did. On take off she had to put down her book and hold onto her headrest for the entire take off roll.