I’m a sucker for a good airline marketing campaigns and British Airways continues to impress me.
Over the last few years the BA Magic campaign has released heartwarming videos centered around bringing families together including:
Now comes the latest in the series, a video in which British Airways surprises 99 year-old Mary with a trip from England to Northern Ireland. Mary, who like British Airways turned 99 this year, had not been home in decades. It’s another touching video.
Maybe I’m just far too formal, but it made me cringe throughout the video when she was continually referred to as Mary rather than by her surname. But that did not detract from the video’s message and what BA did for her.
It made me think back to 2004 in my own my life. My grandmother was 106 years old at the time and still doing well. She had certainly slowed down, lost the vision in one eye, and was hard of hearing, but still had a sharp mind and could walk, talk, and.
I wanted to take her to Chicago once more before she passed, where she had lived from 1898 until she had moved to California in the early 1950’s. United was running 747-400s between Los Angeles and Chicago at the time and I thought that would be the perfect solution: a nice business class seat and large lavatory. But this was back in the days before complimentary space-available upgrades and I was just a student and business class fares were sky-high. I could not afford it.
I ended up making the trip with my uncle instead and we had a great time. But it always hurt me that we did not take her along. I wish I had pushed harder: the flights went out with business class half full and I bet United would have upgraded her for free had I mentioned she was 106 years old. She died two years later at age 108.
CONCLUSION
From the guy who laughs uncontrollably watching Mr. Bean and Little Britain, I suppose I like most things British. But the “BA Magic” campaign continues to pull on my heartstrings.
How about you? Did you like the video about Mary? Does this also make you cry…in a good way?
(H/T: One Mile at a Time)
Fast forward 50 years and the retirement age will be around 100. It’s nice that this old bird got to see her home town again but BA makes a bit of a welter out of these stories.
Not helped by the smarmy and unctuous Declan/Darren/whatever his name.
Longevity may be in the genes but your dear old Gran wasn’t munching on steaks /tacos/burgers/other crap seven days a week, I’d bet on it.
Thanks a million for sharing this Matthew – what a great idea from BA! loved it
Matthew, possibly they used her first name and not last because of privacy concerns? I noticed they did not use the last names of her relatives.
I agree another great job by BA. To see her gladly dive into that champagne was priceless. I bet she never thought she would fly again.
That retirement home was lovely! Take me there when I am old!
I love these videos and they are incredibly heart warming.
Can you imagine what BA would be like if the same people that produced these ran the company? BA would be a truly world class airline in every respect. Walking onboard would make one feel like they had come home.
It’s a shame that BA is no longer what they once were or could be.
It made me cry too.
At first I thought that you had flown on British Airways. But the video is a much better way to cry.
I have avoided using British Airways for years, but this is a great ad.
Mary = my own mother, a former nurse from NI who moved to England.