United Airlines is stepping up its advertising in Denver, with a new citywide ad campaign intended to highlight United’s ties to the Mile High City and distinguish it from Southwest Airlines.
United Airlines Launches New Denver Ad Campaign
Over the last decade, Denver has been a profitable hub for United. In fact, in 2016 United admitted Denver was its most profitable hub. But we’ve seen an aggressive buildup from Southwest Airlines and Frontier Airlines. While Frontier Airlines poses less of a threat, Southwest has targeted many bread and butter routes for United and has also teased new nonstop service to Hawaii.
In response, United has not only ramped up Denver service but introduced a new “Accept nothing less than Mile High Standards” campaign that touts United’s nonstop flights, punctuality, and deeper ties to the community. The ad campaign further pokes fun at Southwest’s lack of assigned seating and upgrades.
A United spokesperson tells me that the ads will be steadily rolling out through the summer on airport billboards and screens, downtown kiosks, and wrapped around commuter trains and light rail. There will also be TV spots, online ads, and “audio on Spotify including a custom-curated playlist with a mix of local artists and travel-inspired music.”
Here’s a look at some of the upcoming new ads:
CONCLUSION
Denver is a competitive market and I’m hearing that United wants to be more aggressive in its Denver buildup. Beyond the new ad campaign, watch this space for updates on new routes from Denver, which could be a lot more exciting than this ad campaign.
Smart move, UNITED rising
Feels like 1995 era competition but well positioned this time
A rebirth of the United Rising campaign would have indeed been cool.
The old Texas Air/Continental/UA vs Southwest battle, still playing out.
UA is clearly the superior option. The premium cabins and the nonstop service. That is why we fired WN here in Houston and started flying UA, despite living MUCH closer to Hobby. WN has no premium cabins and the route network is not sufficient.. Had they kept the premium cabin (could have used the business select fares for that) when they bought Air Tran and added even a few long haul routes, we’d likely be still flying WN.
Seems like a better approach might be a redux of the ‘Denver, You Mean The World To Us’ promotion from 15 years ago.
Southwest is the Greyhound of the skies…no one can disagree with that.. but flying to Hawaii it’s a vacation and flying over in a “cattle car” is not the way I want to start our annual vacation to the islands.
Hawaiian Air and Alaska beats them all.
I’d argue that Frontier is the Greyhound of the skies.
The seat ad isn’t great because it should read: Choose a seat if you buy a fare that we allow you to choose a seat for or pay for it. UA will match basic fares to Southwest fares.
I’d argue that Spirit is the Greyhound of the skies.
WN: Free cancellations, free checked luggage.
I haven’t seen anyone “run for a seat” on SWA and don’t know how they could.
One minor quibble: most airlines, including United, have waived change fees now on all but basic economy tickets (and even basic economy tickets are currently changeable for free)