Ahead of the summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, United Airlines has released a new ad to celebrate its 40th anniversary of sponsoring Team USA. The ad features a new slogan, “Time to Let Yourself Fly.”
United Airlines “Time to Let Yourself Fly” Ad
The new ad stars five members of the U.S. Olympics team, which will shortly compete for glory in the pandemic-delayed 2020 Olympic Games:
- Simone Biles – Gymnast from Houston, Texas, and the world’s most decorated female gymnast in history
- Kolohe Andino – Surfer from San Clemente, California, who holds the record for most championship titles in U.S. surfing history
- Julie Ertz – Soccer Defender from Mesa, Arizona, and two-time World Cup champion
- Jessica Long – Swimmer from Baltimore, Maryland, and 23-time Paralympic medalist
- Oz Sanchez – Road Cyclist from San Diego, California, and six-time Paralympic medalist
You can watch the 30-second ad here:
Vocally, the ad features only one sentence, “It’s finally time to let yourself fly” and the double entendre is quite clear. Not only is this ad referring to Team USA flying off the starting line in competitive races, but an invitation to return to the skies as the United States full re-opens and the world gradually re-opens.
It’s a good ad, though failing to use George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue seems to me to always be a missed opportunity.
Janet Lamkin, United’s Senior Vice President of Market and Community Innovation, noted:
“The upcoming Olympic and Paralympic games mark the 40th year we’ve supported Team USA on their journey from practice to the podium. Like the athletes we’ve flown over the years to compete on a global stage, United is an airline committed to doing the hard work to be the best and engage deeply in the communities we serve.”
Passengers flying United this summer in premium cabins can expect limited-edition Team USA amenity kits and pajamas.
CONCLUSION
United Airlines has a new Team USA ad to commemorate the 40th anniversary of its sponsorship of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. But the real message of the ad is that after 1.5 years, it is time to fly again.
It’s interesting that UA let their sponsorship agreement with the US Olympic Team lapse after 40 years. The winter / summer games moving forward will be sponsored by DL…also seems like a huge missed opportunity
Delta paid a fortune for the rights … $400m, to be exact.
BOB, DELTA NEEDS TO CONCENTRATE ON ITS OLD OUTDATED FLEET!
DELTA, CURRENTLY DESPERATE FOR “USED AIRCRAFT”
DELTA KEEPS PUTTING LIPSTICK ON A PIG!
MUST SAY, DELTA PAYS SOME GOOD INFLUENCER’S!
Other then the athletes, the media and Vice President spectators won’t be going to the Olympics this year.
Cringe.