While Air Canada decided to poke fun at Canada itself, WestJet chose to poke fun at Air Canada.
In a response to Air Canada’s recent new “travel like a Canadian” ad campaign, WestJet is promising not to treat people like cattle…unlike the other unnamed airline.
It’s actually a cute ad. You can watch it below:
If you liked it, here is a behind-the-scenes look at how it was filmed:
WestJet is transforming itself from a regional carrier focusing on domestic and transborder flights to a network carrier. With that shift and growth comes the risk that WestJet will lose its personal touch. The point of the ad, beyond mocking Air Canada, is to assure passengers that all is okay:
Richard Bartrem, WestJet’s VP of Marketing Communications, underscored this:
We want the travelling public to know that as we become a global network carrier, we will never lose sight of the caring WestJet touch. Travel can be unpredictable and this campaign represents how we will always try to put ourselves in our guests shoes by delivering the caring guest experience that has made WestJet stand out from the herd.
The ad is creation of Rethink, a marketing company. Christina Yu, a Managing Partner at Rethink, said:
We wanted to playfully show how travel can feel when other airlines don’t treat people with the same attention and care that WestJet does. We have experienced first-hand what sets WestJet apart from the competition and we love how this campaign challenges the norms in the industry.
CONCLUSION
I love a well-done airline ad and WestJet proves here it can do more than just Christmas specials.
What do you think of the new WestJet cattle ad?
(H/T: One Mile at a Time)
Curious when they stopped overbooking? Funny ad but we are cattle on westjet just as much as we are on any other airline.
I flew WestJet recently… Decided it was no different than that other airline, however… The other airline had better tv’s and better service.
The worst service I have had on an airline has been on WEST JET. This ad is sophomoric and typical of West Jet.
New Order. Very cool.
Ok west jet is not better than any other. Please review the flight path for Sir Canada as is a same copy and pasted by Mr. Bartren . That do overbooking and facing a same issue as any other airline . Mechanicals delays . Eric. I dont find funny the commercial at all.
I’m fond of cows so I like this ad.
It’s a very compelling ad, although the CANCELLED and DELAYED screens harken more to their ULCC Swoop’s record of stranding passengers or delaying them so long that they cannot arrive at their destination or home reasonably; unlike AC which supports its’ leisure carrier rouge (and vice versa) in an irregular operation due to a mechanical issue. As WestJet grows, and their staff become more senior, it they who are facing customer service issues; meanwhile at AC through expansion and retirements, over half of the staff are hires within the past 5 years- young, eager, and recently trained customer service professionals. I wish them well, but as articles about the length of time their service takes on their new 787 Business Class, and their only recently introduced complimentary meal service in Economy on overseas flights (only on 787s!), it is clear that it will take them quite some time and training to emulate the award winning service legacy carriers have learned to deliver over the past 8 decades. As other posts here indicate, there are haters who claim they will ‘never fly on ______’, however, in an oligopoly situation price and frequent flyer loyalty is truly king, and for a savings of under $50, people’s loyalty can waver. The true Business traveller loves the perks that make frequent travel less of a burden, and their only devoted bases are Calgarians who support the hometown carrier, and those travelling to Gatwick by preference because it is closer to their intended work or family.
Cute ad but all I could think at the end was – we took excellent care of the cows. And then we killed and ate them. Meh.
Every airline likes to think they care and there’s always stories about bad experiences on every airline. When you have a people-based service industry that is trying to make a profit you will always have bad service experiences since there are always people who are not great at their job. It is what ratio of bad employees do you have, and what kind of culture does your airline foster to encourage good employees. Delta seems to be acing that.
Have you ever been on a west jet plane! Below cattle class leg room and seats are harder than barn board!
I like the cow ad. As with other Westjet ads it is creative and fun. I also happen to believe it is true as I have had much better service and feel much more like I am being treated as a hu.an than on “Scare” Canada. As to the comment from the Vegetarian…..perhaps if you would realize there would be no purpose for cattle if we didn’t eat meat or use dairy products and they would become extinct you may change your mind.
There is no difference between these 2 airlines. They treat people with very little respect and compassion. We need a major Asian or mid Eastern airline to come in and show Canada how it’s done. More competition would give the Canadian airline industry a run for its money! They are both deplorable!
We recently flew to the UK and were boarded and had to get off the plane and delayed several hours. Then sent to a different gate across the airport and then sent back to our original gate. Computer problems are better on the ground but it made for a very long day. Then a flight attendant dumped another customers half consumed drink on me with nothing but a shrug of her shoulders. The drink actually hit me in the face as well as my cloths. The same attendant continued her work like a bull in a china shop continually running her cart into the back of guests seats. Might I add here that the Dream Liner seats are the worst, most uncomfortable and cramped seats I have ever experienced. Felt like my back was broken by the time we landed in London. You also have a long way to go with your food and beverages on long haul flights.
On the return flight the attendants continued with their rough behaviour, dumping a bottle of wine off the back of a cart which was lucky to be caught by a guest with minor spillage. No apology for those who also caught the spray, just nice catch. At least the Brits had the food right.
Will not fly long haul again. There are just to many choices of airlines that do it so much better.