Spirit airlines, a low cost air carrier, is taking advantage of the sex scandal with New York City mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner in its new ad campaign, according to the Huffington Post. This latest ad campaign is called the Big Weiner Sale.
"Check out our BIG Weiner Sale boasting fares just too hard to resist," the airline wrote in one of its ads. The ads were sent to customers through email on Tuesday. "Hurry to book now before this sale gets hacked."
Former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner famously sent Twitter photos of himself during an inappropriate online relationship that led to his resignation as U.S. representative. More recently, during his mayoral campaign, additional inappropriate photos have come out showing that Weiner has continued to have inappropriate online relationships.
Apparently, Spirit Airlines couldn't resist the puns.
"Carlos Danger in a Spirit Airlines production, 'The Weiner Rises Again,'" reads another of Spirit Airlines ads. "Critics say: Best acting since Don Mexico."
The ad even features a video version. The sale is advertising flight for $9 each way.
Henry Blodgett from the Daily Ticker calls it a terrible marketing plan. Brad Adgate, the Senior Vice President of Research for Horizon Media, agrees, though he also says that any news is good news in advertising.
"You want people talking about your brand," Brad Adgate, the Senior Vice President of Research for Horizon Media, said. "We live in a social media world where this thing is sent virally.
"I mean, Anthony Weiner knows that better than anybody," Adgate continued.
"It generally takes less than an hour for people to jump on the trend," Marc Cowlin, a spokesman for Cafe Press, said. "This was the case with Anthony Weiner's announcement...and now there are more than 2,500 products relating to 'Weinergate' available."
Cafe Press has t-shirts and bumper stickers with slogans such as "Weinergate" and "don't tweet your meat."
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
