Airline cashes in on Weiner scandal

 

Spirit Airlines offers a "Weiner Sale" themed to Congressman Anthony Weiner's sex-photo scandal.

 

MIAMI — Spirit Airlines is tapping into U.S. Congressman Anthony Weiner's growing infamy.

Touting $9 fares, the Florida-based airline announced "The Weiner Sale" on its website and in promotional emails with a photo of a hot dog with the subject line: "Want To See Our Weiner?"

At no point did Spirit's Tuesday announcement specifically mention the Democratic congressman from New York and his crotch-photo sex scandal — the company didn't need to.

For those who've been following Weiner's downfall, the references were loud and clear.

"Hurry to book now," the Spirit website read. "Before this sale gets hacked."

Spirit has made a habit of releasing current events-centered ads and promotional campaigns while pushing the boundaries of good taste. The company took some criticism when, during the BP oil spill disaster, a Spirit ad featured a sunscreen-covered sunbather and the teaser: "Check out the oil on our beaches."

Spirit CEO Ben Baldanza, in an interview with Airline Weekly a couple of years ago, said the company practices "shock marketing" to keep advertising costs low: "People get the email and forward it to their friends ... "

"They're quick decision-makers in the sense of 'Why not take advantage of this?' " said Arun Sharma, a marketing professor at the University of Miami. In addition to generating a plethora of media mentions, Sharma said Spirit had packaged the promotion well by prominently mentioning its low-cost fares.

Sharma dismissed the possibility of a backlash from customers who are a little, uh, uncomfortable with the sale's theme.

"These kinds of promotions do not seem to offend the general public," Sharma said. "They chuckle over things like this."

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