AirTran Not A Bud Fan

by ANN Associate Editor Rob Finfrock

No, this isn't another story about the United pilot who was pulled from the cockpit in Miami this weekend allegedly smelling of alcohol, or even those two America West guys now serving time for TWI (taxiing while intoxicated) -- although one could argue this was somewhat inspired by them.

Anheuser-Busch, the company known for its commercials that are often about as tasteful as its Budweiser and Bud Light beers, is now taking it on the chin for an advertisement mocking, of all things, pilots who work for discount airlines.

With such notable quotes as "Your minimal experience flying a plane will never land you at a reputable airline. Luckily, you don't work for one" and "You put the fly in fly-by-night operation," the advertisement saluting "Mr. Discount Airline Pilot Guy" has incurred the wrath of AirTran Airways-- the carrier formerly known as ValuJet.

The radio ad, part of the drink maker's "Real Men Of Genius" campaign (other spots have saluted "Mr. Giant Pocket Knife Inventor," "Mr. Obvious Toupee Wearer" and "Mr. Gangsta Rapper Posse Member") ran just once in January.

However, the spot has remained on Adforum.com, an industry Web site, and is also making the rounds among pilots, according to the Wall Street Journal (who would also like to remind us they really have better things to be talking about, people.)

AirTran is reportedly waiting for an apology from Anheuser-Busch. Until they get one, the LCC is considering dropping Bud and Bud Light beer from its flights.

"You may deem the commercial to be satirical, but I find it highly offensive," AirTran Chairman and Chief Executive Joe Leonard told the WSJ.

In a response e-mailed to CNN, Anheuser admitted the ad was in bad taste and apologized.

"This campaign was meant to poke fun at slices of everyday life, but this execution clearly crossed the line and is in poor taste," read the statement. "We extend our apologies to pilots and everyone in the airline industry."

Pilots aren't the only ones who are poked fun at in the advertisement. The flying public in general takes its lumps, too.

"Sure, we're concerned for our lives, just not as concerned as saving nine bucks on a round-trip to Fort Myers," says the announcer over a background rock riff. "The most direct route to Houston, through Fort Lauderdale. With layovers in Detroit, Vancouver and Kalamazoo."

Anheuser-Busch claims they have asked Adforum.com to pull the advertisement as the site did not have permission to post it. Adforum says the ad was pulled Tuesday.

However, the drink maker's own phone system still plays the ad, as an AirTran official discovered when he called to complain... about hearing the ad on Adforum.com.

To paraphrase the queen, he was not amused.

FMI: www.adforum.com, www.airtran.com, www.budweiser.com