Spirit Airlines Employees Upset Over Sexy Ads, Beer Uniforms

MIAMI — Flight attendants and pilots for Spirit Airlines Inc. want the company to pull a series of sexually suggestive advertisements, along with a new requirement they wear a Bud Light patch on service aprons.

Patricia A. Friend, head of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, complained in a letter to Spirit executives this month. When the airline refused to change the ad campaigns, and the aprons were handed out Monday, the union issued a public statement. Pilots followed suit Wednesday.

"I feel as though I have entered a time warp and am reliving the battles for respect and justice for women that we fought for 40 years ago," Friend said.

Some of Spirit's ads invite customers to enjoy its DD's (deep discounts) and "MILF" (many islands, low fare) specials _ double entendres that also refer to large breasts and a crude acronym popularized in the 1999 movie "American Pie" that describes an attractive mother.

Watch a recent ad uploaded to Spirit's YouTube page:

Spirit spokeswoman Misty Pinson said the union was consulted last year when the carrier began the discussion on selling apron ad space, and it raised no concerns. Pinson said some of the ads in question have been used for more than a year.

"Actually we've had great response from passengers that love the fares we offer through those promotions," Pinson said.

She disputed the flight attendants' characterization that the aprons made them "walking billboards," and called them small and tasteful.

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The union argues they undermine flight attendants' federal obligation to cut off drunk or unruly passengers, and are offensive to employees with religious objections to alcohol.

The apron space is available in Spirit's larger push to sell advertising in any plausible format _ including seat-back trays, overhead bins, napkins and cups. Spirit, located in the Miami suburb of Miramar, Fla., describes itself as "ultra low-cost." It does not offer any complimentary snacks, drinks or checked bags.

The company has a history of off-color advertising. In 2006, it was forced to pull a promotion called "The Hunt for Hoffa," playing off the FBI's search for Jimmy Hoffa's remains, after receiving customer complaints.

Other recent campaigns include the "Threesome Sale" and December's "Cheap and Easy and Nothing to Hide" sale.

"These initiatives not only support continued growth of the company, but also help keep secure jobs for our valued employees, at a time when the airline industry continues to cut capacity and jobs," Spirit said in a statement.

Comments

[batspaul]

Wow. Was $39 also the budget for that ad?

It's a skeevy concept to begin with, and the amateur p-rn production values make it even creepier. The employees are right. I would not be in a hurry to get on a plane operated by the company that produced that ad.

[philosopherkingtomas]

is that TODD PALIN ????

[LeeCalif]

eh eh eh eh eh!

[BassMent]

I agree that the ad is tacky.

But I think selling ad space on the uniform is a great idea, if it can keep these airlines out of bankruptcy (and help them generate enough revenue that they can keep their planes properly maintained). Maybe they could even afford to give the flight attendants a raise.

[claylandg]

porn ad ,LOL all they needed was that music porns use, LOL

[KillgoreTrout43]

What music would that be?

[kawreader]

These ads are really stupid and poorly done. It's not a flight attendant's job to be sexual, they have a right to be upset about it.

[democracydiva]

So right. And the ad above: HOW LOW CAN THEY GO. Kudos to the flight attendants for standing up for respectability, and no, we don't want to roll back gains from 40 years ago.

[SwingingFromCenter]

It's not?

One of the biggest reasons I don't fly traditional domestic airlines unless necessary is because the flight attendants look like my grandmother.

[KillgoreTrout43]

If I get a good fare, I don't care what my flight attendants look like.

[SwingingFromCenter]

BTW, one of the most successful airlines in Europe (and coming to the US) is a company called RyanAir. On that airline, during the entire flight they make the flight attendants hawk all sorts of products and services. Having to wear a patch is nothing. These people need to just deal with it.

[SwingingFromCenter]

The ironic thing is the first flight attendant I bagged was from Spirit, heh.

[RadicalRepublican]

How does one bag a flight attendant?

[SwingingFromCenter]

Well, you'd probably need either GHB or else a benzodiazepine, but I relied on cunning, guile and charm.

[William Kiker]

Lower the pay of anyone who doesnt want to wear the aprons, problem solved. They are just an extension of the sales dept at some level.

[kawreader]

Hmm, I take it you aren't a business man.

[IntelligenceRant]

The new Spirit airline commercial is disgraceful. They are not simply promoting low airfare, they are promoting promiscuous sex. I don't want to see anything I wouldn't show to a child in a commercial.

[RobChattaTN]

"Actually we've had great response from passengers that love the fares we offer through those promotions," Pinson said.

I guess they figure $39 fares r not enuf to attract attention! what?????

btw: that guy in the ad cannot act his way out of a paper bag!!

[SantaFeConservative]

If you don't like the way the company is run ... get yourself another job. Nobody's holding you hostage.

[kawreader]

Is that really how we are going to run things? Really?

It must not be much to a guy. You just don't get it.

[MrVincent]

I dont see a problem....that ad was very funny....although there was no need to tell us she was his friends mother, it was obvious.

Just make sure your planes are safe...that's what really matters.

[cavegal]

Yeah, especially the seats.

[TheWanderer]

Why is it only the flight attendants who are forced to be walking billboards for booze? They could have the pilots say over the loudspeaker: "Weather at our destination is clear and cold, our flight time will be three hours. This announcement is brought to you by Bud Lite."

[3015551212]

Hooters Airlines.

[scoochman]

So many of you are missing the point here - it's not about the aprons so much as the ads promoting D D's and M I L F's. That is sexual harrassment of the attendants - the majority of whom are female - and encourages passengers to be suggestive. I know because I went through this myself. So stop telling them to be grateful they have a job - they deserve respect as well. They aren't hookers, after all.

[Deaninphilly]

It doesn't matter that the majority is female, the males have to wear the exact same thing. No it's not sexist it is the way the company wants to do business. Sorry, but if you don't like it go get a job at another airline.

[meeneecat]

No, actually the male employees don't have to put up with their breasts being referred to and exploited by the company to make sales, neither are they being insulted by the use of these double entendres...and gee, I'm really surprised here that all the male commenters are defending this and are totally oblivious to the fact of how insulting this is.