Laura’s Blog

Have you heard about Derrie-Air, the new “green” luxury airline? They tout themselves as “the only airline that plants trees to offset every pound of carbon that our planes release into the atmosphere.”

They expect their passengers to help protect the environment, too. Because it takes more fuel (i.e., more carbon emissions) to haul heavy planes from point A to point B, Derrie-Air has developed unique, sliding scale ticket prices:

The more you weigh, the more you pay.

A ticket from Philly to L.A. costs $2.25/lb. So, for instance, if you (and your luggage) weigh a total of 150 pounds, you’ll pay $337.50 for a ticket. Weigh in at 200 pounds, and you’ll pay $450.

If you’re a thin person, here’s more good news: every seat on Derrie-Air is first class! Some of the amenities include:

• Gorgeous air hosts and hostesses
• Golden-age Rat Pack films
• Top-shelf vodka Martinis
• On-demand video blackjack
• Spacious private washrooms outfitted with porcelain fixtures and gilded faucets
• Gourmet snacks
• On-board masseuses
• Loofah scrubs
• Digital cable

Are you snickering yet, wondering if this is some elaborate hoax?

Well, you’re right. The hoax was perpetuated by Philadelphia Media Holdings. They, along with Gyro ad agency and the owners of The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News, ran a one-day ad campaign to test the results of their print and online advertising.

News of the prank was picked up by the Associated Press, and was splashed in media worldwide. Just goes to show that a bit of creative thinking can reap a heap of free publicity.