retro travel advertising - Colonial Airlines, 1949

Retro Ad of the Week: Colonial Airlines, 1949

This ad is the perfect example of a common mistake made not just in the world of travel advertising, but in marketing overall. It’s not based on truth. No one would try to get to Bermuda on a pogo stick. If the exaggeration was even remotely funny, Colonial Airlines might have gotten away with it. But instead, it’s just a silly ad that says “hey, we’re a plane, we can get you there fast.” So can other planes.

FUN FACT: Colonial Airlines (originally Canadian Colonial Airways) had a short life. In 1956 it was purchased by Eastern Airlines, once the official airline of Walt Disney World before becoming defunct in 1991. (Source: Wikipedia)

 

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