There’s nothing quite like boarding an escalator at the airport, luggage in tow, only to notice that the advertisement running down the side features a giant airplane pointing nose-first toward the ground. Talk about confidence-inspiring travel marketing. Is this some avant-garde attempt at humor? Because it’s giving less “Bon voyage!” and more “Brace for impact.” As you ride up (or down), you can’t help but imagine the designers cackling at the thought of nervous flyers quietly sweating bullets while pretending to find it totally fine.
The irony here is almost poetic. Airports are supposed to be places of reassurance: smiling flight attendants, announcements about “smooth sailing,” and overpriced coffee that’s meant to calm your nerves (until you see the price). But instead, you’re treated to an ad that makes it look like the plane is on a mission to “redefine gravity.” You can practically hear the voiceover in your head: Thanks for choosing Air Anxiety! Buckle up, and enjoy the downward journey. It’s the kind of thing that leaves you wondering whether this was a marketing blunder or a genius inside joke that only airport employees fully appreciate. Either way, I’ll be double-checking that my seat cushion can, in fact, be used as a flotation device.
