United Airlines Cleverly Uses YouTube’s ‘Skip Ad’ To Show How To Cut Long Lines

Most of us will agree that YouTube’s countless advertisements have become an accepted annoyance, but at least the site does give us the option of skipping longer commercials with a ‘Skip Ad’ button.

Against the tropes of advertising, United Airlines is now encouraging travelers to apply the ‘Skip Ad’ button to real life, like when they’re stuck in a long, winding line at the airport and the person at the counter moves at the speed of a snail. 

While the ubiquitous black button won’t literally pop up in the real world, it’s close enough with the airliner’s ‘Agent On Demand’ service, which allows customers to access an airline representative quickly through the phone or mobile application.

In a witty commercial developed with creative agency 72andSunny LA, United depicts the all-too-familiar scene of people impatiently waiting in a snaking line to speak to a representative.

The narrator then coaxes its audience to click on YouTube’s ‘Skip Ad’ button to “remove” themselves from the torture of the never-ending line. Should the viewer decide not to, they’ll be treated to an entire 15-minute video of people shuffling along in the queue. 

“Wish you had a skip ad button for airport lines? Thanks to United, now you do,” the commercial playfully suggests.

“It’s a United agent, ready and waiting, 24/7 to help you. Change your flight, change your seat, whatever you need.” 

[via LBB Online and Ads Of The World, cover image via United Airlines]