Air New Zealand's latest safety video stars Betty White
By David Flynn, October 10 2013
Air New Zealand has done it again, with a new inflight safety video starring US actress Betty White, oft-lauded as "America’s sweetheart" and best known for her roles on The Golden Girls and The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
Set in the fictional Second Wind Retirement Resort, the 'Safety Old School Style' clip also features a cameo by Gavin MacLeod – famous for his role as Captain Stubing on The Love Boat as well as Betty’s former Mary Tyler Moore Show co-star – among a cast of 'golden oldies'.
So if you were wondering how the Kiwi carrier was going to top its most recent video starring Bears Grylls, wait no more and watch the clip below.
While Air New Zealand's quirky videos have some detractors who feel that safety should be taken seriously, the airline says that making videos which people want to watch is the key here – along with a bit of viral promotion for the airline's brand, of course.
"As a small airline at the bottom of the world, we have to think outside the square when it comes to driving brand awareness and conveying important safety messages to our millions of customers" reasons Jodi Williams, Air New Zealand's Head of Global Brand Development.
"Air New Zealand’s brand is all about liberating from the ordinary and our safety videos have proven a great way to showcase our unique personality to audiences of all ages around the world."
Missed Air New Zealand's previous safety videos? Catch them here!
Romance Class
This one's a bit different from the norm. 'Romance Class' is a heart-warming boy-meets-girl tale of love and life jackets, made as an online-only video targetting the Chinese travel market to present New Zealand as an idyllic destination for couples.
The Bear Essentials of Safety
An Unexpected Briefing
A line-drawn celebrity-loaded animation
The Bare Essentials of Safety
Crazy About Rugby
Disco-safety with Richard Simmons
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David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 645
im sorry to 'poopoo' all the AIRNZ safety vids fans...they always target certain demographics and just demean the PRIMARY role of cabin crew...and all safety 'scenarios' have no aircraft/cabin conditions in sight!!!..there's a fine line between getting a message across and being flippant...AIRNZ is tooo flippant....j'accuse a few other airlines as well !!!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
Guess what you left under the seat in front of you? Your sense of humour.
20 Aug 2012
Total posts 117
Love it! Well done.
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3006
Anything is better than the "Captain - Captain" repartee between Ricky Ponting and the Captain *vomit*
I'd like to get my seat belt low and tight around your gob thank you very much!
02 Jan 2013
Total posts 140
Ive been highly critical of their safety videos in the past but you would have to be stupid not to like this one! People just need to relax and have a sence of humor about the whole thing. Well done Air New Zealand.
21 Sep 2012
Total posts 49
I love it! It actually gets you to pay attention because they are different (and funny) rather than the boring ones that other airlines do which don't grab your attention.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 May 2011
Total posts 732
Seriously another good effort by NZ marketing (and safety) department (there are a bunch of creative people working for them), they are the best advertising an airline company can wish for and also bring accross the information. I would pay attention to these videos but have to admit that with other airlines I normally keep continuing what I am doing, which is definitely not looking at the safety demo!
12 Jun 2013
Total posts 732
The Bear Grylls one (which I hadn't seen before) is the best one from an advertising point of view, because watching it makes me really want to go to New Zealand.
I watched a bit of the Betty White one, but not all the way through -- I've got a bunch of Air New Zealand flights coming up in the next couple of months so I'm sure I'll have plenty of chance to get sick of it later on.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
01 Oct 2013
Total posts 92
Loved the video and its humour with Betty White! Although, at 5 minutes, it's quite a long safety demo - can they pull it off each time before the captain asks crew to be seated for take-off?
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