Video promoting San Francisco’s modern airport takes swipe at ‘bad airport’ resembling LAX

SF airport video criticizes airport resembling LAX

LOS ANGELES — A marketing video aimed at luring airline passengers to San Francisco International Airport is catching attention for taking swipes at a place that resembles Los Angeles International Airport.

The video entitled “I Wanna Go Through SFO” is an effort to attract people flying to the United States from Australia and New Zealand. It juxtaposes the airport’s modern amenities to an unnamed “bad airport” that features passengers sitting on the floor waiting for a flight, unappetizing food from a vending machine, and ripped suitcases riding a baggage carousel.

San Francisco airport officials say the video, which has received more than 20,000 views on YouTube, doesn’t bash any particular airport. However, LAX is the only other California airport that offers direct flights to Sydney and Auckland.

“It was a humorous way to frame our amenities,” said Jane Sullivan, SFO’s marketing and communications manager. “Everyone has a theory, of course, on where the bad airport is located, depending on where you live.”

LAX Executive Director Gina Marie Lindsey said she was “startled and a little disappointed” by the video.

“We see those things as a vague reference to our airport, but I got to tell you that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey also thought it could have been a swipe at them,” Lindsey said. “We just have to realize that airports are not a monopoly market anymore and we’re competing for international gateway status.”

LAX, which was ranked one of the worst in the nation in a recent survey of airline passengers, is undergoing a $1.5 project to upgrade and expand its international terminal.

Lindsey said LAX does not plan to retaliate by targeting San Francisco’s airport.

“I’d rather spend our time improving this airport and making it one of the best in the world,” Lindsey said. “This just makes us more energized to make LAX the best it could be.”

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On the Net: tinyurl.com/SFOvideo

Information from: Daily Breeze, www.dailybreeze.com