Bumpy Ride? Spirit Airlines Sells Ads on Barf Bags

May 19, 2010 — -- The weirdest place I've ever heard of for an airline advertisement? A bald head.

A couple of years ago, Air New Zealand announced it was looking for a few hairless pates, the better to emblazon the name of the airline on them -- with temporary tattoos.

Extreme? Then you don't know the Kiwis. Air New Zealand once made a TV commercial called "Nothing to Hide" featuring naked crew members. Well, they were naked except for painted on "uniforms."

But when it comes to absolutely shameless, provocative, and sometimes tasteless advertising, one airline stands alone.

I refer, of course, to … Spirit.

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First, a disclaimer: Spirit Airlines is what it is, an "ultra" low-cost carrier forever touting its $9 fares (which are always somewhat north of there, once you add in the taxes, fees and the cost of membership in its $9 Fare Club). That said, the airline has tons of satisfied customers.

And a few detractors.

Not too long ago, Spirit Airlines was famous for slogans like "We're Proud of Our Double D's!" (shorthand for "Deep Discounts" -- right) and then there was that ad trumpeting Caribbean deals called "Many Islands, Low Fares" which they shortened to MILF (no, I'm not going to tell you what that acronym means, go Google it yourself).

Not everyone thought this was funny; nor were they all that crazy with the carrier's recent foray into current events.