That is great. Looks awesome, but the woman plastered all over your airplane makes the girl you kicked off your flight look like a nun!

Does anyone else find this kind of trashy for Southwest? Having a woman in a bikini on the side of the plane hardly seems like the epitome of the friendly, down-home airline I've grown accustomed to. This seems like something Spirit Airlines would do.

I know that Southwest does do advertising on its planes (ie Shamu 1 & 2) but at least the others are fun, whimsical, and obviously family friendly. I don't have any kids, but if I did i would be terrified at thought of my child seeing images like this while traveling. Maybe I'm just old fashioned (for a 20 year old) but I don't think that bikini models belong splashed on the side of the airplane is tasteful or right.

Great article, Christi! Keep up the good work. And how cool that the model came to the SI event. I wonder what the residents of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Jersey City, etc thought when the plane was flying into LGA :)

Very tacky. I know Southwest is notorious for it's fun, but this is simply in bad taste. I'm very surprised at their decision especially in an economic time that loss of customers is crucial.
I suppose it could go the other way, but how many teen-age boys are fare paying customers?

I realize how those responsible saw this as appropriately tied to the history of SWA given that they used to promote flight attendants in mini-skirts. However, I would hope that thirty years later as a society, we would have a more sophisticated view. Promoting SI on a plane is fine, but how about putting an SI cover with Venus Williams holding up a Wimbeldon trophy instead?

To me, the Sport Illustrated Swimsuit Edition is as wholesome and American as apple pie. You raise that Bar Southwest! Now I wonder if all those people that were up in arms over Kyla will praise this move. Ha! Seems logical to me.

I agree with Anonymous. I don't have a problem with them promoting SI but I think someone like Venus Williams would have been much more appropriate. I am an avid Southwest patron but I must admit that I lost a little respect for them with this decision. I thought you were better than that Southwest!

Goodness sakes, you would think from some of these comments people had never seen an attractive lady in a swim suit. There is nothing wrong with SL model on this plane. As most things in this world it is a matter of who you ask. I think SWA is a classy company and their is no reason to change my mind over this being on a plane. Relax folks, after all you voted for "Change" didn't you.

The SI plane is just plain AWESOME! Southwest Airlines never ceases to amaze me. Southwest is so edgy and fun with their advertising and marketing and this just brings it to a whole new level! I love it!

Hey (another) Kevin,
You are not making equal comparisons with your comment about the beach, pool and grocery store copies (although I agree "terrified" is a little strong!). Anyway, you can't compare these things to a justa bout nude person the size of a 737! It really is in bad taste on SW's part.

I saw the flight for it last night, it was interesting that it came from Amarillo to LaGuardia. Did it already have the decals in Amarillo or did it get them after landing in LaGuardia? Have a great weekend.

Another example of how behind the times SWA is....Tits & Ass are in poor taste and not acceptable for the general public. It may have worked in 1970 but hardly acceptable in todays society.

In an ege when carriers are draping Brest Cancer Ribbons over their aircraft what a slap in the face to women that SWA would embrace this type of publicity. A little class might do the carrier well walking into the diverse market of NYC.....its not Nascar country HERB.

How embarassing for the hard working employees of SWA.

Southwest never claimed to have first class but I've never thought of them as low class either
(UNTIL NOW). They may be getting noticed, but it's in a negative manner. Guess bad attention is better than no attention at all.

I naturally wonder what the terms of this deal are. It's well-known that magazines are in trouble right now, and SI is probably getting hurt just as much. My guess is that SI is paying SWA some good money for this.

It won't influence me one way or another. I fly an airline because of the service and the price I get. I couldn't care a less what their planes look like.

It really amazes how silly people can be in the face of human sexuality. Here is a woman showing her best on the side of a plane, and people on this board are having seizures about it. It's frightening to think that these people actually vote.

they don't let great whales travel inside the aircraft either, but no one had a problem with that being painted on the outside.

This is clearly a marketing stunt to get publicity...every savvy company does it. Just look at the Super Bowl commercials. Every year people get up in arms over some commercial being too risque or innappropriate for a family audince. And then the media talks about it for the next couple of weeks and the ad goes down in history as one of the most talked about of the year. And then it gets mentioned again, and again, everytime the subject of memorable commericals comes up. Good or bad, you're all talking about it, so mission accomplished. Nice work Southwest. Now you're playing with the big boys.

I agree with the commentor who said "To me, the Sport Illustrated Swimsuit Edition is as wholesome and American as apple pie." This is downright wholesome compared to European standards.

Christi,
Congratulations on a great post -- you have tackled a topic that is controversial with your usual style and professionalism!

While I respect people's right to have an opinion, I have to wonder why it is that in this thread, just like some of Bill Owens' threads, so many of the most offended and vocal critics share the same first name? How many parents out there have named their children "Anonymous"???

When all of this hubbub dies down, I think I need to go chat with our CEO and my fellow college alum about our NEXT special livery aircraft, Bevo One.
Kim
Customer Relations Blog Boy

A true sign of marketing genuis, most anticipated magazine of the year and a bold move into a future market. Those people know how to garner attention.

I think it looks great and it will get a bunch of attention, Good Job on the Marketing. Welcome to NYC. It's about time.

Great Job on the new airplane. It's a great move for the LUV airline. At least now we will have a good fun airline in the Big Apple.

"they don't let great whales travel inside the aircraft either, but no one had a problem with that being painted on the outside."

I LOVE this comment. BRILLIANT! :)

N922-

Yes there are decals on the overhead bin space for now. I will post a pic of the interior later this evening when we are headed to LAS. We will be removing the decals before the A/C goes back into service. Have a good one!

Christi

Dear N922WN,
Don't get too excited about the interior, I'm sure it is just about as "glamorous" as the insides of the Shamu planes. The typical view that you'd have from the inside looking out...ribs, lungs, various internal organs, etc...
LOL
Kim
CRBB :-)

Great JOB on SI ONE!!! Everyone has opinions and like the song says "you can't please everyone". Southwest Airlines once again jumps to the front of the industry! Everyone in NYC will know the name SOUTHWEST AIRLINES! That's the idea! I'm from there and can assure you that at least a million people from New York or North Jersey never heard of Southwest Airlines prior to this stroke of genius.
Keep up the good work!!!

Francisco,
Hey buddy! Good to see you back on the Blog! Your idea is great except for one problem -- we'll need to get Ding! Boy to install a tail hook on good ole N922WN, because the arresting cables on the Nimitz will tear up the landing gear and probably blow some good tires, too. Of course, there's the technical issue of whether the nose gear on a B737 can handle the stress of a steam-powered catapult launch when SI One is ready to depart and return to our regular route system.

Given the potential for complications, do you suppose your former shipmates would settle for a couple of subsonic fly-bys instead?

Come see us some time!
Kim
CRBB

I agree that I don't think it is professional to have a woman in a tiny bikini plastered all over a plane that is going to land in airports that by nature must be "family friendly". I understand the concept behind the marketing but seriously question who's decision it was to use a Sports Illustrated shot of a half naked woman. As someone else said would you allow this type of dress Inside your plane. If you won't allow it inside your plane, why put it on the outside. Not to mention this just feeds into all of the unhealthy, and unnatural, body images that our young teenage girls are trying to live up to today. Big FAIL

Let me start off with saying that I am completely PRO Southwest. But, I am truly disappointed in this decision making. Sports Illustrated is meant for the filthy pleasure of men, and is quite offensive to most others. I know in the past the flight attendants wore hot pants- this makes them look quite modest! And to add icing to the cake... how can you show a skimpy almost naked lady to a family friendly airline. It looks to me that Southwest is aiming for business customers and men. Very disappointing.

It's only fair to put a hot man in a revealing Speedo on an airplane. That can make up for all the women that are disgusted by this "advertisement". We'll see then how many guys give SWA the thumbs up for their marketing.

As an SWA employee, I have to say that I am very dissapointed with my company, I thought we were better than this. I hope that I don't have to see or fly on this aircraft while whis decale is on it. Very poor taste SWA!

business travelers vs family travelers...which is really sustaining the industry?

What a stupid decision? I am extremely disappointed that Southwest would choose to have such a near pornographic picture so publicly displayed. It will likely damage the good reputation of Southwest for many people, as it has for me. What did they gain? Questionable publicity and some amount of revenue in exchange for less respect.

THIS IS SO COOL ....

What is the point of the SI model on the plane? If it is publicity, then mission accomplished. If it is to promote the airline, hmmm . . . very shady in my opinion. Frankly, I don't think this is appropriate.

(get a better camera)

Erica

The SI swimsuit issue is, hands down, the biggest single-issue moneymaker for Time Warner, SI's parent publisher. SI has over 3 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, with over 18 million of them are men, 19% of the adult males in the United States. So one might say SWA has a keen interest in this demographic. Look around the marketplace. Every airline is looking for and edge to profitability and SWA is at the front of the pack when it comes to money-saving and money-making concepts that are, in the final analysis, financially sound and often very savvy. This is a well-aimed marketing event that has certainly recieved a lot of attention in the first day aloft. It is a photo of a woman in a swimsuit. I can not see how this could be even marginally more offensive than serial-murders depicted on CSI Miami, movies like SAW I, II, III, IV or V, Fifty-Cent gangster rap or the preventable disaster of cholera in the Congo.

SWA has represented other diverse markets out there as well. Perhaps you might have seen the Tinkerbell decals on one of our aircraft to commemorate the DVD release of that video?

For those who feel this might be offensive to younger children: Do you shield thier eyes from offensive tabloid headlines in the grocery store check out? Perhaps it would be better for you Talibanis out there if all women wore burquas. I'm sure a few folks out there who don't believe in Santa Claus boycott Coke products during the holidays because they put good 'ol Saint Nick on the can. There are over 500 SWA airplanes in our fleet. If you don't like this one, it is very likely you will never even be lucky enough to see it anyway. Unfortunately, we have only a handful of flight attendants who could pass as supermodels. Better bring along a copy of the latest SI swimsuit issue on your next trip. Sit back, relax and enjoy our great fares, free drinks and snacks to your next destination. DING! You are now free to move about the country.

I am very surprised and disappointed at this decision. As if young women don't already have unhealthy and unrealistic images of beauty to contend with in the media - here is another one - in large format! I also don't think that these kind of images produce healthy images of women for young men either. These kind of images can be seen as disrespectful and can sometimes encourage the objectifying of women. I don't think you are a prude if your prefer not to see or have your children see a barely clothed woman plastered on the side of an airplane. I do not think I will be using Southwest to travel no matter what the discounts might be. I would have thought that key desicion makers at Southwest would have been more socially responsible or at least family-friendly in this partnership with Sports Illustrated.

I have flown Southwest since their early days. Their planes were ugly dull tan with wonderful front- rear seating in the rear ,but their people, all people ,flight,ground, that guy in the chiefs chair were beautiful. That Company is the most All American Company this United States has produced in one hundred years.American citizen, look around. What the hell is wrong with displaying a beautiful American girl flying around the this beautiful country with a cargo of beautiful Americans in a beautiful American Built Airplane. Jack L Wigley

Wow, I have to say I'm very disappointed. So many other worthy causes or marketing opportunities SWA could have gotten involved with. SI is a great publication, but such a bad choice of graphic for the outside of the plane. Totally inappropriate IMHO. Lowering the bar indeed.

For SWA Customers, this doesn't represent the beliefs/opinions of all Southwest Employees--including this one.

A Disappointed SWA Flight Attendant

Give me a break ya'll. Disappointed? Shame on SWA? Embarrassment? That it the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard... If you are worried about your children seeing a beautiful woman with a bikini on, stay at home, turn off your television and never leave the house. There are way worse things being shown on TV and on the streets. Seriously, you can't tell me that every time a Victoria's secret commercial comes on TV you rush for the remote and change the channel so that your little ones can't see it and you can't tell me that you don't leave the TV on during Super Bowl commercials. Have you stopped going to baseball games because all these players that are taking steroids? Get over yourselves. Also, SWA may have kicked a hooters girl wearing a mini skirts off a plane but what is not being said is that she wasn't wearing any undergarments. I'm sure everyone one of you unhappy, disappointed, embarrassed people have taken your children to a beach where there are girls in bikini's. Get over it...it could be way worse. Like another person wrote most of you voted for "CHANGE". If your opinion has changd about a company that is making it affordable for you to fly and see places and visit family members in the current time of loss while other airlines are raising prices and charging for everything, then fly on another airline, spend more money so that you can prevent the possibility of seeing the plane 20-40 minutes of your traveling experience.

As for K. If you truly believe that Southwest doesn't take care of their employees or care about them or their customers then you must be delusional and living in a different world or you've never worked for a company in your life. SWA takes such good care of their employees and your comments just make you sound like a bitter ex-employee that did something really bad that you got let go.

I think the plane is a great idea. It's a great way to advertise. All you disgruntle people need to get a day job and quit worrying about the little things and start worrying about the real issues going on.

This from the airline that kicked off the girl because of her skirt.

poor taste... try to explain that to kids.
I am an often traveler with SW, even earned a companion pass for my wife. She won't fly with you anymore. How many people buy tickets for the pic on the plane? Fun is great... edgy is controversial.

I hope that plane has routes to Florida!

Prude America, unite! A woman showing skin, won't someone please think of the children!

A lot of these comments are so silly they have to be obvious trolls being obvious trolls. I mean, really? "I'm a girl who wears shorts to the beach so guys don't check me out" No, it's not human nature for males or females to be attracted to the opposite sex *eye roll*

"This add will make young girls puke out their dinners in an effort to be skinny" Sure, I guess being raised in a healthy household with stable parents won't combat that...oh wait. Well I guess it's the media's fault for making the girl have enough mental issues where she has to be perfect, never mind the millions of well adjusted women in America and the world who live life happily, if not a little jealously.

"This is tacky and ruining my children." Take your kids to the supermarket? You do, don't you? Do you yell bloody murder at the checkout isle when they pass us weekly or any other trashy hollywood magazines? How about any of the other woman focused magazines with skinny women in revealing clothing plastered on the cover? I didn't think so.

The other argument that is just throwing me for loops is the "You can dress like that at the beach, but not in public/on an airplane/at the airport." So it's ok for skinny, beautiful women to wear a bikini at the beach and it's ok for your kids to see said women at the beach, but lord help that woman and your kids if she's still wearing that bikini at some other time/place and your kids see her then!

I did love this one however "Just Plane BAD TASTE" I'm still giggling at the pun. The only valid argument that I've heard from anyone that makes any sense is that South West looks really dumb now for having kicked that girl off the plane for wearing revealing clothing. By revealing clothing, they meant "normal clothes a 20-something would wear." Now they go plaster a bikini clad woman on their plain who is ten times more naked than the other girl was. Just plain ridiculous of them and PR should crawl on their hands and knees and apologize to that girl.

Having said that, however, great add!

Come on people……Is this really offensive to us? With all that is going on in the world, is this what gets us all wound up? As a SWA employee, I am so proud of MY Company for coming up with an ingenious way of getting our name out there, especially in the New York market. I would be proud to take my husband, daughters, parents and grandparents on this aircraft. Besides, for those offended, remember one thing, it is a temporary decal that will only be there for only 2 months! SI is one of the few magazines that have still been profitable and SWA is one of the few airlines that are still profitable, coincidence? I think not!! I am a PROUD SWA employee and proud of this decision MY Company has made!!

You have GOT to be kidding me. Having nothing to do with how tacky this is, the perception is that Southwest is HYPOCRITICAL. You dare splatter a mostly naked woman on the side of your airplane, but a young paying customer in a mini skirt cannot continue her flight because she is indecent? Wow, I don't care HOW "on time" your flight record is.....I may have to re-consider my loyalty.

What a great airline. First you give us a very controversial topic, then you give us a blog to come to and cry about it. I give you a thumbs up on both. As far as all of the haters especially the employees, I'm sure you all aren't so stuffy, I mean this is the LUV airline, home of the chili cookoff and spirit party where the free beer flows. A place where so many couples have met and started their own family. Southwest Airlines just announced raises for the mechanics and pilot groups and your employees are acting in such a way. Look at what is happening in the rest of the industry, I bet the employees at Northwest and Delta wish they had the same problems as all of you. Like I said very nice job southwest on trying to keep your fun loving culture alive. I hope you don't let the killjoys bring you down. Imagine Herb stepping off that airplane firing up a smoke with a glass of wild turkey in his hand saying something cute like his and Colleens swimsuit picture wouldn't fit so they chose a sports illustrated model instead to put on the airplane. How refreshing. Bravo Southwest..

Nice addition to the narrow body fleet. Now buy some wide body aircraft and prove you are not a sexist airline. Where's Borat in his suit-thing? Now that would scare some children at the gate.

This jet would actually look good floating in the Hudson! Good for you SWA. Forget what the prudes think. Continue to have fun and please start hiring good looking flight attendants once again.

Now that's the Southwest I LUV!

Anonymous 13:33

We have posted every comment that has shown up in the moderation queue. I did find a few posts that had gotten mixed in with the spam queue and I posted them. Yours may have wound up there too--possibly a word you used may have been in the spam parameters. (The parameters are set automatically.) If you repost, we will try and publish it.

Why are people so uptight? What is it about a picture of a woman in a swimsuit that is so offensive to people? I think it's ridiculous that we can't get over a little skin in a photograph. Who is this really going to hurt... It's fun, it's beautiful, and we're only on this planet for a short time...let us have a little fun!!!

No one loves a supermodel in a bikini more than I do, but the corporate and marketing folks at Southwest should be ashamed of themselves.

How can you allow your employees to throw young women off of your plans because their skirts are shorter than they'd like or their shirt shows too much cleavage, and then plaster a woman in her underwear on the side of the plane?

Have you lost your minds? How could you be so foolish to do something so blatantly hypocritical?

rick - although a common misconception, the young lady that was so famously kicked off a southwest flight for being scantily clad, was not actually kicked off at all. If you check the facts, you will see that she traveled on her scheduled flight. An Employee simply asked her to cover up a bit and southwest later apologized to her.

Isn't the SI Swimsuit issue going to be at EVERY newsstand at Every airport? Is everyone turning their heads when they see this magazine at the Airports? While they are waiting in line at the grocery store? This SI issue is the most read puplication in the world. Its not teenage boys who are buying up Swimsuit issue, its men and Women buying the mag. In 3 months every pool, every water park, and even kids washing cars at their neighborhood strip center will be wearing a bathing suit. Come on, give me a break and get off your "I'm offended" horse. Do we live in the Middle East where women are hidden?

Oh, one more thing. How many people have known a girl in college at some point in their life? Just about everyone, right? Which girls were the most likely to become the "crazy girl/sleep around girl?" The well adjusted one who grew up in a relatively normal household with laid back parents? Or was it the one who's parents tried to shield them from everything and told them everything was bad? I'm pretty sure most people will agree with me that the latter was the "crazy girl" in college. No cable television, covering their eye's at anything that you disagree with? Really? I'm sure little girls don't trade magazines at school/friend's houses.

For the love of god people, kids experience these things with or without you. Being super prude parents doesn't make them better people, it just makes them sneak around trying to avoid oddball parents.

I am so ashamed of my fellow coworkers that have blogged such negative views on this thread...whatever happened to your Warrior Spirit and your Fun-Luving Attitude? Looks like it has been traded in for Cowardly Spirit and Self-Righteous Attitude... Seems that everyone is so concerned with being objects of "desire" that they are missing the big picture. SWA teaming up with SI for this plane to coincide with the release of the swimsuit issue and having this aircraft arrive at LGA on the day our service there is announced is nothing short of brilliant! With all the carriers that serve LGA and have for years, what better way for us to become visible and known in a brand new market??? Imagine yourself in NYC...you see this plane fly in with a beautiful woman on the side...your eyes move up to the tail....SOUTHWEST.... what?? Southwest is coming to LGA?!?! I can't imagine a better first impression!

For those who continue to call SWA hypocritcal and compare this aircraft art with Kyla Ebbert...get real...this aircraft features a professional model in a bathing suit and the aforementioned Kyla boarded not just in a short skirt or skimpy outfit, but without undergarments showing her "bits" to the world... You might as well be comparing apples to oranges...c'mon folks...

Lastly, SWA is the best company in the world to work for...they treat their Employees great and are active in all communities doing charity work. Never in 12 years have I been treated with anything other than respect... I wouldn't trade a million dollars for my job and those who think they are working for such a "bad" company...move aside and go work for one of the other airlines and see how happy you are there...there are thousands of folks out there who would kill to work for Southwest Airlines and would be LOYAL employees.

I might have been hallucinating, maybe, but for some reason I seem to recall this being a TEMPORARY decal, not the actual livery. Thus, IT'S COMING OFF before too long. This TEMPORARY look on SIOne is, in part, clearly for shock value - and judging by the assorted whining on this page alone, mission accomplished. This TEMPORARY decal does not imply that Southwest condones scant clothing, or that Southwest is losing any of the values that've made them the 40-year success story we always knew them to be. You'd better believe that YEARS after we've lost our money and our minds to this economic downturn, Gary, Herb, Colleen & Co. will still be shuttling us across the country and LUVin' it.

Now, what this TEMPORARY decal IS doing, on the other hand, is making a strong case and a major first impression for SWA. Amid all the brouhaha, SIOne's TEMPORARY decal and matching cover model will tell everyone (passengers and competition, see next sentences) that YES, Southwest is HERE, baby! Welcome to New York!
Didja forget the very airline that first leashed SWA at Love Field is scheming even now to kick them back to Islip ASAP? Didja forget about SWA's strongest rival, whose headquarters is merely 20 minutes south on the Van Wyck? Didja forget about another airline, who enjoys immunity from SWA back home at Hartsfield, and who'd love to stay immune from SWA in New York? Even these three had to stumble when they saw mutual competitor SWA taxi onto the ramp in a bikini in February... *rimshot* They know their hands will be as full as, if not more than Southwest's.

Make no mistake, David and a few of his friends are about to fly straight into Goliath Country. If he wants to enjoy himself before the f(l)ight, cut him some slack. And YES, we're about to bear witness to a Big (HUGE) Apple Brawl, right here on Rwy22. They might even sell seats at Citi (read: Taxpayer) Field...
And *sigh* yes, I've finally concluded my rant. I apologize. Can we go back to freely moving about the country (now including New York)? See ya'll on board. B-)

My husband had one thing to say, t-shirts?? He's not only planning on getting one for himself when they come out, but he's also planning on giving them to every male friend or relative he knows. He's also hoping SWA has a 12 year contract with SI, and that they will come out with a calender at the end. I happen to work for SWA, and I am proud to be associated with the most brilliant minds who have continued to reinvent and rejuvenate the industry....

Working for Southwest is a joy and we, as employees have received countless benefits. No Layoffs, No Wage Cuts, great benefits and the like. We stand behind our company and will defend it to the end. N922WN is a beautiful aircraft compared to--- oh, let's say Maryland One. But at some point, we have to realize where our commitment lies. Is it with the Business Fare passengers?---who's select fares and boarding priority hardly ever account for all of the 15 seats reserved for them in the first boarding group, or is our allegiance with those who prefer to fly us based on our low costs and being given the "FREEDOM" to fly, especially in today's financial turmoil. The "common folk" made us who we are today, and I will proudly say that I am one of them! Personally, I don't have a problem seeing someone in a swimsuit on the side of a plane. What I do have a problem with is the publicity that we have received in the past over "Customer Attire". We now have to counter our philosophy with our advertising campaign. And that quite frankly puts frontline employees in the cross hairs! I don't know if I could ask someone to "cover up" when one of our planes doesn't. We're saying one thing in our Contract of Carriage, but with advertising, all bets are off.
Money aside, I think it was a poor taste of publicity! We have shown that we say one thing, yet display the total opposite!

As a shareholder and a customer of Southwest, I am puzzled about this latest advertising ploy. Just because Southwest is a low cost airline doesn't mean it has to be low class. This isn't the 70's, and Herb is no longer in charge. He was able to pull off the hot pants and Wild Turkey because of his unique personality and the culture of the 70's. This SI thing makes it look like the adolescents are in charge of advertising and public relations. Edgy? That is a 20-something term crafted by "creative" types with spiked hair, pierced body parts, and a distaste for the middle class. Hey folks! Wake up! It IS the middle class who pay the bills for Southwest, including me. I'm not a prude, but I have to wonder whose bright idea it's been to take the brand to "edgy". This isn't "Fun". It is CRASS. Out of one side of the mouth of Southwest, we get "puritan", with flight attendants acting as dress code police with scantily clothed customers, and out of the other side of its mouth, we get "sexist", allowing a bikini-clad model emblazon the side of one of its planes. How does Southwest justify enforcement of its sexual harassment policy (assuming it has one) when you allow a half naked woman on the side of an airplane? I know things are bad financially for Southwest, but this smells like desperation. Change your technology, add wi-fi, do things that are productive. I'm disappointed you have lowered your creative standards. There is nothing creative about a photo of a supermodel in a bikini. You can find some creative talent who can generate a "Fun" imagery that is more creative than this. Get a new advertising agency and hire some grownups to run your advertising/marketing/pr group. This is an abomination of Southwest's image. However I guess Southwest is moving to the idea that any publicity is good, no matter how negative the message.

Is this the same Southwest Airline which kicked women off the flight for wearing something inappropriate. I wonder if someone with a bathing suit wants to fly on the Sports Illustrated plane or even if the same model shows up in a bikini would they let her on the flight.

The reaction to the plane wrap is amusing if only because the rants and raves here are practically identical to those posted in the wake of Li'l Miss 15 Minutes, except Southwest's former supporters are now their detractors, and vice versa.

I wonder how many people out there who are complaining about the girl on the side of this plane are doing so while they watch Desperate Housewives or a midday soap opera. I mean get real,its a girl in a bikini, you can see more than that just turning on NBC.

That sure beats Shamu!

Tacky, offensive; are you people alright? What do they wear in the Miss America Pagent, or the Miss Universe Pagent! Does anyone take their kids to the beach? Americans; self-centered, egotistical and ignorant. Kids, today, are drinking and using drugs in grade school and you're worried about them seeing a model in a bathing suit. Go to the mall and look at YOUR kids with pink and purple hair, black outfits with chains hanging from them, and cigarettes hanging out of their mouths How about the ones with their pants hanging down around their knees? Now there is an unoffensive fashion statement. Riiiiight! I think this is the stuff you better worry about your kids seeing, and emulating. I'd rather have a daughter that looked like a woman, rather than a freak.

To be honest about it, a pretty woman wearing a bikini is much more wholesome than a guy with a mullet wearing a wife beater who stinks of urine. The girl in the bikini is going to be on the outside of the plane for what, 60 days? The other flies inside the cabin routinely. I'll take the bikini every day of the week, given the choice.

Seriously, some of you people need to lighten up.

I wish they would put a different girl on each plane in their fleet.

If it offends you spend three times as much and fly someone else.

Hey Ryanair wake up, Southwest beat you to the punch Virgin too.

In Europe, they did stuff like this years ago already (on SkyEurope aircraft); nobody made a hassle about it...

LET'S ALL FLY IN OUR BATHING SUITS NEXT TIME!!!!!!
I dont see how Southwest could object, do you???

I am disappointed in Southwest Airlines.
What can they have been thinking, putting a practically naked woman on their plane?
This is a real insult to all of their woman customers, really to all of their customers.

If you are Sports Illustrated fan, you can always buy the magazine and keep it to yourself.

I have to be careful now about taking my grandchildren on Southwest, as I dont think I could explain to them why the airlines would do such a stupid, insensitive thing as this.

And isnt this the airline that tried to put a woman off the plane because she was not "properly" dressed? She had on way more clothes than this model did.

Why be offended at a scantily dressed babe on a fuselage of an airplane? Just about every one of the 200,000 Americans shot down in the air war against the Nazi’s evil regime had one painted in magnificent open display. My own Grandfather was a tail gunner in a B25 in the Pacific, and the girl painted on his plane was named Sassy Sal. So whoever objects to women painted on airplanes needs to have their heads, not the mention their knowledge of American sacred war history, examined.

Wow Southwest! Way to continue the proud worldwide tradition of objectifying women in inappropriately public places! I find the entire concept of the "swinsuit issue" gross to begin with. It is somehow even worse when blown up beyond billboard size. I've enjoyed my flights with you in the past, but I will definitely be reconsidering my opinion the next time I fly. American Airlines also serves the cities I frequently travel and gives me excellent frequent flyer miles.

I will boycott SW until they issue a public apology. It's 2009, and they've taken women back to 1950. Thought you'd outgrown your hotpants days. Guess not. I encourage all their customers to join this boycott.

if it was attention you guys were looking for, you sure accomplished that. however this kind of attention is just the acknowledgement that this airline has "no class" . especially in these times were we are seeing more and more everyday the caliber of excecutives running this countries businesses into the ground with their selfish, greedy agendas.
and as for the model, well we know she was paid alot of money and why not grab the money and run. isn't that the modes operandie of the top executives today.
integrity seems to lost among them all. pretty sad
want to get attention for your airline, offer decent fares with top shelf service, including on time departures/'arrivals, seats that normal people fit in and don't loose our luggage!!!!!!!

Wow. Just wow. I don't fly a ton, and when I do I usually just find a good fare and go with it (Which is NOT Southwest, I live in Seattle). But this one makes me want to fly to their headquarters and plaster it with beefcake. You'd NEVER in a million years put a male swimsuit model on one of your planes, would you?

I'm sure there are more people with a frat boy mentality in the populace than rational people who actually think about the implications of advertising. So, on balance, you've probably got far more people who would approve than disapprove. However, as a company that seems to think there's value in a reputation for honesty, integrity, family values? Bonehead move, guys.

A good reputation relies on convincing people that you WOULDN'T sell your soul to make a buck.

People have short memories..... Remember Western Pacific with their Las Vegas showgirls? http://www.airliners.net/photo/Western-Pacific/Boeing-737-3Q8/0415983/M/ for example, or http://www.airliners.net/photo/Western-Pacific/Boeing-737-301/0401576/M/

in discussion of the si plane with a co-worker, he very aptly summed it up...'if you put hello kitty on the side of a plane, some people would be offended.' such is the world that we live in-- righteous indignation everywhere! i guess that's because, like swimsuit models, it garners attention.

LUV IT OR LEAVE IT?? LEAVE IT!!!! WHAT A TYPICAL LOW CLASS ACTION FOR SOUTHWEST TO TAKE. YOU PAY FOR WHAT YOU GET...

Ok…this is totally out of hand. I’ve seen customers comments and employees comments like…Low Class, Trashy, Porno Add, Terrified Children, “We are better than this” For our employees out there if your going to make negative comments don’t you think we should keep those to ourselves? Do you not understand we are in for a long fight to stay profitable? We need every customer, every dollar we can get. I am honestly sitting here shaking my head did some of you forget about our profit sharing checks we get?? This plane will have this decal on it for 60 days then its gone!!! This was designed to get the most bang for our buck..and I think its working. And as for the comment about someone being terrified that their children will see it…ahh have they ever been to the beach, walked through a book store and seen the magazines on display, walked through the mall and passed by Victoria Secret? Really!!!! Come on think about it. Is it really that bad?

Perhaps Southwest should also remove the images of Shamu from their aircraft. The killer whales are, after all, completely naked.

with all the really important things happening, I can not believe that so many peeps would waste the time and energy to condemn SWA for something that is on the cover of a major magazine on racks in plain view at stores everywhere.
I'm sure all the haters boycot ALL the supermarkets, drug stores, and convenience stores that sell the SI swimsuit edition! I am also sure that they keep their children out of those stores as well!

Acting appalled, and stating the "children" being exposed to this is harmful seems pretty odd to me considering I never see that many children traveling and the numbers of kids "exposed" to this is substantially less than those who will pass the actual SI mag in stores.

For the stew who says she does not want to work on this A/C, I am quite certain that nobody sitting in that a/c is going to equate YOU to SI, Bar Refaeli, or cover models in general. If you are worried about what peeps think about you, just do your job with a smile on your face just like most of the SWA crew.

It is different, but not to be feared! If SI paid good money for this advertisement, then maybe they will continue to keep fares low and that is good business sense.

Not only would I fly in this A/C, I am hoping that a benevolent scheduler or dispatcher routes her through HOU so that I can add it to my collection of SWA special painted A/C photos!

KUDOS, SWA!

I would just like to add my voice to those that are very sad that my airline has chosen this worldly, cheap, sexist direction to attract customers. As a flight attendant for over 20 years for Southwest, I am mortified! I feel that if I am on this particular aircraft working that I am placed in a really uncomfortable position. There is the assumption that I am a part of the "fun" that is being displayed on the outside of the aircraft. This goes against everything I believe in, yet I have no choice as to whether or not I work on this plane or not. Lord forbid children are in the gate area waiting for thier flight and this plane pulls in. Don't misunderstand, I think this young girl is beautiful! I just do not, nor will not ever agree with what Southwest has done.
I too will PRAY that they understand that the general public cannot be this easily duped. Our country is still holding to what little values we can.

Please REMOVE THE LADY FROM THE PLANE!

mortified flight attendant!

This is my second try at posting this.

I find this greatly offensive to women and I will not fly Southwest until they remove it an apologize.

I have formed a Facebook group for the boycott and am thinking about ways of bringing attention--negative attention--to this.

I (used to) love Southwest. When a friend sent me the link to the story, and I started to read it, I thought, well, how awful. At least it won't turn out to be Southwest. But it was.

You've made many men and women angry. Men and women with money to spend on flying. I'm going to do my best to see that they spend it elsewhere until you apologize.

I forgot to add this, but I would much rather see a pink ribbon (in support & encouragement of those who have breast cancer; I don't have breast cancer) on a SW plane. That's definitely more appropriate & for a good cause. Perhaps even a purple ribbon could be painted on for people like me who have an eating disorder, too. I'm serious.

I actually rode this plane yesterday from Orlando to Denver. I have 3 kids and we never even knew that there was a swimsuit model on the side of the plane until we landed. And getting a glimpse of her was difficult as the walkway from the aircraft blocked our view. What was funny is that I saw a whole bunch of oggling airline employees sitting in their golf cart type vehicles looking at the plane when I finally had to ask someone what they were taking pictures of.

I don't know if it is tasteful or not but I'll bet Southwest get's a lot of publicity for this and by way of publicity... lot's of money.. to be honest I would have flown Southwest simply for the sense of humor the flight attendants had. I love the jingles that they would sing after we landed. It doesn't bother me that they have a woman in a bathing suit on the plane, I just hope that they put Fabio on the next one...

SWA is an antiquated company and this illustrates it clearly. We live in an age of tolerance, respect, and understanding and this image does nothing for women and their struggles.

It amazes me that in 2009 an executive team would think this is a "good idea." Shame on Gary and his team, this is bad marketing and represents poor thinking.

Next month I am booked on SWA to fly to Orlando for my childrens spring break. What should be my response to my daughter who is 8 when she asks me what the image means?

This was used to unveil their NYC service? R they kidding me?

This is trash they should have kept in Texas, I can just see what the diverse communities of NYC will think of this.

New Yorkers are sophisticated people several blocks from Nascar peanut gummin toothless wonders....SWA should think twice about this one. The caption above her should read "Hilly Billy's from Big D gone wild."

What a joke....

EB

Well said Mary. I agree completely.

Personally I'm digging the jewelry she's got on. Some gorgeous silk planets by Bhati Beads. Bar is beautiful, the jewelry is even better.

One more thing. I do personally find it rather hypocritical being that SWA just over a year ago, tried to remove a passenger from one of their flights for being scantilly dressed.

Yes, there is a difference between being dressed sophisticated sexy and sleazy sexy, but it's still hypocritical.

I am saddened that another "freedom of choice" has been taken away from me and my family since we can hardly chose which airplane we will get when flying Southwest. We chose not to view women as sex objects but to be respected as equal members of this society. You have lowered the bar by presenting an unrealistic "model" for females to strive to obtain through unhealthy means. As a counselor to addicts of all types, I am sorry that you have added another "trigger" to lives already inundated by too much focus on the physical aspects of a person. Referring to your own statement, "The Culture of Southwest Airlines Co. (“Southwest”) is often the yardstick for many American corporations" , I say, I hope not!

Flying porn?
Bad taste?

Come on, it's a girl in a swimsuit for goodness sakes. Geez...you can see stuff 100 times "worse" on flippin network TV any day, any time.

To ALL complainers..please go and pray for all of the poor innocent people and employees (bye the way, I have NEVER seen a breakroom clear out as fast as it did when this plane showed up the other day) who have to seen this plane then go home and lock your kids up from the outside world so they grow up to be just as closed minded as you. I hope you are saving money for all the therapy those poor kids will need later in life when they realize how much they hate you for not explaining little things like this to them. PLEASE let the rest of us live our lives how WE see fit, not how YOU think we should live it!

Southwest has never been a family friendly airline. Case in point, their onboarding process. It is a horror to get through if you have young children. So this is just another message from Southwest to "keep your children at home". I personally would not take my children on a plane with a bikini model printed on the side. This works for the male-business traveler. Too bad Southwest has not been as successful as other airlines in atracting this demographic. Maybe this will help.

major hypocrisy here

Most of the people who are complaining about this are probably fat ugly women. Stop being jealous and get a life. It's just a beautiful woman wearing a swim suit. If you have a problem with it, move to Iran where you can cover your ugly self from head to toe.

I guess the only person we could have put on the plane that would have offended more new yorkers would have been Bernie Madoff? I work for southwest airlines and I am neither for or against this decal. I do believe southwest got what it wanted BUZZ.....sure we are going to lose some customers over this.....but many will return when they realize that even with this "mistake" that we are still a great company... 35+ years of great community service , charitable donations and safe transportation doesn't get you far if you make one mistake.????...... I am a parent and rather than shield my kid from this I would show him why its wrong. I see all the kids that were sheltered growing up when they are flying , they can barely get to the gate without mommy holding their hand.

I understand both sides of the argument but I just find it funny that this is really that big of a deal, let's focus on the big issues of staying employed and paying our mortgages....

Dear Female SWA Stockholder,

I am a female SWA Employee, and I don't need or want you to feel sorry for me. I work for a great Company that encourages me to be myself and have FUN while doing my job. My Company has never cut my pay or benefits nor has my Company ever asked me to compromise my beliefs. My Company provides great job security and treats me better than any other employer that I have had in all my years of employment, which includes 11 years at another major airline. I'm sorry you don't like the decal on SI One and that you want to sell your shares, but I seriously don't need or want your sorrow.

I am a Southwest Pilot. I will not fly this plane. I am offended.

i love that plane, nice plane design.

thanks 'unhungup customer'...we appreciate ya! yeah, hum, let's see...opportunity to see family and friends at a reasonable fare, during an economic downturn, for a price less than the cost of gas, with a 1 in 500 chance of being on the plane with the chick in the bikini on the outside vs. $1200 one-way in a battleship grey model that looks like it just emerged from a battle...priceless.

Female SWA Stockholder- As a female employee of WN, I don't want or need you to feel sorry for me either. The SI plane flew into the city I work in last Wed, and we all went out to see it. It is a beautiful plane. My husband (and all of his co-workers) agree!! =) I am not offended, and have not talked to a single person who is. There is so much more to worry about going on in America, lets all lighten up and have a little fun! Southwest is a fantastic company, and I'm happy to be a 10+ yr employee!

Unbelieveable. Not the painting or the advertising scheem but the people who are making a big deal out of a little thing. Yes I have children but I am also very realistic. Seriously, how is this any different that what are children are exposed to everyday on the streets, the beaches, the pools, etc...? South West showed numbers, appox. 75 % of the people are fine with this and the remaining 25% are not. Similar to America as we know it. Over 75% of the people are being told what we can and cannot do by 25% of the population. When is the American majority going to stand up for it's rights? Why are we letting the select few tell us what is right and wrong. You Rock Southwest Airlines...

I am surprised that Southwest would do this -after kicking another more-clad lady off of one of their planes. Seeing this image on the side of the aircraft certainly won't do anything to make me want to fly SWA.

Oh I wish I still had a plane and didn't have to go on the TV show with those teenagers to pay the pool heating bill since everyone stopped buying my magazine.

Hey...got an idea! Why don't you put Playboy on the wings of the airplane for people to read while they eat the free peanuts???

Yours,

Hef

Mary B

I think its great! What sets SWA apart is its reputation for excellent customer service and well, FUN! I'm certain most of those who have complained about it subscribe to SI so why all the wailing? It's sporty and not in bad taste at all-if SWA hadn't chose to do it, I'm sure Richard Branson would!

Are you kidding me? People are upset about a plane painted with a swimsuit model and calling it pornography?! This country really needs to figure out what is important and what is not. I worked in the retail video game industry for 10 years and the most troubling part of my job was the reversal of values and common sense I experienced every single day. The upcoming example I am referring to is the most common and can be validated by any person in the retail video game industry across this country, it was not and is not an isolated incident.

The game Grand Theft Auto, any version, contains extreme violence, gore, foul language, etc… it has an ESRB rating of Mature for 17 or older. In some states it is a crime to sell this game to anyone under the age of 17 without parental consent, and it has more severe punishments than selling cigarettes to a minor including loss of job, heavy fines and jail time. I have had parents and grandparents come in to purchase this game for teens and pre-teens. I explained the contents of the game, the brutality that can be done and the reality of beating someone to death in this game, but it doesn’t matter to them at all and they still want to purchase the game for the child. Then I mention to them that there is also nudity in the game and then they get upset and say, “No way! Not for my child!”

So the conclusion I have from this, is that it is ok for a child to witness or virtually participate in acts of extreme violence and murder. As soon as a naked breast, something that is natural and beautiful, something that every child who has ever been breast fed has already seen, something that throughout their life they are most likely going to see again, becomes exposed, people all of a sudden have a moral issue.

In the situation with Southwest, this plane displayed a Swimsuit model in a tasteful, artistic manner and pictures similar to this can even be seen on TV or in any of the fashion, tabloid and intimate apparel section in a department store catalog, and yet people are getting upset. Wake up people; in other countries it is common for families with children of all ages to go the beach, which are primarily topless, and spend the day. Advertisements and billboards may display the occasional topless woman to promote a product. The human body is a natural and god given thing, unlike violence and murder, teach your child what to respect and what is wrong. Here in this country we feel we are superior to the rest of the world in many things, but in this respect, the rest of the world is laughing at us.

I fly your airline at least 20 times a year, if you give in to any politically correct BS, I will change airlines.

I'm sick and tired of a few gutless nags that have nothing better to do influence our right to have some humor and lightness in our existence.

tell anybody who complains about this to take a hike. They probably want seat assignments too.

The American public never ceases to amaze me!
If there was a picture of Jesus on the plane would they complain, or a gun totting rebel, or a Hummer ad, or a pensioner selling haemorrhoid cream? Probably not!
But put a picture of a young woman in a bikini and the sky falls in.
Have these people never been to a beach, the idea that some people are terrified and horrified by a photo is beyond belief.
If it was a picture of the statue of David would they demand a fig leaf? Have they never been to an art gallery and seen a nude painting, probably only with eyeshades on so they wont be offended.
Small, prudish,immature minds, no wonder your country is in so much trouble on so many fronts. I live in New Zealand for the record

I think having Bar on the side of a plane is awesome !! The people complaining and whining about this really need to get a life !! They are probably overweight, unsightly individuals who would never be caught dead in a swim suit in public or some religous zealot trying to shove their misguided beliefs down our throats. And odds are, they don't even fly this airline that much !!! And even if they do, GUESS WHAT, they don't have to !! Worrying about your kids seeing this ?? Apparently you don't take them to the beach or a public simming pool. Because if you did, I'm sure they would see much "worse" ! For example, seeing people, morbidly obese, wearing swim attire that is extremely inappropriate. Exert your energies protesting thigs that REALLY matter in these trying times. Such as the atrocities in Darfur or the way our government is squandering tax payer dollars to "bail out" mis-managed companies paying huge bonuses to executives running companies into the ground and costing hard working individuals their jobs !!. Talk about offensive !! Give me Bar on the side of an airplane any day !!

I find the SI picture on the plane quite offensive. I always liked SWA, but am offended enough that I will not fly my family on your airline for sometime. You might attract 20 somethings to your airline with this promotion, but I suspect the message the SI pictures send to teen girls and boys is way too sexual for families to tolerate. You have changed your image from fun and easy going, to tacky and somewhat desperate. Perhaps that is what you are looking for.

What a bunch of prudes. It's a girl in a bikini. The way some of you people talk you would think she was riding laying there naked with her legs spread open.

I think you folks better get off the Internet and go flail yourselves for viewing that picture

As an SWA stockholder since 1974 I love this idea ! It's a shame there are so many closed minded people out there !

'Company with a conscience', as Southwest.com says? That would be great, but the SI model artwork implies the lack of one.

Too many uptight, narrow minded, liberals in our society. It's a fully covered woman on the side of an airplane...big deal. If you don't like it, don't look at it.

Would you stop going to your dentist if there is a copy of SI in the waiting room?
Do you take your kids to the beach?

LIGHTEN UP PEOPLE!

I think its great. Nothing wrong with this at all. All of you who are offended need to get a life and worry about the more important things in life. There is nothing offensive about a beautiful girl in a bathing suit. Girls wear bathing suits all the time! What's the big freakin' deal about it. If you're looking for something to complain about, HOW ABOUT OBAMA RUNNING THIS COUNTRY INTO THE GROUND WITH HIS RIDICULOUS SPENDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This looks awesome! It should give more of airplanes like this one!!

You Americans are so damn prude, that is ridiculous. No person outside the US would care if there is a covered woman on the airplane. How can anybody be offended by this?!?

All day long you can see most violent things on TV but whenever a naked breast would be shown it's scandalous. GET REAL HYPOCRITES!!!

just because some women are too fat and don't want their kids to see how women can look like when they don't eat at mcdonalds three times a day, you can't complain about this picture!

As a 27-year-old female, I see absolutely nothing wrong with this and I approve 100%. She's beautiful, it's a tasteful photo (not like those Lindsay Lohan-wanting-to-be-Marilyn photos we saw a few months back in a magazine), and it's only temporary anyway. Loosen up the strings a little, folks, and you'll see it's not that bad. Primetime television, even ABCFamily, features more scandalous stuff than this on any given night and yes, your little darlings are subjected to a lot worse at school (coming from a former 8th grade teacher that taught in a "good" school, I can promise you that!).

I'll be actively searching for Southwest Airlines tickets from this day forward. I want to fly an airline that's laid back, relaxed, and knows how to have a good time.

oh man sh looks nice !! prude people ...

I love you puritans from the US! :-)
Only in the US and in islamic countrys somebody would care about this plane.
Do you really think you cannot look at this picture and treat the flight attendants with respect?
How do you prevent your kids from dangerous situations like women at the beach??
The whole world is laughing about you and your overreactions.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY IM REALLY DISAPPOINTED WE DONT WANT NAKED WOMEN ON AIRPLANES!!!

Now that's one fast woman! I'll be sure to watch out for her!

I'd be willing to bet that the women complaining about this are the sames ones who probably couldn't fit into the swimsuit on Bar, or wouldn't be caught dead on the beach. Get a life! Grab another box of Ding-Dongs/Twinkies/Ho-Ho's/Malomars/etc. Nobody is saying that she's the perfect woman (she sadly continues the trend on Madison Avenue that thin is in), but just because you're insecure about your own bodies doesn't mean it's a bad thing!

Sex sells, what can you say?

I think its a bit tacky but it is their plane to do with what they see fit. If they want to slap a half naked beautiful lady like that on THEIR plane, then by all means do so!

This is Kick-ass. I want to ride that plane if you know what i mean.

Why can't there ever be a half-naked man on anything!?! Darn it, guess you have to make your perverted male company heads happy somehow.

Wow-- I think for me, the reason it matters, is that it's pretty tired to show women in this way and not men. Look around. Why not have a guy on a plane too? I think the reason has to do with society still being much more confortable showing women in this way and seeing women as objects. Southwest played into the same old boring tired junk we have to deal with all the time.

For folks worried about their kids or moms, etc., I'm pretty sure they will be ok. To the people here who are slamming larger women, etc. -- you are making the point for the critics more beautifully than they could.

I dont see why people are upset about this. You cant tell me that
these people who are complaining have never seen a chick in a bikini
on the beach, in a movie, on a television show or online. Im sure
Southwest got a nice check for allowing this giant flying
advertisement to be placed on the side of its airplane. In a time
when everybody is strapped for cash, we shouldn't judge a company for
trying to find a unique way to stay in business. These people need to
complain about real issues like wasteful spending by government,
genocide in Darfur or the fact the U.S. has yet to catch Osama Bin
Laden. Those are real issues!

Love the plane and the peanuts! Keep it up - it's good to see a business with passion!

We fly Southwest almost everywhere we go and I do have to say that I am really disappointed. In this day and age we as parents are busy trying to teach respect and healthy self images. I agree Bar is beautiful, but just as I would not promote my 8 year old boy to look through the swimsuit issue, I would be a bit red in the face traveling with him on this plane. As for my daughter, she is faced with images of beautiful people everyday, but I don't ever want her to think that it is necessary to show sexy to be loved enough to be plastered all over the place, nor do I want her fignting weight issues trying to look "perfect". This really puts a lot of pressure and discomfort to those of us who are trying to promote and practice responsible parenting. How about some Olympic champions?

I don't find this to be porn, nor highly offensive. It is simply tacky, low class and cheap looking. I'm not offended by a woman in a bikini, but the saying there's a time and place for everything comes to mind. It comes off very "Hooters" and rather unprofessional. I agree with the other posters regarding SWA coming off as hypocrites. One minute they have strict, modest standards and in the next breath wrap their plane with a sexy, scantily clad model. I guess the two women who were nearly booted off of the plane should have handed over cash first. They have shown that their standards will lower when the price is right.

Is this really the same southwest that booted a paying passenger off the flight for showing too much skin...too me Southwest is a fake a phony as the politicians.

Tasteless and tacky. Stop peddling smut. Why not show pictures of our troops? I will never use this airline again.

Great ad!!! If you are prude and can't deal with it, look away!!!

coolest plane ever, i will only fly Southwest from now on. they need to start putting this on all their planes.

I'm a woman, a Christian, have 4 young children and I find nothing offensive about this plane. This is not soft porn.

While I'm neither for nor against this, as I am really indifferent in the matter, I do have to admit that Southwest is being quite hypocritical kicking women who are not wearing "family friendly attire" off their planes, but coating the front in a bikini model. I think the poor woman who was kicked off your flight then hears about this ad definitely deserves a large apology.

I would like Southwest Airlines to issue a statement regarding this plane and request that it be directed toward young girls. Almost without exception, young girls are subjected to enormous social pressure to achieve impossible beauty standards...the same standards now being promoted by Southwest. Virtually all research confirms the damaging effects such media portrayals on the health, confidence, performance and self-esteem of girls.

As a mother of two of those young girls (and three boys), I am very disappointed that Southwest made this choice. Out of a virtually unlimited number of choices, you chose THIS?!!??!!? Go home and explain it to your daughters, then come forward and explain it to mine.

Thanks SWA for this beautiful plane! Great pic! And also great marketing! Maybe it will also help some of the US people to understand it is normal for women to wear bikini in the western world. And why should any kids, women or whoever have a problem with this? She is beautiful and she wears a bikini! Perfect! And if anybody has a problem with it because sex sells: paint a guy in shorts at the other side of the plane! That would be even more fun!

What the ole saying. "There is no such thing as BAD publicity". I think its great. Fly on wit yer hard on Southwest.

Can I bring my girlfriend wearing a bikini like this on a flight to Vegas?

Your planes are sexist and completely inappropriate. I (and my family) will NEVER FLY YOUR PLANES AGAIN!!

To all you sexually repressed, hayseed Republicans who are offended by the sight of a beautiful woman, please go back to your basements listening to Rush Limbaugh and having sexual fantasies over Man Coulter and her bulging adam's apple.

DA! IF YOU DON'T LIKE DON'T LOOK AT IT ! BY THE WAY YOU CAN'T SEE IT 34,000 FEET. YOU WILL ONLY SEE IT WHEN YOU BOARD THE AIRCRAFT.

Are people really whining about a bikini? Seriously, some of you act like it's the end of the world unless a girl is covered head to toe. Is there nudity? No. Is is done in poor taste? No. If this is a worry to you, I truly feel sorry for your existence.

Love makes me want to fly now. To anyone who thiunks this is porn... Get a life and do something constructive. She has clothes on its not porn. To Tina who posted a comment at — Wed, 03/04/2009 - 13:55 go down to Venice, Hunington, or Newport Beach and you will see these same bathing suits. Its the prudes like you that makes this a crappy world. Why must you complain about everything that you dont like? A vast majority of people like it or could careless what there plane looks like on the outside. I am fed up with all the people whinnig and complaing at every little thing. Get a life and worry about your self, who cares if southwest wants to put a beautiful and classy women on their plane. Everyone who is complaining neeeds to take the stick out of there butt and go watch your kids. I hate all you soccer moms who try and ruin every little thing you dont like. GO SOUTHWEST KEEP IT UP.

DA ! YOU CAN'T SEE THE PLANE AT 34,000 FEET.

I see nothing wrong with this. The swimsuit and the pose are tasteful. At least with the money they received maybe South West won't need a government bailout. Hopefully they'll put a nice looking guy on the other side for us ladies!

That looks awesome! I'm booking a flight to Vegas for my husband and I as I write! Some people act as if they have never seen a woman in a swimsuit before. Yet they have a Victoria’s Secret catalog on their counter or their segnificant other gets SI...And what’s in that? Exactly. Don't be afraid, its just a girl, not an illegal alien...or is she??? humm.

That is a human body. Gods gift to you. Enjoy it, use it for good and to help others.

Southwest thanks for not turning into the Taliban.

See you in Vegas.