Skift Take

Delta's judgement on what's funny or interesting in in-flight safety videos continues to baffle.

Making a clever in-flight safety video is the latest outlet for airlines seeking to distinguish themselves from their competitors while also keeping passengers engaged during the takeoff process.

Delta Air Lines released its latest in-flight safety video [below] earlier today, and the airline has turned to the 1980s for inspiration.

Whereas Virgin America recently went all out with a music video suitable for broadcast television and Air New Zealand draws repeatedly upon a clever sense of humor and the “Lord of the Rings” franchise, Delta apparently decided that referencing things that many people are too young to understand is a good idea.

It doesn’t really succeed.

Delta trots out random 1980s touch-points like Atari, Rubik’s Cube, Alf, and break dancing that younger travelers don’t much care about and for which older travelers only have a passing nostalgia. But in the same way that its strange plastic surgery/robot flight attendant video from six years ago was oddly curious, it’s worth watching to understand how some companies just don’t have a clear brand voice.

In order to explain the references to those unaware or forgetful, we’ve noted 18 nods to the 1980s using the images above. Please join in with anything we missed in the comments below.

smartphone

The Daily Newsletter

Our daily coverage of the global travel industry. Written by editors and analysts from across Skift’s brands.

Have a confidential tip for Skift? Get in touch

Tags: delta air lines, in-flight, videos

Up Next

Loading next stories