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Raising the Bar--SI One

cday
Frequent Flyer C

 

Hello from LaGuardia Airport in New York City!  I just witnessed one of the coolest plane events ever!  We finally, after much speculation and anticipation, revealed the beautiful SI One.  This plane, N922WN, is wrapped with a temporary decal featuring the cover model, from the 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. This definitely seals the deals on Southwest Airlines’ FUN and edgy factor! 


 
The cover model stepped off the plane and posed for pictures with our Pilots and Flight Attendants!  It is an absolutely beautiful plane, and hopefully you'll get to travel on this sometime soon!   Since my "Twiddles" left people guessing all day on Twitter , maybe now I need all our Bloggers and Twitter followers to send me their pics on SI One as it flies throughout the Southwest system!  Thanks to everyone that kept up with the Twiddles, I think the best detective was definitely Mike Sloane www.twitter.com/mikesloan
 
I'm working on getting the official pics from our friends at Sports Illustrated and here are some pics that we took today.  In the meanwhile, post pictures in the comment section if you can!  See yall back in Dallas!

Be sure and follow Christi's Tweets from the airplane's next stop, Las Vegas.

551 Comments
Anonymous7
Explorer C
Gee, it' s just so fresh when people pretend that rejecting something sexist is "puritanical." Where's the guy in the speedo?
Anonymous3172
Explorer C
I can not believe the # of sad sad people that are bloggin in here about a "naked" woman on the side of the plane. 1st of all she's not naked. 2nd I feel bad for the people that are offended by it. SO WHAT. I'm a woman - I have a daughter and I would have no issue with her seeing it. Again - SO WHAT. I'm a frequent flyer and I will continue to use SWA - You want to take offense with something I just got back from India and got to see 90+% of the population below the poverty level. In the hotel I watched Taliban commercials on TV recuriting people to fight against America with OUR soldiers hanging dead in the background of the commercial.. You people that are so up tight about something like this should get your heads out of your butts and kiss the ground you walk on every day. Go SWA - As a matter of fact I think I'll book a flight to Florida on you right now. Non of you prudes should travel anyplace wamr you might be offended by someone not wearing a burka!
Anonymous1838
Explorer C
I have a feeling that the guys complaining, which I can't beleive there are any, could never get a girl like this and they hate the person they wake up next to every morning. The women comlaining obviously don't have bodies like that becasue if they did, they could appreciate the hard work it takes to have a nice toned body. It all comes down to jealousy.
Anonymous3095
Explorer C
Who is in charge of your advertising...15-year-old boys? This is tacky and tasteless. What is this...a flying peep show or a professionally run airline?
Don_in_Denton_T
Explorer C
The ad is fine. Why are some people just SO UPTIGHT. Get a life people.
Anonymous3014
Explorer C
My husband flies Southwest twice a month. I travel less frequently, but I only fly Southwest - I love you guys. So I am wondering what on earth are you thinking? If this were my plane, I would refuse to board. I think you must think very little of your customers. What am I supposed to tell my daughter when she sees that???
Anonymous3289
Explorer C
I fail to see why this is so shocking? she's hot! 😄
Anonymous23
Explorer C
Seriously people it's bathing suit !!! I am a woman and do not find this offensive at all. I think it is tasteful and think Sports Illustarted and Southwest both did an awesome job. And for all you people who are complaining about this go fly another airline already...
Matt15
Explorer C
everyone just wants a reason to complain about something. all the united states has turned into is a bunch of whining babies. who cares that there is a Swimsuit model on the side of the plane. You don't even see the side of the plane when you "get on the plane" with your "business co-workers". everyone, mostly media turns everything into a story and all of us just follow the lead so we have something to complain about and feel sorry about ourselves miss i negotiated my career for 10 years? do you wear a bikini when you go to the beach or is that too akward (or perhaps a one piece is more appropriate for you). do you take the kids to the beach or is it tooooo akward for them to see someone in a bikini. she isn't naked having sex on the side of the plane. quit crying. we're turning into the french. idiots.
lambo7039
Explorer C
I think it is GREAT - people, relax! Enjoy some creativity and have some fun. don't be prudes!
Anonymous3105
Explorer C
This woman is gorgeous and it is a great marketing campaign for Southwest. Smart move.
Uncle
Explorer C
I have eyed up the photos of the airplane over and over again, and may God be my witness, I have not seen a NAKED woman. The cloth the girl has on would easily dress four women on any public beach in Europe. So if you are really offended by a well done photograph of a dressed, good-looking woman on the outside of an airplane - and I agree on this with a previous poster - you sure have a serious, a major problem. Get professional help soon!
Big_Smoove
Explorer C
Are U serious? There's bigger issues than a SI Photo on the side of a plane and some of U think it's offensive? Pump your brakes, if don't like it , don't fly it. Now, how simple it that. Next time SI try a Jumbo Jet and really piss the "I don't have a life, so I'll go whine over nothing idiot". HAVE A GOOD DAY!
Anonymous1234
Explorer C
I'm no prude, but I think your Sports Illustrated Bikini Model airline has hit a new low. Seriously, there is a place for T and A and it isn't on an Airline.
Lynsey
Explorer C
This is fine! There is nothing wrong with having a woman in a bikini on a plane. Seriously, people need to lighten up!
Ashley_Clay
Explorer C
WOW!!!!!! I see why girls want to be skinny and have breast implants and girls have this image that they all have to be perfect. As if the T.V. doesn't already pertray this perfect body and flawless person image. You can't go anywhere and do anything without advertisement with a sexual content to it. Why do companies fell the need to always have things like this. A simple lotion commercial is turned into a sexual experinece. But we want our children to not do this and not do that.
Anonymous469
Explorer C
hahahah wow you people really need to chill out. it's a plane and she has clothes on. do you freak out when you go to the beach? this is 2009 have you been living under a rock? i would expect this from mormons in Utah but jeez...it is amazing how so many people complain about every thing possible...if i spent my whole life being negative i would probably understand you people
Anonymous4049
Explorer C
Wow! I do not see a naked woman picture anywhere I think you need to go down in your Bomb shelter and pray to God .To save you from Evil and the naked woman.
Anonymous3719
Explorer C
Way to sexually exploit women, SW. Great job! Promoting the idea that women are objects to be used and abused. Right on! Keep it up!! I think the rape rate will rise to an all time high with the help of SW. Awesome!! Care to include sexual exploitation of children, animal abuse or incest? Why let those plane sit 'blank' when you could paint them all!!!
Anonymous2611
Explorer C
I love all the puritan taliban wannabes having such a huge issue with a beautiful woman in a bikini. Get over yourselves. If you want to wear a burka, that's fine. But please don't push your preferences on the rest of us. Some of us actually DO appreciate what God has created.
Kathy
Explorer C
I think the picture is very beautiful, however my sister was denied boarding for wearing much, much more than this. She was wearing a top that the female gate attendant felt showed too much cleavage. "Making other passangers feel uncomfortable". Funny.
Devin
Explorer C
Now instead of asking for thw window above the wing...I can ask for the window above her thing.
Crystal1
Explorer C
This is incredibly disgusting. I'm all for beautiful, confident women, but it should not be plastered on the side of a plane. This promotion suggests that women are only worthy of your recognition if they have their breasts popping out of their skimpy tops. Not only that, but you are perpetuating an image of women which is unrealistic and undesirable. I'm glad to know you are promoting this outrageous image so I can never use your airlines again and I will be sure to inform my family and friends about this as well.
Anonymous1607
Explorer C
I think the plane is just fine the way it is. Wouldn't change a thing.
Anonymous3565
Explorer C
I will not be flying Southwest now, I will patronize other airlines that do not encourage the objectification of women.
Jarhead1ce2
Explorer C
Is this really that important in the scheme of things. I am concerned at 57 years old of losing my job, have lost 38% of my 401, my income is off nearly 40%, and the mess we are leaving for our kids and theirs? Now, is this that worth all the stress........I think not.
bint
Explorer C
I don't care about a picture of a girl in a bikini being on the airplane, and anyone who thinks this will harm their kids needs to get a grip. That said, until Israelis stop using Palestinian kids for target practice and slaughtering whole families, I don't really want to see one of them anywhere.
Ally1
Explorer C
As long as SW keeps providing cheap flights, I don't see why the paint job matters. When do you actually see the outside of the plane? I don't get the outrage. People are acting like the flight attendants are being forced to wear string bikinis to schlep up and down the aisles...good grief.
Former_Southwes1
Explorer C
This is just gross. As a woman and a feminist I find it completely disgusting that this is plastered across a plane as "advertising". I am a frequent traveler and have earned many, many free flights on SWA over the years but I absolutely will be flying another airline until this is rectified. Take the ad down and go back to a decent image, SWA. Your female customers deserve better than this.
Anonymous2854
Explorer C
I wear a bikini too, but it's when I'M AT THE BEACH! I don't walk around in public in my bikini because it's not appropriate. Not smart to tick people off in these tough times. If 2 airlines are around the same price for a fare they may go with your competition.
Xultar
Explorer C
HYPOCRITES HYPOCRITES HYPOCRITES HYPOCRITES HYPOCRITES HYPOCRITES Doing this and your flight attendants are making women passengers cover up if they feel their outfits are inappropriate. HYPOCRITES HYPOCRITES HYPOCRITES HYPOCRITES HYPOCRITES HYPOCRITES
Anonymous177
Explorer C
Very Very Smart! Probably why SW is the best airline.. American ingenuity and business sense at its best.... Thumbs up here ( and yes, i am female, don't see a problem with this, could we maybe get Dwayne Thomas or Hugh Jackman, next?) 🙂
Herb_Keller
Explorer C
this is great! party on!
Anonymous4049
Explorer C
YOU CAN'T SEE IT AT 36,000 FEET SO GET A LIFE . THE ONES THAT BITCH ABOUT IT .YOU MORE THEN LIKELY HAVE THOSE STICK FIGURES OF YOUR FAMILY STUCK ON YOUR BACK WINDOW OF YOUR AUTOMOBILE, ALONG WITH MY KID IS A HONOR STUDENT .THAT OFFENDS ME AND OTHERS. SO WHAT MAKE YOU BETTER .
Tracey3
Explorer C
LIGHTEN UP PEOPLE...it's just a darn airplane for goodness sakes! As for comments that you would not want your mother or child to see this plane pulll up...well then what do you do when you are in Wal Mart...cover their eyes when you go by the fashion magazines? Do you let them watch TV? If so they see much, much worse than a woman in a bikini.
Anonymous1551
Explorer C
That's so trashy. SouthWest was the last covenant of family friendly airlines and they go and create a HOOTERS plane. I'm not going to ride inside her hoo hoo or her cha cha.
Anonymous686
Explorer C
Get over it. She's hot, it's just an ad, she is covered. Don't you people have anything more important to complain about. Just so you know, this is what advertising is intended to do, get a company or product name TALKED about. Anyone who has a problem with this and blogs, emails or privately gripes about it is only proving that it was a genius marketing/advertising move.
Jennifer16
Explorer C
We have to fly SWA about 5 times a year, but no longer. I have two young boys and this was a VERY POOR DECISION. You all are 'proud' of your decision and partnership with SI??? I am proud to no longer fly SW.
Polo
Explorer C
Love the plane! Love the creativity! Isn't it great to fly around the country in something other than a standard plane with the standard company logo on it. This is exactly what this country needs -- to jazz things up a bit. And to anyone who thinks it's tacky: remember, it's just an airplane; it's just a girl in a swimsuit. Don't be so ...., whatever. All men love it (whether they admit it or not). Young women love it because that's what they all want to look like the model. Older women -- well, it probably ticks them off because they don't look like that any more and so they respond by hating anyone who does. Enjoy the plane. Enjoy your flight. Two "perky" thumbs up for SWA.
Abby
Explorer C
Way to go SW, showing a HEALTHY model! Now lets just show a hot guy for us ladies to look at next!
Anonymous548
Explorer A
I for one like the idea... the folks in Strategic PR really hit a home run with this one. It will be a 60-day decal that will be talked about for at least 60 days. :-D Good job Beth and Ginger.. and Christi for the great blog post!
Monkeystomp
Explorer C
What I want to know is when everyone became such prudes? A girl in a bikini, oh no! Alert the authorities! People in this country are such uptight babies about everything. Most children don't discern those type of things, and again, don't take them to the beach! Or let them watch volleyball! Also make sure to cover their eyes in any kissing scenes in any movies! Because all of that is so super bad. Grow up.
Kari2
Explorer C
hi, i am in high school and pictures like this are why me and all my friends don't eat. and most of the ones who DO eat have to make themself sick after. meaning tthey throwing up. because this is the only images of girls we ever see on any tv and magazines. sometimes it sucks being a girl 😞 i am a size 4 and looking at this picture i feel so fat and gross, i wis i was a size 0.
Luke
Explorer C
I agree that it has been tastefully done. You're only flying on the plane not living in it, what is the big problem?!
Anonymous4298
Explorer C
You people really need to loosen up. ITS A WOMEN IN A BIKINI!! WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL!. She's not naked you people amaze me. Good job southwest you did nothing wrong.
snacker
Explorer C
Great marketing Southwest! And the other airlines cant figure out why Southwest is the only one making money!!! for all the people who dont like the ad, think about how much you actually see the plane as you are boarding it. (Hint: not much). Also, if you are so angry, try stopping your daughters from wearing bikinis.
Anonymous4049
Explorer C
WHAT WILL ALL YOU HOLLY ROLLERS ,DO OR SAY IF THAY PAINTED THE LAST SUPPER ON THE DAM AIRPLANE .I BET YOU WILL NOT BITCH ABOUT IT THEN .AND SW AIRLINES CHANGE THAIR NAME TO HOLLY MOLLY ROLLER ,AIRLINES AND HAVE NUNS AS FLIGHT ATTENDANTS AND PRIESTS AS PILOTS. THAT WILL BE OK IN YOUR MINDS BUT DON'T FORGET .YOU HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR KIDS AT ALL TIMES ON THIS FLIGHT THEIR ARE PRIESTS ABOARD GOD HELP YOU. I WILL BE TAKEING MY FAMILY ON THE SPORT ILLUSTRATED FLIGHT THANK YOU.
Women_are_here_
Explorer C
HA! Love the "flying peep show" comment - it's perfect! People are constantly barraged with sex; scantily clad women selling absolutely everything from hamburgers and beer to animal rights and services for men who want to cheat on their wives. It's pervasive. It's everywhere: TV shows, commercials, movies, sports, billboards, newspapers and inserts, magazines, your inbox, web banners, even our check-out lanes at the grocery store, and now, our airlines. Other airlines feature inappropriate R-rated movies. This one features, well, a "flying peep show." Marketing of this type is just one of the reasons men feel they have the right to ogle you as you are getting gas. After all, you are just a piece of meat, right? Media of this sort is the just one of the reasons men are paid more for the same job. And just how many male secretaries have you ever seen? Hosts at restaurants? How many male voices have you heard say following the knock, "Housekeeping!"? Women won't shatter the glass ceiling until we get off the floor. That's a topic for another blog . . . Ads like this are another reason why some women hate themselves, why some men can never be happy, why some girls starve themselves and have unrealistic goals, and why boys learn that women are objects placed here for their enjoyment. It's a vicious cycle. As long as this sexism continues to perpetuate, women will NEVER be equal. Uptight? No, not really, just sick of unfairness and inquality. Prude? [chuckle]. Uh, no. Go ahead, KNUCKLE-DRAGGERS UNITE, as always.
Norwegian_____
Explorer C
What`s the problem ...... she`s got clothes on! Human skin is the most natural thing in the world..... You live in a crazy country: If a woman show her tits you go nuts and she probably will be punished...., but to own a gun and carry it around is a humen right. How stupid.....
Anonymous4123
Explorer C
Funny how some americans can get worked up over something like this! You should worry a little more about dad's weapon collection and less about a picture on a plane. In the end I think that will be a bigger problem for your kids. Nice picture, good idea and a lot of attention for SW. Norway