After Trump Victory, Airline Offers One-Way Ticket to Colombia for Americans Who Won’t Want to Return
Colombian discount airline VivaColombia had a special promotion for U.S. citizens after President-elect Donald Trump won this week’s presidential election: Buy a cheap one-way ticket and never return.
The 24-hour sale on the day after the vote offered one-way flights from Miami to the capital of Bogotá for $132 USD or to Medellín for just $107 USD. The marketing included an illustration of Trump’s signature hairdo and a simple, pointed pitch: “One-way price – because you won’t want to return.”
The campaign is even more clever when you factor in how it plays on a popular slogan used by Colombian tourism bureau in recent years. To better promote the nation as a travel destination and combat its reputation among foreigners, the government adopted the catchphrase: “Colombia: The only risk is wanting to stay.”
Unfortunately for those looking to flee the United States, the included dates for travel were only good between February 1 and March 24, 2017. So any disparaged U.S. residents who took the airline up on its offer will still have to be home while Trump get inaugurated into the world’s most powerful position in Washington on January 20.
This viral campaign comes not long after Viva Colombia created controversy with another advertisement. In October, it promoted a trip to Barranquilla on the Caribbean coast by suggesting that Colombian men should “Llevate a la moza pa’ la Arenosa.” Translated, it means “Bring your mistress to Arenosa,” a nickname for the city of Barranquilla.
After coming under fire from those who took offense to an ad promoting adultery, company head William Shaw apologized and saw that the campaign was changed. “Our intention was not to offend anyone,” said Shaw. “We have removed the ad. We do not want to offend any of our clients in Colombia.”