Rich Kulawiec says,
The TSA is planning to inflict commercial advertising on travelers passing through its checkpoints. Apparently it's a swap: advertisers provide "divestiture bins, divestiture and composure tables, and […] return carts" (gotta love that terminology) and in return they get to display ads on the bins.
The question becomes: which advertisers wish to associate their
goods and services with this fiasco?
Link to article in Aviation Now, via Infowarrior (Richard Forno) and Interesting-People (David Farber) mailing lists. I remember receiving mail from BoingBoing readers earlier in the year — people who spotted ads on bins in the screening areas, and said "WTF?" — according to this report, a pilot program has been in effect since July, 2006.
Reader comment: Cybele says,
I posted on www.blogging.la earlier this week about advertising on the plane (not new). But the funniest part that I think is so appropriate is the media agency (SkyMedia) that sells these types of ads uses the tag line:
"Affluent.Captive.DecisionMakers."
I can't think of anything that more truly reflects our feelings of how trapped we are by the system.
Jesse says,
I can think of one advertiser that should be falling all over themselves
to advertise at TSA screening points: The EFF. "Sick of having your 4th
ammendment rights violated here? Join the EFF." … or perhaps something
a bit less inflamatory.
I'd give a chunk of change toward seeing that happen ;)
That's a pretty awesome idea. Photoshop brigade, are you there?
David of Ironic Sans blog says,
Your post about the TSA bins reminds me that almost a year ago, I wrote this prediction about advertisements in airplanes on the overhead carry-on bins (with a rendition of what it might look like): Link.
Ian says,
Apropos to ads on airport bins, join this pledge:
If the ACLU applies and is accepted, I'll donate $500 for the ACLU to buy bins that advise people of their rights when passing through airport screening.
Link.