London - Once, it was just a matter of enduring an important, if slightly dull, lesson as you prepared for take-off.
But now you might find yourself watching bungee jumpers demonstrating how to top up a life jacket, or listening to a song about those inflatable slides.
In a move to grab frequent flyers’ attention, airlines are “sexing up” their flight safety videos. Among the most elaborate is the latest from Delta Airlines, which incorporates some of the internet’s most watched sensations.
In it, for example, “shark cat”, a feline who found fame by wearing a shark outfit and riding around on a vacuum cleaner, appears in the section on keeping all aisles free of luggage. There is also a “Gangnam Style” dance routine explaining how to adjust and release your seat belt.
More than 4.5 million people have watched the video since it was posted on YouTube, suggesting making such elaborate safety videos is a useful marketing tool too.
However, the trend has experienced its share of turbulence. Some commentators say it is a cynical PR stunt which risks blurring the serious safety message.
Air New Zealand had a bumpy ride when it unveiled a video featuring bikini clad Sports Illustrated models. It left the airline at the centre of a sexism row.
A recent Virgin America video, however, was far more innocent. It features a rap with the line: “In the unlikely event we need to get you outside, your exit is equipped with an inflatable slide.”
Experts say the videos could increase safety as passengers are more likely to remember them. Chris Lynch, head of global aviation at technology experts PA Consulting, said: “It could be seen by some as flippant, but if it is engaging… then it is doing its job.”
Daily Mail