/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54195175/Screen_Shot_2017_04_11_at_12.51.49_PM.0.png)
United Airlines is in the midst of a scandal over a viral video of a passenger being forcibly dragged off one of its flights by police officers for refusing to give up his seat on an overbooked flight, and its atrocious public relations response that followed.
But another airline is having a field day with it. Royal Jordanian Airlines promptly sent out a series of tweets brilliantly trolling United for the debacle and ensuring customers that they will not be violently removed from Royal Jordanian flights. The first, and in my opinion the best, is a clever play on the smoking ban on all flights:
We are here to keep you #united Dragging is strictly prohibited pic.twitter.com/CSjZD7fM4J
— Royal Jordanian (@RoyalJordanian) April 10, 2017
The second one is less overtly trolly, but coming in the midst of the United scandal, it’s pretty clear the point it’s trying to make:
Our pilots happily welcome you onboard our flights! #RJFamily #BeSmart #BeJordanian #FlyRoyalJordanian pic.twitter.com/61ktoOWQdL
— Royal Jordanian (@RoyalJordanian) April 11, 2017
They could’ve added, “You know, unlike United, where instead of being welcomed you might be dragged down the aisle,” but subtlety in comedy is much more effective, I find.
Back in March, Oscar Munoz, United's CEO, was named “Communicator of the Year” for 2017 by PRWeek US, but his tone-deaf response to this scandal was roundly mocked on Twitter. Perhaps he should take a page out of Royal Jordanian’s social media playbook.
This isn’t the first time Royal Jordanian has brought the fire on Twitter
Back in late March, the Trump administration notified airlines serving 10 airports in majority-Muslim countries that they would henceforth have to prevent passengers from carrying on laptops, tablets, or electronic cameras on flights from those airports to the US.
Royal Jordanian was the first to announce the new policy when it — perhaps mistakenly — sent out a since-deleted tweet announcing the ban to its customers, before the Trump administration had had a chance to announce it themselves.
But once the policy was officially announced, Royal Jordanian wasted no time before taking to Twitter to mock the new electronics ban, offering its customers some cheeky tips for how to cope:
#electronicsban pic.twitter.com/U3S7sdkipy
— Royal Jordanian (@RoyalJordanian) March 23, 2017
⛔ #electronicsban pic.twitter.com/3csTSEePg7
— Royal Jordanian (@RoyalJordanian) March 23, 2017
The airline waxed poetic:
Stay tuned for more fun…..we have just begun #electronicban pic.twitter.com/VZz70tD67V
— Royal Jordanian (@RoyalJordanian) March 22, 2017
Enjoy an extra 5kg on your first checked luggage during April when traveling Economy to any of our NA destinations #electronicsban pic.twitter.com/Cwvi9Zy9Em
— Royal Jordanian (@RoyalJordanian) March 26, 2017
And even launched a poetry contest, inviting customers to send in their own electronics ban poems for a chance to win two tickets to the US:
Take on RJ's poetic skills and show us your best shot! Share with us your answers before April 10th.
— Royal Jordanian (@RoyalJordanian) March 27, 2017
P.S. Brownie points for the funny ones pic.twitter.com/ikyYxoYj2b
During the presidential campaign, Donald Trump floated the idea of temporarily banning all Muslims from entering the US. Royal Jordanian had something to say about that too:
⛔️✈️️ #USElections pic.twitter.com/yBDVO2w3gb
— Royal Jordanian (@RoyalJordanian) November 8, 2016
And when President Trump’s “travel ban” temporarily banning people from seven majority-Muslim countries, and all refugees, from entering the US was blocked in court, Royal Jordanian had this snarky response on Facebook:
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8320999/Screen_Shot_2017_04_11_at_12.17.22_PM.png)
Royal Jordanian’s social media manager deserves a raise, is all I’m saying here.