United Airlines, Team USA Members Launch United's 2014 Olympic Advertising

Fans can get an inside look at airline's new commercial and connect with athletes

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Feb 05, 2014, 10:22 ET

CHICAGO, Feb. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines and members of Team USA are offering social media fans and followers today a sneak peek at the airline's 2014 Team USA television advertising campaign.

Members of Team USA featured in United's ads are tweeting and posting links to the airline's all-new 60-second commercial, "Athletes Aboard," via their personal social media channels, including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Narrated by Academy Award-winning screenwriter and actor Matt Damon, the first of three commercials will air during NBC's broadcast of the Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremony, featuring:


Gracie Gold, Figure Skating: @GraceEGold	Shani Davis, Speedskating, @ShaniDavis
Sarah Hendrickson, Ski Jumping, @schendrickson	Erin Hamlin, Luge, @erinhamlin
Ralph Green, Para Alpine Skiing @bkskiman	Dallas Roberts, Bobsled, @DRobUSA
Allison Jones, Para Alpine Skiing, @Jonezyrocks	Steve Langton, Bobsled, @StevenLangton
Nick Cunningham, Bobsled, @BOBSLEDR	Travis Jayner, Speedskating, @travisjayner
Curt Tomasevicz, Bobsled, @ctomasevicz	Melanie Schwartz, Para Alpine Skiing

Athletes will also post links to exclusive behind-the-scenes videos of the commercial shoot – which the airline filmed in a United hangar in Los Angeles on board a Boeing 777 aircraft – and provide friends and followers with updates via the hashtag #AthletesAboard. Additionally, United will include the hashtags #AthletesAboard and #TeamUSAfriendly in posts on its social media channels, enabling fans to get all of the latest updates from the airline and athletes.

"As the official airline of Team USA for the past 34 years, we are again flying U.S. athletes to training events, competitions, U.S. Olympic Team Trials and the Olympic Winter Games," said Tom O'Toole, United's senior vice president of marketing and loyalty and president of MileagePlus. "Customers, fans and followers can engage with members of Team USA through social media channels and cheer them on as they go for the gold."

Throughout the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, customers can view interactive United and Team USA content on the New York Times website; watch videos featuring United and members of Team USA on Yahoo Screen; and read United-sponsored posts on BuzzFeed. Fans can view all of the United-sponsored Team USA content at united.com/TeamUSA. The 2014 Team USA advertising campaign also includes two 30-second television spots, print, digital, and outdoor advertising; and airport signage in United's eight continental U.S. hubs.

United developed the campaign with its global creative agency McGarryBowen. Horizon Media, Inc. managed the media investment and Momentum Worldwide supported the overall campaign.

About United

United Airlines and United Express operate an average of more than 5,300 flights a day to more than 360 airports across six continents. In 2013, United and United Express carried more passenger traffic than any other airline in the world and operated nearly two million flights carrying 139 million customers. United is delivering a more flyer-friendly experience, offering more premium-cabin flat-bed seats and extra-legroom, economy-class seating than any airline in North America. In 2013, United became the first U.S. global carrier to offer satellite-based Wi-Fi, including on long-haul overseas routes. The airline also features DIRECTV® on more than 200 aircraft, with more live television access than any airline in the world. United operates nearly 700 mainline aircraft and, in 2014, will take delivery of 36 new Boeing aircraft and welcome the E175 aircraft to United Express. Business Traveler magazine awarded United Best Airline for North American Travel for 2013, and readers of Global Traveler magazine have voted United's MileagePlus program the Best Frequent-Flyer program for 10 consecutive years. Air Transport World named United the Eco-Aviation Airline of the Year Gold Winner in 2013. United is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 195 countries via 28 member airlines. More than 85,000 United employees reside in every U.S. state and in countries around the world. For more information, visit united.com or follow United on Twitter and Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL.

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SOURCE United Airlines