British Airways has an unexpected bit of advice for its typical customers: Don’t fly. The message is aimed at Brits who might be tempted to skip the country during the madness of the London Olympics. The airline, official carrier of the games, describes its push as "tongue-in-cheek," and spokesman Frank van der Post explains: "We’re rallying the country to get behind Team GB and ParalympicsGB to capitalize on home advantage. ... We are encouraging every extra clap and cheer we can get." The effort is being promoted with the hashtag #HomeAdvantage, which is featured in a giant painting near Heathrow and in the recently unveiled TV spot from BBH. To the strains of The Clash's "London Calling," a British Airways jet taxis off an airport runway and drives through the streets of London, past familiar landmarks, winding up at the city's Olympic Park. Judging from the ad, Brits would indeed be best served staying home and rooting for their athletes. Why bother booking a flight if the plane just winds up stuck in traffic on the M1?
