For decades, airline safety videos were something passengers politely ignored. We all knew the drill: seatbelt, oxygen mask, exits, then tune out.
But in recent years, some airlines have figured out a simple truth. If you want people to pay attention, you have to earn it.
That realization has turned safety videos into a creative playground. Storytelling, humor, nostalgia, and culture are now being used to deliver information that actually matters. When people are engaged, they remember more.
This is the first post in an ongoing series highlighting airlines that have reimagined the safety briefing and made it genuinely worth watching.
Philippine Airlines leaned fully into one of the most recognizable elements of Filipino pop culture: the telenovela. The result is a safety video that feels like a dramatic TV series, complete with heightened emotions and suspenseful moments.
It works because you want to see what happens next. And along the way, you still absorb the safety details without effort.
To mark its 100th anniversary, Delta created a safety video that doubles as a journey through time. Flight attendants and passengers move through different decades, highlighting how aviation, fashion, and onboard experience have evolved.
It feels polished, nostalgic, and reassuring. A reminder that longevity and safety often go hand in hand.
British Airways brings classic elegance to the cabin with a Regency-inspired safety video. Think period costumes, refined manners, and a gentle sense of British humor – and maybe Bridgerton meets another favorite! Which one is it?
The contrast between old-world etiquette and modern aviation makes the video both playful and memorable, while staying true to the brand’s heritage.
Air France’s 2015 safety video takes a more cinematic approach. With artistic visuals and smooth pacing, it feels more like a short film than a checklist.
Elegant without being distracting, it proves that simplicity and style can be just as engaging as humor.
If you actually had to choose one safety video to watch all the way through, which would it be?
Let me know michael@mgatravel.com
Even Trevor agrees: if a safety video can hold the attention of a stuffed dog who has flown the world, it’s doing something right.
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