The ad, pictured here, shows an X-ray view of a travel jacket that has various items — passport, iPad, iPod, pen — stuffed into a multitude of pockets. Note the headline: “The Most Stylish Way to Beat the System, SCOTTEVEST Travel Clothing Has Specialized Pockets to Help You Stay Organized & Avoid Extra Baggage Fees.”
According to SCOTTEVEST C.E.O. and founder Scott Jordan, who’s been posting video commentary on this issue on his YouTube channel, Delta claims to have rejected the ad for two reasons. First, the “How to Beat the System” headline coupled with the image of an X-ray jacket implies that the “system” travelers are beating is the airport security system. Second, Jordan says the airline deemed the ad misleading because the jacket doesn’t actually help anyone save money on baggage fees, as each Delta passenger is entitled to one free carry-on bag.
Scott Jordan begs to differ. He argues that passengers can pack in their travel jackets what they would have otherwise stowed in checked bags, consequently saving them an extra piece of luggage in some cases. And, of course, this jacket is not designed to thwart airport security, says Jordan. Check out his response:
According to Tnooz, a Delta spokesperson released this statement: “Our discrepancy with this particular vendor was strictly based on creative standards. Delta and MSP Communications, publishers of SKY magazine, reserve the right to decline advertisements which do not appropriately represent Delta Air Lines or the travel industry.”
Whether or not Delta truly rejected the ad because of “creative standards,” the airline has gotten caught up in a blaze of bad publicity, fueled — in part — by Jordan’s clever promotional tactics. (SCOTTEVEST is the same company that paid for travel writer Rolf Potts to trek around the world with no bags and just an 18-pocket jacket, as we previously reported in our blog).Ultimately, Scott Jordan — just like Delta — is making money from this modern epidemic of airline baggage fees. If we didn’t have to pay 50 bucks to check a bag, we probably wouldn’t need a 24-pocket travel jacket that sells for $140. Is Scott Jordan looking out for the little guy, or is he simply a shrewd C.E.O. taking advantage of public opinion to sell his product?
–written by Caroline Costello
Shrewd C.E.O. with a good gimmick…………..Wish I had one as good!!!!
I just flew Delta this week and they charge $25 for even the first checked bag…they no longer allow one free checked bag.
Looks like I will be buying one of these jackets before I travel on Delta.
You had better buy it before you fly any US airline. United charged me last week, and AA the week before.
It’s one free CARRY ON bag, not checked bag!
This sounds like a great idea! If it comes in size XXX, I may be in the market for one. Right now I wear my heaviest clothing to fly except for slippers and bring one carry-on bag for the overhead and a personal bag to stow under the seat in front of me. This combination has worked well on one week cruises! With a jacket like that, I may decide to take longer cruises because all my belongings would arrive with me at my destination. Of course, their next step will be to ban the jackets! I retired from being a road warrior when Homeland Insecurity took over our flying lives. It became too much of a hassle to fly. We now drive to nearby ports unless cruising to destinations that require us to fly to the dock. They still double-check my wife for contraband in her leg brace! We are both handicapped and even with the assistance of skycaps, it is still a challenge to fly. Don’t dare be a late arrival at the airport either. You may not make it to your flight!
I have several SCOTTEVEST items including the Infamous Jacket. Good quality travel clothing. Another company has a trench coat version in the mill. the ” Suitcase Coat “. I’ll soon be sporting the “layered” look!
PLEASE, WHERE CAN I BUY ONE IN AUSTRALIA???