In 1987, Braniff Airlines ran ads on television, on radio, and in newspapers touting its leather seats. Radio ads in Florida were the first to reveal an unintended double meaning. For years, international business books have cited this example without a reference, and other publications have reported that the blooper came from American Airlines. However, a February 1987 article by the Associated Press reported the following about the Braniff ads immediately after they aired in US Spanish-speaking markets:

“It says fly “en cuero,” or “in leather.” But a very similar expression, “en cueros,” means “naked,” and the two phrases sound identical when spoken quickly.

Some local advertising executives (in Florida) have complained the commercial could be a poor translation, showing insensitivity to Hispanics – but others say it is just a clever advertising move.

The marketing director of the largest local Spanish-language television station, WLTV, says he believes the play on words is intentional.

“They’re trying to get across in a memorable way that all Braniff seats on all flights are leather, that they’re luxury seats,” Blaine Decker said… “And certainly if there’s this kind of reaction, it’s memorable….”

…The man who developed the Braniff ad says the meaning wasn’t intentional.

Read the entire article here:

If the man who developed the ad had not admitted this was a blooper, then many people would have certainly continued to believe it was intentional. Braniff had earned a reputation for being a little suggestive in similar ways, as exemplified in this 1960′s television commercial about “The Air Strip.” Maybe the supposed translation blooper really was done on purpose, but the creator of the ad didn’t want to give away his secret…

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