Qantas just dropped its vaccination ad and it’s a certified heartbreaker.
While the government have been hitting us with vaccine infomercials with all the charm of a limp salad or threatening us with severe COVID like it’s our fault we can’t access the vaccines, Australia’s national airline has produced a gut-punch of an ad to get sleeves rolled up across the country.
Qantas are famous for their stirring ads, using Peter Allen’s ‘I Still Call Australia Home’ in many of their classic campaigns.
With the rest of the world producing some highly engaging and uplifting campaigns to promote vaccination, the company have stepped up and belted their new ad right into our collective feels.
It’s a touching reminder of the power of international travel and Aussies across the country are sharing their reactions as they watch it.
If you’ve got a box of tissues to hand, here’s the ad everyone’s been weeping about.
The video tells the story of three groups of Australians all looking forward to international freedom, laying out the future that is to come with reunions, travel, and engagements.
It pulls on the heartstrings by appealing to those who have been separated from loved ones overseas and gets us ready for the day we will one day be reunited when vaccine rates are high enough in Australia.
The clip uses the Tones and I song ‘Fly Away’ and forms part of Qantas’ new “Be Rewarded” campaign that gives Frequent Fliers discounts and incentives to get vaccinated.
Its debut has caused a storm online with people relaying their response to the ad.
#qantas hope this little gem of an ad reminds everyone of what we are missing – people, places, memories and moments that are irreplaceable #GetVaccinated
— Cheryl (@cok295) August 23, 2021
Don’t watch the Qantas ad with your kids around unless you want to answer questions like “when can we go visit our auntie” and “when can we go to Disneyland?” and “why are you crying?”
— Matt Bevan (@MatthewBevan) August 23, 2021
The campaign was a collaborative effort between creative agency Brand + Story and Qantas’ in-house content production team.
This ad from @Qantas really hits different. I've missed (and likely will miss) so many important life moments with family and friends over the past 18 months through border closures. So many other young people would feel the same. https://t.co/v3fFqcGToW
— Naveen Razik (@naveenjrazik) August 23, 2021
Absolutely bawling at the #qantas ad. But not being able to see your family & not being able to go to Disneyland are two very different things. It’s incredibly hard to watch given that the international borders are still closed. Sendin hugs to everyone separated from loved ones💚 https://t.co/zl3jzwo5fb
— Nicola Holly (@MissNicolaHolly) August 23, 2021
Throw back to 20minutes ago when I didn’t know the #qantasad existed and wasn’t hysterically crying on the floor holding my dog for support. pic.twitter.com/opsfUitfCq
— kduncs711 (@FruitBreakBrain) August 23, 2021
Qantas Group CEO, Alan Joyce, said: “Our crews can’t wait to get back to reuniting family and friends, taking people on holiday and putting some energy back into the whole tourism industry. For us, getting the vaccine rate up to 70 and 80 per cent means thousands of people can go back to work”.
My sister @kathellis74 and her kids live overseas and I haven’t seen them in over 18 months. I miss them so much it hurts. So that @Qantas ad got me in the feels. If getting vaccinated every week would let me see my sister again soon I would do it.
— Liz Ellis (@LizzyLegsEllis) August 23, 2021
Anyone not crying at the Qantas ad?
— Kumi Taguchi | 田口久実 (@kumitaguchi) August 23, 2021
Qantas has made vaccines mandatory for all employees who are eligible for the jab and have said that 75% of their staff support the measure.
I love a @Qantas ad more than most but oh boy, my heart was not prepared for this one 😭😭😭 (ps. I’m not in it) https://t.co/6MnufDjuP0
— Elisabeth Moss (@Elisabeth_Moss9) August 23, 2021
Of course, others have raised concerns that air travel, not the most environmentally friendly industry, should not be leading our charge for vaccination.
Qantas' ad pissed me off. Airlines want to see a jet-fuelled recovery post COVID19. In fact, so many fossil companies have suddenly become concerned about public health and vaccination.
What a grim trade. Solve one crisis; worsen another.
An angry post:https://t.co/VOYZ09QDCP pic.twitter.com/nWU3wBk8cl
— Ketan Joshi (@KetanJ0) August 23, 2021
There’s no word yet as to whether Qantas will open up flights to vaccinated people first, although this is certainly part of the federal government’s strategy.
International flights are expected to resume once Australia reaches Phase Four of its vaccination strategy. Phase Three comes at 80% full vaccination rate across the whole country while Phase Four is a little less clear.
Here’s hoping it’s as soon as possible.
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