Q: Can you identify this airline, based on the logo on the tail of the plane?
A. If you said, “Duh, obviously it is Continental. I have seen this globe a million times. I am very worldly and have become familiar with various airlines’ marks as well as their names, which is basically the point of branding, right? To be recognizable like that?” then you are WRONG SIR. Oh ho ho, don’t you feel foolish.
Because OBVIOUSLY the correct answer is “United and Continental recently merged and as a result hacked their two very different logos into one. United. United Airlines is the answer. Excuse me while I go die.”
Ready to see?
Drumrolllll…
Ta dah!
Not even Brand New can find anything nice to say about it. Let’s all cross our fingers that this is just a transitional thing. Wish upon a star, toss coins into a fountain, whatever we have to do to make this right. I just can’t stand another heartbreak like this.
Here are the two old marks for your consideration, I bid them a fond farewell (United) and early-’90s-tech-company good riddance (Continental):
Last known United and Continental logos. Both marks designed by Saul Bass, if you’re into that sort of thing.
