British Airways Tells a Sweet Coming-of-Age Story That Starts With a First Flight

British Airways and London-based agency Uncommon Creative Studio are following their Cannes-winning “A British Original” campaign with an emotional film about the power of travel throughout a person’s life.

Directed by Emmy Award-winner Miles Jay, the minutelong spot shows a baby dozing off on her first flight. Her dreams tell the story of adventures she’ll have in the future, first as a toddler, a child and then as a young woman who enjoys running on the beach, relaxing by a pool, dancing in a club, walking through a forest and rafting.

Upon waking, the baby looks out the window of a British Airways plane in wonder. 

The film is set to Saint Saviour’s “I Remember,” with the haunting acoustic music centering on the line, “Someone should have told you that you’d always have a place to go.”

“Travel awakens who we are,” Jay said in a statement. “I loved the construct of a coming-of-age story told through the dreams of a sleeping newborn on its first flight. This film shows the beauty of flying and how it puts us out into the world to reveal to ourselves who we are—with a touch of British charm that is uniquely British Airways.”

The ad debuted on British broadcaster Channel 4 and will also run on ITV and Sky channels. Outdoor executions will launch later this month.

The 2022 “A British Original” campaign, Uncommon’s first work for British Airways, featured 500 unique outdoor ads playing on the question, “What is the purpose of your visit?” and sharing the many reasons people fly.

“We are so proud to share the next iteration of ‘A British Original,’ working with our incredible partners,” Uncommon co-founder Lucy Jameson said in a statement. “The work showcases the many journeys British Airways takes us on and the role they play in shaping our lives and who we become.”

CREDITS:

Client: British Airways
Creative studio: Uncommon Creative Studio
Production company: Smuggler
Director: Miles Jay
DOP: Robbie Ryan
Producer: Gustav Geldenhuys
EP: Lucy Kelly
Edit: Work Editorial
Editor: Ben Jordan
Edit assist: Jack Moore
Producer: Frankie Elster
Music track: I Remember
Artist: Saint Saviour
Producer: Bill Ryder-Jones
Music supervision: Soundtree—Neil Athale
Sound: Soundtree
Sound design and mix: Jack Patterson and Henning Knoepfel
Producer: Neil Athale
Post-production: Time Based Arts
Colorist: Company 3, Greg Fisher, Yoomin Lee
VFX: Ollie Ramsey
Producer: Jo Gutteridge and Josh Robinson
Grade producer: Ellora Sorret and Kerri Aungle