Holiday company On The Beach uses social media to fire back at 'abusive, snobbish and thick-headed' trolls who targeted an ad showing family enjoying airport lounge access

Holiday agency On The Beach has targeted social media users who have shared 'offensive, snobbish and fat-shaming' opinions online.

The package holiday company said it had seen “an alarming number of messages” targeting the family in its advert and posted messages on its website this week. social media channels to 'remind users to think before posting'.

The advert, narrated by Paddy McGuinness, promotes On The Beach's free airport lounge access offering four and five star holidays and features a family of four walking with panache through an airport to a lounge, enjoying a meal and then having fun runs on the run. to a beach.

However, in response to this, comments appeared on TV ad a family claiming the slobs are “genius” because they get lounge access really encourages me to travel with them.”

On the beach said some messages “contained violent or offensive messages.”

Examples cited by the company include: 'I hate the fat kid in the On The Beach ad'; and 'I don't condone hitting children, it's disgusting, but despite that being said, I've never wanted to beat up anyone more than that absolute mess on the beach advert. The anger when it arises.'

Other posts are 'snobbish' according to On The Beach.

In a statement, it cited this as an example: 'The advertisement for On The Beach states that their customers have free access to the airport lounge. Can you imagine oil executives sharing their airport lounge with vacationers?'

X is not the only site where derogatory comments can be found, according to On The Beach.

It pointed to YouTube comments 'with a similar tone', such as: 'So what was once an executive lounge of the slightly more fortunate class will be full of Tracey and her six children sucking down every last peanut.' And 'this company is definitely aimed at family holidaymakers who just want to sit around the pool and eat and drink as much as possible'.

The ad, narrated by Paddy McGuinness, promotes On The Beach's free airport lounge access with four and five star holidays and shows the family of four walking with panache through an airport to a lounge, enjoying a meal and then having fun runs on the run. to a beach

On The Beach said in an X-post: 'We've seen a lot of fat, snobbish comments about our TV ad and the family we used.

“It's 2024 and some people are still hiding behind keyboards to hurl abuse at a family, including two children?

'This is a polite reminder that everyone has the right to a holiday and everyone has the right to access airport lounges.

'Be nice. Don't be an online booking idiot.

'Be a booking genius instead: stick with the snobs and get free airport lounge access with us. And if they don't like it, they are very welcome with a £10 pint on their way out.'

The

Comments appeared on

On The Beach responded to the trolls with this X-post

She said: 'It is shocking to see the snobbish comments posted online about our advert and the family featured in it.

'We are highlighting these worrying comments because we want to remind those who hold derogatory views that everyone has the right to a holiday, and everyone has the right to access lounges.

“There's nothing we can do about it if you're not a booking genius and go loungeless this summer.”

On The Beach claims that 'some offensive reports have been fueled in part by snobbish news articles', citing a Daily Telegraph story stating that 'holidaymakers have vandalized airport lounges' as one of many examples.

Zoe Harris labeled such articles as 'concerning'.

She added: 'We always do our best to offer customers the best deals on the best hotels in the best destinations, but understand that some families in Britain may only be able to afford one holiday this year. That's why we offer free perks, such as lounge access, because we want the holiday to be as good as possible.'

The On the Beach advert has caused some controversy this year, with 135 complaints sent to the ASA (Advertising Standard Authority), with people believing that On the Beach ambassador and advert voiceover, Paddy McGuinness, swore when he said 'booking genius'. .

The ASA also received four complaints from viewers who believed the depiction of the family normalized and encouraged rude and greedy behavior.

Following a review, the ASA cleared On the Beach and Paddy McGuinness on all counts.