The Gift

Heathrow Airport is launching a Christmas brand ad which is a heart-warming story about that special feeling of being with your loved ones over the festive holidays. It’s the first work with St. Luke’s as lead strategic creative agency, since it won the pitch for the brand in August.

The feel-good 60 second spot called “The Gift” shows a couple in the departure lounge of Terminal 2, drinking champagne to toast their imminent festive getaway - just the two of them. However, the mum seems sad that the pair will be spending Christmas without their kids for the first time - especially when she spies a family with children laughing excitedly in the airport terminal ahead of their flight.

She soon cheers up as they peruse the airport shops, trying on headphones in InMotion Entertainment and buying some of her favourite Jo Malone perfume in the World Duty Free store. The dad then suggests they grab a pre-flight bite to eat at Shan Shui, one of the terminal’s many restaurants. As they browse the menu, he reveals he’s got her an early Christmas present and tells his wife to close her eyes.

In moving scenes, their two grown-up children then appear at the table - and it’s revealed they’ll be joining their parents on their Christmas holiday break after all as their mum cries tears of joy hugging them. The closing line: “This Christmas, depart as you mean to go on” encompasses the special holiday feeling that starts at Heathrow Airport even before reaching your destination.

The Gift will debut on VOD from 14 November, as well as in cinemas and online. It will also be screened at Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park and Canary Wharf ice rink. It is part of a wider campaign to highlight the great experience at Heathrow, by showcasing the vast range of retail brands and restaurants available, featured in 15-second cut downs of the TV spot. The campaign will also appear across OOH and static social media that mirrors the TV.