If it's a half hour job, 5 planes x $200/hr (conservatively high) x 1/2 hour = maybe $500... And very likely by the company that owns them to get people to talk about it.

Actually a really cheap ad in that case. I'd rather something funny in the sky than yet another annoying ad (costing way more wasted money) on TV...

[–] EatMyDick@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

You realize Google is a thing, correct?

Skytyping can cost more than regular skywriting, starting at $25,000. Skytyping uses five planes instead of one, but it's a more accurate form of aerial advertising that ensures legibility. A personal skywriting message can cost upwards of $6,000–$8,000, depending on where the few skywriting planes are located at the time you want the message written. Skywriting rates are generally charged per flight hour. A one-hour flight over a major city can cost anywhere from $500 to $5,000.

Again, very few non fuck you money are spending 5k at the low end on deeze nuts. Conservativly high 🤦‍♂️

[–] CeruleanRuin@lemmy.one 2 points 1 year ago

You're not wrong, but think of the number of people this brought joy to.

Is it wasteful? Sure. Is it a bit of a face slap to people living paycheck to paycheck, assuming they're even that well off? Sure. But is it a net negative? Who can say? Unlike most fuck-you-money splurges, this one probably at least lightened some people's days for a moment, and that's not nothing.