Reader Doug sent us the above screen grab of the email announcing the Spirit Airlines MILF (Many Islands Low Fares) sale. He wondered:

What? Milfs for sale? If you go to their website, there it is spelled nice and big for you, M.I.L.F.(many islands low fares). Is this an attempt to be clever and comical, or are they that uninformed?

The email attracted a bit of media coverage, and now Spirit is claiming that they have no idea (wink, wink) what a MILF is, and that the executive that approved the promotion is British. (Apparently, British people don’t have movie theaters or internet connections, the poor things.) Asked whether or not the airline knew the acronym was offensive, Juan Arbelaez, the director of communications for the company’s Latin American market, told ABC News:

“The most obscene thing we’ve noticed,” Arbelaez said, “is what other carriers have charged to fly the Caribbean before Spirit’s $9 fares.”

Cute. We see what you did there.

Airline’s ‘MILF’ Promo Not What You Think [ABCNews] (Thanks, Natalia!)

UPDATE: Reader Rob offers more evidence of the lameness of the publicity stunt.