Something New to Fear at the Airport: Advertisements in Security Trays

People who sell advertising will put ads anywhere.  On radio and TV, magazines, newspapers, billboards, buses, taxi cabs, public restrooms, anyplace where they can be seen, including the security checkpoints at the airport.

Would you believe Houston's Airport managers are selling advertising space in those plastic trays we dump our shoes and pocket stuff into in the airport security lines?

Houston Airport System officials hope to get a little extra revenue, and the Transportation Security Administration will get free replacement trays as part of the deal.

Passengers started seeing the new bins at Hobby Airport and Bush Intercontinental airport in mid-June.  The ads are expected to generate $356,000 in a year, of which the airport's share would be about 15 percent, or $53,000.

So far, online shoe and clothing retailer Zappos is the only advertiser who has ponied up to buy the small space.

Houston's airports aren't the only ones doing this. Nearly two dozen other airports around the country are also selling ad space in the security trays.

via There's money in those airport security bins | Business | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle.

Is there anyplace that's safe from commercial advertising?  If you don't mind driving around in a rolling billboard, there are ad agencies that will pay you to put their ads on your personal car.  Our cash-strapped public schools are thinking of selling ad space on school buses, and selling naming rights to schools and school facilities.

We''re almost afraid to ask "what's next?"