Continental Airlines TV Television Commercials From The 1970s And 1980s - Golden Tail

[@99eurostar]

This is the era that I flew ..the DC-10 as a flight attendant with Overseas National. Our passengers were treated like royalty. Flying was fun and glamorous.

[@robandrick-chudej-martin5084]

Arnelle Meyer I flew for American Arnelle and flew on the DC 10 from ORD to SAN, LAX, SFO and BOS. Then I worked our 747 from JFK to LAX, and we had the piano bar on board! I agree...flying was awesome back then..I flew for 42 years and retired in 2010. Great video!! SO many memories.

[@jocelynharris-fx8ho]

I loved Overseas National and loved it's logo. Deregulation spelled the end for unique and fun airlines like ONA and I miss them.😢

[@1Rdby]

It breaks my heart that these glory days of airline travel are long gone.

[@HesJustSteven]

This was back when flying was a luxury even for the economy class, stewards cared, and airplane food was ACTUAL food, but now air travel has just become an airborne bus ride, its lost its purpose and now we just fly just for the hell of it

[@mynamehappy]

I love the songs. Everybody looks so happy, you can really tell they're genuinely proud to move their tail for you.

[@stangalaxia2879]

I flew back from Australia in the 80s and i lost my ticket in the restroom when I boarded the plane. I didn't know. I enjoyed some cocktails and by the time we got to Hawaii and deplaned it was clear I had no ticket. They allowed my to fly to LA because I had to have the ticket to get on the plane. The Continental cleaning crew found my ticket in the trash bin and all was good. As I was one of the last to clear customs in Hawaii, I did have to run fast but never missed the flight home. They did a great job.

[@elenasimpson1654]

My husband retired from Continental after 25 years of service. He still speaks proudly of those days. Not all of them mind you, because Frank Lorenzo almost grounded the company until Bonderman's Texas Air Partners and the affable Gordan Bethune came to the rescue. They paved the way with better leadership, turning the company around from Worst to First with record breaking service and a game plan that included Continental's employees. Gordy and all the others who made it possible , wherever you are, God Bless You!

[@ztug57]

Lorenzo was the devil!

[@cityofabscissae]

@@ztug57, the Devil's handiwork at least.

[@keithborshak5110]

My dad was an A&P Mechanic in the 1970's until the early 80's. I was with him one day as we were intraffic. My dad laughed out load and pointed to a bumper sticker on the car in front of us that read "Will Rogers Never Met Frank Lorenzo"

[@davidj.3897]

my parents remember those times: -Wide seats -Nice food -Pong -Alcohol in flight -Great Attention -Kind and respectful employees -Arriving the plane while the crew is welcoming you with a musical number

[@MTLTV-eu4nv]

David Jimenez My dad told me that back in the day, you were allowed to smoke on airline flights. The entire plane reeked of cigarette smoke as a result though smoking was only allowed in certain rows.

[@helios1912]

These ads are so emotive--I loved them back then so much I thought flying on an airliner would actually be like this. Thanks for this great compilation, Aviation Explorer.

[@chiukingston8126]

The singing was just awesome

[@zorroalphonso4354]

Old audio!

[@geneelliott2134]

Continental was the premier jet airline. Beginning in 1959, we took away a lot of business from the big-3 out of our DEN base with our golden tails. We always had the best meals and service. We were the first to offer 3 class service and, after beginning international service across the Pacific, were the first A/L approved to fly without a navigator. We were the first to offer movies on domestic flights with special short movies from DEN to LAX and ORD. It was fun and challenging to work there.

[@Hutch1601]

The original Continental Airlines of Robert F Six will always and forever be THE BEST airline ever! Period! I should know I was apart of it!

[@leestone5223]

The service aboard the Continental 727s was fun & incomparable! ✈️

[@jose.luis.ayala.]

DAMN STRAIGHT. THANK YOU. 🥲

[@alancurzon4819]

Agree - I flew them in 1980 on six different flights when i visited the US - Was simply amazing. Back then flying was such a pleasure and the airlines responded.

[@Shipocute]

My former flight instructor used to be bartender at the pub. He loved working there. When the pub was gone, he applied for pilot position with Continental Express and he flew ERJ145 as captain.

[@pamdancey482]

Just retired at 42 years, of course the best years were at Continental before the merger. Loved loved LOVED being a flight attendant and LOVED my Continental!!! We were the best in the sky

[@derriusbranch8620]

Hi Mr Branch checking in. Looks great. Great to see again. Deffinetley Brightens my day. Hello Everyone great to see. Mr. D. L. Branch

[@nickhedensten6217]

I have on my desk a Continental Statesman desk pen holder with all 13 medals I got when I was flying every week and many, many miles , they always treated with great service.

[@davidcole333]

First flew with continental in 1975. 90 minute flight in coach. served a steak dinner.

[@jose.luis.ayala.]

AH, YESSS. The way things USED to be. 💯🍴🍽️🍴🥃🍸🍷🥲

[@jose.luis.ayala.]

In COACH, NO LESS.

[@bibolcs]

We really move our tail for you..? Wow is good to investigate the past of everything..! I didn't have idea about the history of this airline, this is a tremendous material, thanks for upload it and to show us to the new generations about the history of one of the best airlines of America, Simply Continental..!

[@harrycallahan692]

Back in the day when you complained to the airline they would upgrade you. Today when you complain they have you arrested.

[@lawnmowermanTX]

I flew Southwest after Continental crashed.. But that’s ok. I don’t travel.. Continental was mentioned in FSX Steam Edition on Airforceproud95 channel. Funny, the DC-10 wasn’t used, but a CRJ... Need to rebuild the Continental airline... Bad idea?

[@lawnmowermanTX]

Better have attorneys and FAA Agents on speed dial.

[@ericthiel4053]

Back in the 80s when I was a little kid, I got to fly continental a couple times. To this day, it was the only airline that gave me and my little sister a pair of pin on wings and extra snacks every time we flew lol....was always my favorite.

[@davidharris2519]

loved flying on CO back then the 72s and 10s were great

[@rrz518]

What an airline, HOLY COW!

[@garygardner8785]

Class 75/5 man those were the good old days. Some of the best years of my life

[@bobbypaluga4346]

Continental had the best ads by far, Western was a distant 2nd, every other carrier was wasting their cash. Yes, the DC-10 first class section on late evening flights was quiet, darkened , perfect for 40 winks and unwinding. I would put off flying to LA from Denver to the last flight Sunday night which was a DC-10 at 9:00p arriving at 9:40p. It was perfect

[@markdorais2846]

Miss the days of the DC-10’s high ceilings, wide cabins and comfortable seats.

[@jimdep333]

At Six's insistence, Continental (with Pan Am and Trans World Airlines) was a launch airline for the Boeing 747 aircraft. On June 26, 1970, Continental became the second carrier (after TWA) to put the 747 into U.S. domestic service. Its upper-deck first class lounge and main deck "Polynesian Pub" won awards worldwide for the most refined cabin interior among all airlines, as did meal services developed by Continental's Cordon Bleu-trained executive chef, Lucien DeKeyser.

[@tokyojerry]

So nostalgic! Worked with Continental Airlines @ HNLRRCO throughout the 1970s.

[@austinwiseman1817]

Heya,I used to work at SYDTRCO from 89-93 when the pulled all south pac flying, so sad but I moved on and thanks to CO I have been a F/A for NZ and now VA. They were some of the best days and also when irrops happened as they did we all pulled together, a true family, have many friends still flying for UA now and the culture has changed....the best days! I remember the SYDGUM flight so full we had to put people in the pub! Awesome! 🤙

[@JMMT7022801]

Who knew a flight attendant could toss the salad at 1:20. Haha!

[@bodaciousbabe5826]

I flew Continental from LAX to Denver in late 1971. I thought it would be on a DC-9 or a 727. Boy, was I surprised when I saw that my flight was on a 747. It was the only time that I ever flew on Continental. I loved that airline back then. I hate them all now. The quality of service died when they did away with the C.A.B. (civil aeronatics board) If you bring them back, you'll revive quality in air travel service in the USA.

[@Aviatorspot]

Good video! I like the DC-10!

[@michaelbeck4425]

Back when flying was fun.

[@nealwhaley63]

If a car rental agency tried to hand me keys to a Ford Pinto, I would’ve asked where the taxi stand was located.

[@doug9066]

Don't see ads like this anymore plus a few freebies back then, I've not flown in a few or more years but I'm thinking Airlines don't give anything easy these days. Was fun to fly in the 80's and 90's.

[@finselbuch]

I was a million-miler on Continental. On United, I am treated like a roasted turd.

[@a380qm2]

I miss the old DC-10, they look very impressive, as matter of fact, to me they look more impressive than a 777, so that extra engine makes a differents. I very much took them for granted when they where in main line service, but now I miss those big trijets with three man cockpits.

[@ISpitHotFiyaa]

Jamaal Smith So what exactly do you miss about them? Just the exterior look of the plane? The 777 does only have two engines but they're the biggest aircraft engines ever created. I'm sure they're a lot quieter than the DC-10. And I don't know what having a flight engineer buys a passenger.

[@lynnfemia7034]

Totally miss Continental

[@OliverKCohen]

+Lynn Femia me to, but i have 2 luggage tags from continental :)

[@livingroomset2084]

+Kermit cohen Awesome :D

[@drakbar5957]

Busby Berkeley brought me here. Continental sure knew how to choreograph their ads!

[@HighFlightChannel]

Wonderful DC-10. Only got to fly it with Northwest!

[@milk3275]

A golden tail, a golden tale

[@koalaoyaji3]

What an airline, holy cow!

[@Lord13289]

The safety videos were some of the best anime of all time

[@wrigley611]

In first commercial the secretary was Barrie Youngfellow. She later starred in It's A Living.

[@googaagoogaa12345678]

These old ads are so awesome i wish i could have flown on a dc10 or 727 in the good days alas i was born in 1999 in SATX so the best ive had was a DL 757 in 2007

[@Bullet19881988]

I flew with Continental in the Late 90s from Düsseldorf to New York Newark By a dc10 lovely flying

[@ivandidjohgah]

very nice video......

[@kevingoeppner3114]

Back then it was all about the customer... Now it's all about the company and $$$. How many seats can we jam into this thing, no food, no "coach pub" and damn it.... NO PONG GAME!

[@ISpitHotFiyaa]

Kevin Goeppner It wasn't all about the customer. The customer was paying through the nose to fly back then. Back during the days of regulation the prices were fixed so the airlines couldn't compete on price. They differentiated themselves by adding stupid ancillary stuff like coach pubs, hot stewardesses, food, and in-flight movies. The reason that stuff doesn't exist today is because the airlines are free to charge market price for their tickets and nobody is willing to pay for that stuff.

[@watershed44]

ISpitHotFiyaa Indeed and there's something to be said about pushing service competition before pricing. Sure you can fly cheap, but everyone is miserable doing that, and it just keeps getting worse. If you want to take a cheap form of transportation take the bus that has it's wheels on the ground the ENTIRE trip. Flying is supposed to be special.

[@watershed44]

Micah Lall-Trail Yes they did, built into small tables in the lounge on these planes, while I was a child and flying coach the stewardess let us go upstairs and look around after the plane was in the air! Fun times, nice crews that cared about the passengers!

[@loganenglish3537]

GODDAMNIT GIVE US PUB PONG

[@watershed44]

@Logan English Even as a 8-10 year old kid in the early-mid 70s flying in a jet was a special experience, and everyone aboard the plane knew it was. So much fun and people clearly enjoyed themselves so much in the air. Getting there was an important part of the experience, people have lost their appreciation for the true miracle of flight.

[@donaldpalmer6625]

I wish flying was like that these days.

[@mynamehappy]

You can tell everyone in the commercials were genuinely proud of the company they worked for. "The airline pride built" it's truly a shame United gobbled them up and is what they are now.

[@SuperPwnageHunter]

I wish this airline was still around:(

[@aeronautic1]

My dad flew for Continental from 1946 to 1980. My mom was a stew in the 50's. The sad irony of it is that growing up in the Continental family, United Airlines was a dirty word in our house. I am certain today Bob Six is spinning in his grave.

[@ric615palm4]

Flying back in the 70s was grrrrrrreat!!

[@macdonelldouglas]

Continental golden bird with world airways red and golden DC10-30s were so beautiful gorgeous.

[@scottbrandon6244]

Does anyone remember the dining room lounge on the second floor of 747 planes? Pan Am and a few other airlines had them back in the 70s and 80s.

[@rollandfitch5473]

This was when Fares were set by government edict and airlines had to use service to get customers.

[@sjbobkins9442]

Those were the days, when flying was the best part of your trip. Nobody moves their tail for you today

[@Ltresso12]

well delta and Virgin Atlantic do move their tail for you

[@jaydenaviation2974]

+Ltresso12 nope and United SUCKS

[@jaydenaviation2974]

Well Virgin Atlantic is

[@sjnavaid9341]

wow same name

[@watershed44]

Back when flying as a passenger was a great and special experience. Now everybody thinks they are entitled to fly for just about free.

[@ralphmaxx321m4]

I got to take a trip in Continental Airlines when I was 7 years old, "the bird with the golden tail".

[@TyJamal]

Flew Continental since I was a youngster. They were my favorite airline. United needs to re-train the majority of their staff on their customer service skills to even try to embody a portion of what Continental was.

[@brentmann2988]

5:15 the quintessential Casey Kasem voice-over. "And now we're up to our long distance dedication..." ;) 0:18 the voice of John Connell, an all-time great VO talent.

[@bobgentry7104]

Love these blessed commercial I Cool.

[@toaster______7930]

Good days...

[@onlyweknow2]

Boy them days are gone.

[@ezb77]

aaah back in the day where airline travel was civilized...

[@ezb77]

***** flown business twice which was nice but the cabin looked like a war zone after the flight due to some family with parents letting the kids leave a real mess...

[@ISpitHotFiyaa]

***** You've still got to deal with the TSA. How civilized is that?

[@leighburton832]

I am mad that Continental Airlines folded before I ever got to fly with them! They were the last airlines that gave free meals with every flight!

[@caliden3785]

I love how they had a pinto as a rental option.....someone in the advertising liked musicals...a lot of singing going on.

[@donaldkoelper5807]

The Continental Airlines your family knew and worked for disappeared in 1982, when Frank Lorenzo and Texas International Airlines took control in a hostile takeover. After nine banks withdrew a pending $185 million loan offer that Continental's employees had planned to use to purchase their airline and avert the TIA takeover, Continental Chairman & CEO Alvin L. Feldman -- who had encouraged and supported that effort -- shot himself in the head in his office at CO's L.A. headquarters.

[@Videospotter]

These ads are so fantastic. Btw: I'm your 9000th subscriber :-)

[@timothywgray1]

Sadly, that airlines was destroyed when Frank Lorenzo took it over. And now it gone, merged into a new UA, The new head of UA is doing essentially the same thing that Lorenzo did. It is being stripped of its identity, and turned into a low-budget airline with a heavy cost structure. I give them 5 years until they declare Chapter 11 once again. It is really sad. But at least we have the memories of the past. Thanks for posting this.

[@John.Mini-Clubman]

My late mum (mom) worked for Continental from the mid-`60's to late `72.. in the catering dept' near LAX. Occationaly, she'd bring home a cinnamon Danish pastry for me. Yum! It truly was the; 'Proud Bird w/the Brass Ass!'

[@frankd1965]

4:14 to 5:14 features legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully.

[@paulsimmons3211]

Growing up in the 1970s, the only thing I remember about Continental Airlines was their slogan touting, "We really move our tails for you"...In all honesty, I'm the only member of my family who has never flown on a plane (unless you count the coin op ones that used to be found at entrances of old school box stores such as Community, Topps and Zayre)...would like to fly on a real plane someday though...

[@kgoundan]

At least today you can bring your tablet and choose the movie you want to watch 😀. But you have to remember to download it before flying.

[@michaelbetzer1966]

4:12:Are you kidding? Vin Scully? What a great guy!

[@andyspet]

i flew on this in 1988 from Gatwick to Texas, on my way to Australia .

[@alcd6333]

Nicholas Hammond from "Spider-Man" was a spokesman - interesting!

[@brkitdwn]

Love that promo starting at 5:50

[@Salyjey]

Good old days

[@zhemeevallopianeslinjerdum9569]

Flying "used to be" cool. Now, it is a Military exercise. Even in "Business Class"

[@Lexandmax81]

GREAT!

[@baronedipiemonte3990]

I remember when you could still SMOKE on airlines... I was 14 MSY to SEA

[@misled1982]

hahah the video games on board!

[@kurtkauffman4326]

R.I.P. Casey Kasem!!!,4/27/1932-6/15/2014.His voice is totally silenced!

[@UnitedJetSetter]

The first airline I ever flew on. I was only 4 years old. Not to mention New York Air on the way back from MCO.

[@hwnlaxboy]

My grandpa flew the DC 10 for continental

[@finselbuch]

Lucky to have survived.

[@OPTIONALWATCH]

I used to fly Continental from Chicago to Panama.

[@RTS222]

Vin Scully rules! Wonder if CAL served Dodger Dogs in the pub of those diesel 10's?

[@jamestheredengine5217]

Richard RT Simpson u mean DC-10

[@Quaigy1]

Does anyone remember a Continental commercial involving the flamingo and DC-10s? It was in the Denver market. The premise was that a mix up had occurred, and an elderly woman had a DC-10 delivered to her front yard. She felt her yard was empty when the DC-10 was removed by Continental, so they bought her a pink flamingo yard ornament so her yard wasn't so empty. I'm not kidding. This was an actual commercial. Does anyone remember it or know where I can view it?

[@watershed44]

Craig Chariton I do vaguely recall what you're speaking of. I wish the folks that used to work for their old ad agency would upload that one here. I loved their campy ads.

[@Lzrdman91]

I remember my dad and i flew in continental in 2000 and it was good, but wow they were alot better then

[@rickk8250]

Back when customer service existed, and customers mattered. Made me sad to watch these

[@LMacNeill]

The DC-10 was an excellent plane, with just a couple of minor flaws. Every new plane has minor flaws that get fixed over time. Unfortunately, those couple of minor flaws on the DC-10 resulted in a few major crashes, so no one wanted to fly on DC-10s anymore. Ironically, when you look at its long-term safety record, the DC-10 has turned out to be a bit safer than a Boeing 747, and it was always cheaper to fly and maintain than the B747. I'd fly on one today, if they weren't all cargo planes.

[@zorroalphonso4354]

Not quite so, the DC10 passenger flights lasted until 2014.

[@MCruz0988]

Vin Scully FTW

[@mehmetokay7073]

Join the mile high club in a Continental DC-10.

[@brkitdwn]

Fly n Drive. Can't wait to get into that pinto.. ;/

[@mattb574]

Pong on a DC-10. Well I never expected that. Imagine if airlines put things like that on their aircraft today.

[@cefb8923]

I was about to say they basically do have just about everything these days.. then I realized this comment was from 7 years ago. Still curious why in 2020 video games aren't available to 1st class passengers. I guess who would really be playing Call of Duty while flying on a business trip lol.

[@albertpatterson3675]

What? No tats, no ink, no piercings, no elongated ear lobes: These people look like aliens.

[@garygardner8785]

Yep, before culture rot invaded our society

[@millenniumbryan]

Who is the guy in the commercial starting at 4:14 ?

[@michaelswartzkopf6032]

I'm old enough to remember when smoking was allowed on all domestic flights and I've been on dozens of the old 727's

[@eeeharc8713]

They always sing LOL

[@nigeldallas9054]

Hilarious ads, it looks like Airplane 1980 , i was expecting Ted Striker to pop up!, oh and the red meatball looks much better than the black! lol

[@googaagoogaa12345678]

i love these ads they are so funny and dumb and now flying the continental DC-10 with wide seats and exclusive concorde burning action