First Aer Lingus Boeing 747 Flight From Dublin To New York, 1971

Cathal O’Shannon takes the first transatlantic flight made by an Aer Lingus Boeing 747 jumbo jet from Dublin to New York.
Air hostess Patricia Joyce; Assistant General Manager at Aer Lingus, Arthur Walls and pilot of the inaugural flight, Captain Pete Little describes the new service.
It’s so damn big that walking down its corridors is almost like a stroll down Grafton Street.
Arthur Walls discusses safety on board the plane. Patricia Joyce talks about the level of service and the work required of the sixteen hostesses on board, while Captain Pete Little describes the experience of flying a jumbo jet.
This report for Newsbeat was broadcast on 15 April 1971. The reporter is Cathal O’Shannon.

[@CSM393]

Everyone is so well dressed. Proud to fly.

[@richardbarrett7236]

Flew Aer Lingus Boston to Dublin in 1973. Fabulous experience. The food was totally delicious and luxurious even in coach.

[@joemclaughlin995]

Class!From an age when international air travel was something to behold.Also travelling on one of the most iconic aircraft ever made helped add to that experience.

[@anthonypearson6759]

Also a time when international was something only the 1% can do

[@obsidianzarok2361]

Everyone looks so happy.

[@harrykekgmail]

Superb video. 50 years ago!

[@kevingill5867]

My Dad loved bringing us to the airport to see it land ! Miss the 747 in Dublin

[@JamesKearnsbkk]

My late uncle flew this plane, Jim O'Grady...my hero

[@daniellinehan63]

Flew Chicago- Shannon in '73 and it was so classy.Steak dinner and me 16 and loving it.And we all dressed up for it.

[@jamesbradshaw3389]

Class and great food and real potatoes/spuds on plate delivered with a beautiful smile and warm welcome. I recall those days very well as I help to fly from city to city without care in the world, of course, total care for all passengers and staff, Yes those were the days my friend

[@barryvincentredmond3973]

There was a sense of spaciousness and comfort flying on 747's which is missing today on twinjets.I have happy memories of the JFK to Dublin return flights via Shannon back in the day on Aer Lingus 747's.Memories.!.

[@bentleybrabec]

2:43 cockpit looks great

[@brianboyle2681]

Cathal Shannon(?) the presenter looking very stylish. When people dressed to fly!

[@briank10101]

Shannon stopover

[@86compgeek]

The cabins looked more comfortable back then. Now everyone in economy is crammed in like sardines.

[@brianboyle2681]

Much more expensive to fly then though - even in what approximated economy class

[@briank10101]

People were less obese then

[@bentleybrabec]

0:06 I’d live to be a flight attendant to the jumbo jet back when it was 1st being made

[@ciaran5588]

Fast forward to 2090 & people watching videos of the first private astronauts to go into space will be like us watching this video

[@peterphosphate5436]

Actually flying would have been pretty expensive at that time - some well heeled people on that aircraft mostly Irish judging by their looks. Interesting clip from half a century ago - who would believe it - not too unlike modern day travel but possibly better by the standards from that time. The passengers look comfortable enough. The population of Ireland must have been about 2.5 million judging by the comments made.

[@bquinn4533]

Would be great if someone could tell us all what the actual fares were at the time and what classes there were. I.e first biz and economy or just first and economy.

[@iamfantastic.iamgreat3649]

Maybe it would be possible that it is a total legend of a different type of plane.😬 The only thing is that the flight was a bit of a mess😒. It's not anything to worry about anymore though😉. The weather is pretty bad😕. Most planes come out of London.👌 The weather is pretty hot🔥. Its raining☔ here now but its going to be OK. 👌😊

[@iamfantastic.iamgreat3649]

@@bquinn4533 Not bad😊. Big jumbo jets! 😉 I have to go get one soon 🙏 Big massive plane! 😁The snow is on the way! 😁 More 747 oy! 😁😊👌😀

[@peterphosphate5436]

@@bquinn4533 I wondered about that as well. I expect there were classes of travel but it was not evident from the film clip. I suspect at about that time the cost of flying was becoming more affordable but by todays prices much more costlier I would say. The jumbo probably did contribute in no small measure to bringing the cost of flying down (economies of scale)

[@dobrien757]

@@iamfantastic.iamgreat3649 are you ok?

[@bentleybrabec]

0:01 looks great out the window

[@CAVALIERKNIGHT33]

In those days people would dress up when going for a flight

[@jonmelon9792]

😷

[@mr.afrikaans1747]

No one cares.

[@CanadaBlue85]

@@mr.afrikaans1747 Actually, nobody cares that you don't care.

[@thomasnorris3257]

That was everyday attire back then

[@DartzIRL]

When we had 747's, but didn't yet have colour Telly.

[@DuchessandHammer]

I see the seat configurations have changed somewhat. 🤑💰

[@ossian11]

And we're still flying today in very similar 747s.

[@mwd331]

Very precious few now though..

[@brianforbes9315]

I have a terrible disease where I can’t stop telling airplane jokes. It’s terminal

[@noelmaher4633]

I'm no biologist, but Girls Girls I heard her (😁) say it...

[@samy7013]

I bet she even knew how to define the term without the least bit of hesitation! 🤣😂😁😉👍

[@dobrien757]

Well it was 1971 Noel!😂

[@michaelwalsh9145]

He never mentioned the Titanic 😀😀😀

[@adamgregory5274]

He was wavering though, did you notice?

[@jimmymcjimmyvich9052]

Never knew they had Ovens on them. A Thermos cabinet perhaps. Probably AGAs with a shovel of Anthracite))

[@sanchoodell6789]

The airliner plane that nearly bankrupted Ireland. This one and only Boeing 747 Jumbo jet required by Irish State Carrier Aer Lingus was, no doubt, a great source of national pride for the fledgling Irish state and still very small economy. The Irish flag and national symbol shamrock being flown around the world. The machine was primarily used on more lucrative trans Atlantic routes to the US (& Canada?) The American economy being a major one also close cultural links having a substantial Irish American community it was only natural and inevitable that the Irish state carrier would look towards the United States to expand air routes or bolster existing ones.

[@michaelwalsh9145]

No way would anyone be allowed in the cockpit nowadays, let alone talk to the pilots.

[@dobrien757]

In the air, yes. Its kinda sad but it is for our own safety

[@freespeechisneverwrong9351]

They built their reputation on the air hostesses. Well they’ve lost that now.

[@jenniferdunn3560]

I was very disappointed at the manner of the Aer Lingus flight attendants on a flight I was on. I saw rudeness to a passenger and they were yelling down the cabin at each other. Not at all the caliber of staff they used to employ.

[@freespeechisneverwrong9351]

@@jenniferdunn3560 Exactly. I was also on a recent flight and one of the “Spanish” male air hosts greeted every male passenger with his hand on their shoulder. None of the female passengers were greeted similarly. Extremely creepy.

[@anthonydavid5121]

Interesting! In 1971, were belt extensions offered to all the American passengers?

[@barbaraannecortina7899]

was this a news report?

[@TheBenzer9]

Yea but was the turf to fuel this beast stored in the wings aswell?? The captains name " Peat Little " obviously very economic on fuel

[@n1msu]

the passenger at 1:46, a very smart hypothesis, and one that has turned out to be a fact.

[@cilliano7357]

Well you can be treated like a human being or cheap cattle seats people choose cheap cattle seats.

[@redimade]

16 cabin crew?

[@michaelohalloran2800]

Today planes are just. Cattle cars in the sky. Shame. That is.

[@kelvyquayo]

Airsh payple floyne tru d’skoi. Swate Jayses

[@clarkie5]

Google is trying to translate this. 😅

[@josephphelan646]

Directly translated it reads ..... " lrish people flying thru the sky . Sweet Jesus ". .

[@HavingTheCrack]

Not as nice as my middle row seat on ryanair 😎

[@mochyeas5266]

Oh jaysus paddy it's a giant flying machine hold my potato

[@uncleraul3462]

Wish Liz Truss would have stayed doing that job instead of the ones sh'es done since....

[@thatssomething1]

00:45 I'll take an order of the big melons please 😁

[@lmc4964]

I see dead people

[@rolo4733]

I see my great grandparents.

[@tonemc6047]

You should’ve gone to Specsavers