What It Was Like During The Golden Age Of Flying

The 1950s and '60s are often regarded as the golden age of airlines, offering luxurious seating, fancy meals, and beaming flight attendants. But while it was certainly roomier than today's modern sardine can technique of travel, there was also a fair share of less desirable details unseen in the black and white evidence left behind. So what was it really like to fly during the Elvis era? Let's take a trip through the many ups and downs of getting around in the olden days.
#goldenageflying #retro #weirdhistory

[@WeirdHistory]

Do you love or hate flying now? Was it better back in the Golden Age?

[@e39exclusiveclubpanama33]

Hate it, tsa are a bunch of arseholes,

[@LukeandLucas]

Weird History Cheaper Safer Faster It's much better today

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

I dislike it but I rarely travel by ✈. If I had the 💲, I'd buy 2 seats, so I'd have more room, privacy...

[@AI-cp1jg]

@@e39exclusiveclubpanama33 I don't disagree but they are not the only arseholes. A lot of the passengers are arseholes as well as well as airline employees.

[@RambleGamble03]

You should do more stories about golden ages hijackings

[@kiadismaps2880]

Your voice sounds like it comes from the Golden Ages, amazing!

[@jasonosborne4797]

Kiadis Maps So true!!

[@crixxxxxxxxx]

Sounds like Stephen Colbert.

[@randymarsh5550]

Welcome to the Twilight zone

[@prisyanader8795]

true

[@SEXYINBLACK33]

Very soothing

[@Jasmine-pv8cw]

Luxury food? A smoke? And a more likely chance of dying? COUNT ME IN

[@shelbybooker1478]

I needed a good laugh. Thank you.

[@ubercoolnamehere]

Unfortunately statistics prove otherwise. No there was not a mass amount of deaths from flying commercial airplanes during these periods as compared to now.

[@y0ugur741]

@@ubercoolnamehere keep in mind that planes now fit more people than ever before, and there are shitton more aircrafts in the air, which means more moving parts in the whole "air travel machine", which means eventually something will go wrong more likely

[@ryujinxyyeji]

I would wanna travel during the golden ages cuz economy food sucks

[@asdkotable]

The millenial dream, just replace the smoking with vaping lol

[@peggy2983]

Flight attendants on normal flights back then: would you like some baby back ribs and a martini, sir? Flight attendants on normal flights now: you have one peanut and like it

[@sanctuaryism]

lol but I am still hungry...

[@2MeterLP]

Well he did say that the tickets had cost the equivalent of ~1200$. If you pay that much today youre gonna get legroom and ribs, too.

[@pandas9803]

Riesenfriese true. People are acting like it was perfect and amazing. Nope, you had to rich and white or your not getting on the plane. 😂

[@mumunist2580]

Peggy! Angelicaaaaa, elizaaaaaaaaaaaaa AND YGGEP!

[@patricktrent2531]

@@pandas9803 they didn't have to be white that is extremely racist

[@thomaswilson3437]

At the age of 3 (1963) I flew from Okinawa Japan back to Los Angeles with my military parents on a civilian airliner. The flight took us from Naha, to Honolulu, and thence to LA. This took over two days. Upon arrival in LA my parents spent a week recovering before moving onto my father's next posting. I remember it as a great adventure. My mother however referred to hereafter as the "Hell Trip", going down in family lore as the time "when I actively thought about leaving your father and jumping ship in Hawaii because I was not going to get back on that plane." She needed the week just to get her hearing back from sitting 8 feet away from a Wright Cyclone R-2800 engine for 36 hours (Lockheed Constellation). This was the "Golden Age" of flying.

[@syguzman5739]

Just by reading your comment, I both sympathize and like your mom!

[@thomaswilson3437]

Oh, so would I!

[@davecrupel2817]

@@syguzman5739 :(

[@-caesarian-6078]

The DC-7 Was better :)

[@jstrahan2]

The R-2800 was a Pratt & Whitney engine called the Wasp. It was only used on the Constellation prototype. Production, civilian airliners used the Wright R-3350 Duplex Cyclone.

[@Awakeningspirit20]

So imagine a smoky, turbulent Hooters with gourmet food and possibility of hijacking? Those were the days...

[@itsmeGeorgina]

I guess you had to be there .... ☺

[@EnchantedSmellyWolf]

Can't blame on them. They felt left out.

[@writershard5065]

@mxt mxt Ahhh, the spirit of misogyny.

[@emilycanfield2634]

Funny how the "Golden Age" of America was actually really really awful and only good if you were a white upper middle class family and above LMAO

[@Noneofyourbusiness2000]

@@emilycanfield2634 you're so woke.

[@gregvassilakos]

Yeah, I remember wearing a button-down shirt and tie for airplane trips when I was a kid in the 1960s. I also remember choking on cigarette smoke all through the flight. There were separate rows for smokers and nonsmokers, but there was no bulkhead between them, so the cigarette smoke drifted throughout the cabin.

[@KayleeCee]

It seems like people used to dress nicer back then no matter what. Most men wore hats, women would often wear gloves and dresses when leaving the house, even if they were just going to the store. People dressed up for church. Now many people wear jeans to church and pajamas to the store. I like to dress pretty casual most of the time, but I draw the line at wearing pajamas in public.

[@MotherSoren]

@@KayleeCee but y, if you like wearing formal attire that's fine but I'd choose Pajamas 100% any day over it unless it's actually required

[@Anonymousplayer-vw4kj]

@@KayleeCee It is because people back then were more judgmental and social classes were expected to maintain a certain standard of dressing. Still, I think we all judge people who wear pajamas in public. Seriously.

[@a-drewg1716]

@@KayleeCee mate when its 2 AM and I am going to the local 24 hour convenience store to pick up some late night snacks and maybe a energy drink I am not gonna be going out of my way to put some clothes on. Its pajamas or nothing.

[@itsMe_TheHerpes]

shut up commie

[@Mirokuofnite]

Born too late to experience the Golden Age of Flying Born too soon to experience the Golden Age of Space Travel Born at the right time to experience the Golden Age of the Internet (1994-2007)

[@Confusing-rq1og]

Mirokuofnite x to doubt

[@LaDivinaLover]

john boss not really it’s always been this toxic. You’re just aware of it now

[@therealm4944]

hear hear! now thats looking at the bright side. Oh and not to mention the boom of the cellphone, though at this point its more like a mini computer. If our ancestors could see these now. I bet they'd think we're dabbing in witch craft, hahaha.

[@Poop-nu1so]

You're bringing a tear to my eye stop

[@MrLeary73]

@john boss No it hasn't you boomer

[@WaltzingAustralia]

I was a passenger in the '50s and '60s. First flight was when I was 3 years old. (Dad had been an aviator in WWII, so he figured planes were the way to get where you were going.) I liked the fancy meals, dressing up, and extra seating space -- but I definitely do NOT miss everyone on the plane smoking (they even put cigarettes on your dinner tray). And I don't miss the turbulence. Not mentioned was the boarding process -- you walked on and they checked your ticket after you were in the air -- so you might actually get on the wrong plane. Also, since men took off their jackets (where they'd usually stashed their tickets), and flight attendants hung them up in a closet, there was a mad scramble to get those tickets when it was time to check them. There was what I consider a truly golden period -- between the flying described above and recent decades -- in the '70s. They still served good food, seats were still more spacious, and jets were replacing prop planes and were quieter and smoother--but keeping prices down and making planes more affordable to all, plus dealing with increased air traffic, brought that to an end. Glad I got to experience it all, because it definitely makes one appreciate the improvements.

[@lisalu910]

Yes, I remember the late 1970s which is the first time I flew. It was like you said, still a nice experience, but we flew in jets by that time.

[@MaSoNGaMeR115]

what improvements? i wanna fly retro air now lol

[@elgasalme9331]

@@MaSoNGaMeR115 me too! Why no any retro flight?

[@GlamorousTitanic21]

My grandmother was a hostess with Continental in the 60’s. She met my grandfather by chance when his flight was delayed and she invited him to sit down with her for a cup of coffee at LAX. Funny that had his flight not been delayed my grandparents would’ve never met. She quit when they married in ‘68. They celebrated their 50th anniversary 2 years ago.

[@vitormlb1199]

I got worried about the "by accident" part.

[@samridhikaila2676]

So cute

[@ammar4879]

wholesome 💖

[@urban_gse_]

Awww. So cute

[@robertd9850]

I don't care. Not even a little bit. How do you know they wouldn't have met?

[@abandonedtnhistory7488]

Being a past smoker myself, I still never understood how people back then could sit in endless clouds of smoke. I couldn’t stand it when I was with friends and when one person lit up everyone had to.. it was beyond annoying. Quit five years ago and never looked back.

[@hunter70558]

*cancer disliked this post*

[@storrho]

@Africa is the future Vaping

[@113dmg9]

Yay for you quiting smoking and not going back to that "terrible" (please insert your own adjective) habit!. Do many really succeed in staying quited? (Is that correct grammar?)

[@9airpods917]

113 DmG Try one of those substances used as a “alternative” to smoking! (Never smoked in my life, but I’m still trying to help!)

[@kalleskaviar6281]

@Africa is the future snus

[@baracksays9401]

Getting absolutely blasted in business class while my plane gets hijacked, hell yeah son

[@beccaminkin8399]

They conventiently left out what a hijack meant back then : Take me to Miami and give me 2 pizzas and a car!

[@Anonymousplayer-vw4kj]

@@beccaminkin8399 Still I would be pissed off.

[@tjnaples]

Talk about getting your money’s worth! 🍺🥳

[@Christianthemagician_]

A true trip

[@supremechiptunes2108]

@@beccaminkin8399 fr?

[@LIFEWITHTHEJONESES1]

I remember before 2001 you could walk to the gate with your family and see them off

[@huaiwei]

Pretty sure that was not possible in 2001. It was not even possible by the 1980s when Changi opened in Singapore and there was already clear segregation of landside and airside sections.

[@huaiwei]

@et Unless you have a different definition of what a gate means. You manage to bring your entire non-travelling family right up to the start of the Jet bridge without any checking of travel documents or security checks? Where are you travelling from (and to?)?

[@gknowles9172]

@@huaiwei Yup! Exactly that.. My mom was able to walk me directly to the gate and she wasnt flying...or better yet, greet me at my arrival gate upon arriving back home

[@huaiwei]

@@gknowles9172 I finally realised why there are contrastic experiences. That is possible in the US (not sure if for all flights or only domestic), and from what I checked, also in Australia domestic. But not so for most international flights. Singapore only has international flights, so yeap. :D

[@gknowles9172]

Huai Wei Edmund Teo no prob! Happy New Year to you . If it’s not already the new year there!

[@maryanngrayson4862]

I was a passenger on flights in the 50's and 60's, and you're making it sound a heck of a lot worse - and better - than it was. Miss he leg room, though. :-D

[@ohword9541]

Can I have more pean- Flight Attendant: ONLY ONE.

[@baumkuchens]

*gives you only one single peanut*

[@iingardinhio6173]

That'll be: $300.

[@acsalemus2406]

A flight attendant once gave my siblings & I all the left over chips, crackers, & peanuts! It was also almost an entire box 😆He was so fun to be around!

[@KayleeCee]

Now it's pretzels or cookies because of allergies. Peanut allergies can be so bad that people can have a reaction just from being near them.

[@M3TA763AR5071D]

Good luck opening the bag

[@TheColorfultrash]

Then everything changed when the fire nation attacked

[@sprintershepherd4359]

the only constant is change . its inevitable , embrace it

[@bangie3]

perfect

[@Sandishee]

LOLOL you had to be THAT person 🤣

[@The_zenithgod]

Funny? Nah

[@greatandmightykevin]

Everything changed when the oil nation attacked

[@tommyvercetti9434]

I remember getting dizzy when I was little due to all the smoke, God bless that ban.

[@passiveaggressivenegotiato8087]

That's what I was going to say. My parents flew me each summer as a kid (1970s) nervous people were chain smoking

[@eggshells652]

Yulia Loshkareva you're going to be old one day, be quiet

[@hairdryermanson6955]

@Yulia Loshkareva you're*

[@hairdryermanson6955]

@@eggshells652 and?

[@Ex0rz]

Never flew when smoking was still allowed, but went to bars & pubs when smoking was still allowed there and I do as well remember being extremely dizzy after a night out.

[@petpurrveyor895]

Getting prime rib and champagne while I'm here with a peanut pack with a salt ball in it and a guy sleeping on my shoulder.

[@Tiviyan007]

You can always pay that x5 more they paid those days to get into business class and eat better food

[@burntzapato8446]

Yeah but you're in the air, you are experiencing the miracle of human fligth! It used to take people months just to go across the country and people would die on the way.

[@krissydiggs]

I remember there being food all the way up until the early 2000’s actually. Kind of a bummer now. I feel like you should get more than peanuts for anything longer than an hour.

[@CyberMachine]

You do on international flights. You also get free drinks and more food than you could possibly want to eat

[@texasred2702]

At least it's not the guy behind you resting his bare feet on your armrest.

[@StringerNews1]

I grew up in the '60s and was lucky enough to enjoy flying at its finest. Yes, we all dressed up to travel by plane, and I had to wear my "Sunday suit" on the plane. My parents were church-going people, so I usually had to wear the same suit to church while on vacation. When I went away to Colorado to camp c. 1973, I persuaded my parents to let me travel without the suit, and because I was the only one not dressed to the nines, I got treated like a rock star. Around that time they instituted the first security checkpoints, and with Deregulation things quickly went downhill. When I started flying baggage was no longer weighed, though the scales remained at every baggage check counter. After the Arab oil embargoes of 1973 and 1979, some airlines started weighing baggage again, though passenger backlash put an end to that. I remember when "no smoking rows" were instituted, and how the cloud of smoke had an uncanny ability to find the no smoking section.

[@hairyprimeminister748years2]

StringerNews1 ur telling me ur 80?

[@abstrakt4life23]

Hairy Prime minister. Bruh he GREW UP in the 60s that means he’s probably in his 50s

[@jerrynewberry2823]

I have flown since the. mid sixtys. Everything from TransTexas Airways DC3 to BOAC 747s, American AA, Continental, Delta, Braniff, Southwest , and many commuter flights. Top two were Braniff and BOAC. I was always treated with respect and courtesy. The one airline I had no comment about is Flying Tiger Airlines in and out of Vietnam. I arrived and left without being killed. That I was most grateful for.

[@jonathantan2469]

The irony is Flying Tiger was the name of an Allied WW2 squadron based in China. It was considered lucky if you weren't shot down or crashed.

[@dennisvance4004]

A well made and informative video. I like the narrators style; just a hint of 1940s - 1950s mid-Atlantic dialect that perfectly accentuates the material. Flying before 9/11 was an adventure; flying after 9/11 is an ordeal.

[@zillsburyy1]

american airlines security is a joke to israel airlines. they NEVER open the cabin door during a flight

[@dennisvance4004]

Tommy Sands at the height of airline hijackings it was recommended that commercial aircraft have no connection between passenger seating and the flight deck, that there should be separate exterior doors for the pilots and passengers. That was never done. If it had, 9/11 would not have happened.

[@0000-z4z]

@@zillsburyy1 I'm a European, so: What is a Mid-Atlantic dialect and where do you speak it? In the middle of the Atlantic?

[@yaci7945]

0000000 0000000 Non-American here .But if I had to take a guess I will say the mid Atlantic region is from Virginia to the New England states.

[@areyoujelton]

Dennis Vance lol 9/11 was planned by more than a couple cave dwellers.

[@pasajerodelabrujula8261]

“One surprise bump and trip to the bathroom became an impromptu stunt spectacular” That’s brilliant writing ✍️

[@murillontra]

"people would save up for tickets in that time" ah yes cause nowadays I can take 500$ outta my ass

[@sprintershepherd4359]

I guess that makes you people . unless you actually can ? my guess if you can pull $500 outta ya ass , that would make you an ass money growing on trees person

[@Almostill]

@@sprintershepherd4359 Shut cho dumb ass up

[@MrVuckFiacom]

Right? It's still expensive as hell just not _as_ expensive as before but is much more inconvenient to fly these days. It could be a good experience if it wasn't for needing to leave hours in advance to wait at TSA checkpoints violating your privacy and the cramped and uncomfortable seating among other things.

[@Deeznutsmynamejeff21]

You should have 500 bucks saved no matter what, you gotta a problem awaiting if you don’t

[@MrVuckFiacom]

@@Deeznutsmynamejeff21 A new study from NORC at the University of Chicago, an independent social research institution, found that 51% of working adults in the United States would need to access savings to cover necessities if they missed more than one paycheck. Some people don't have that luxury.

[@illmade2]

Sounds pretty good to me, after a few trips cross country on today's airlines with people who haven't washed in days, kids who can't behave, and the person next to me nearly sitting on my lap, hours spent in lines and add to that a few nights spent on the floor in Atlanta because of flight delays sounds damn good.

[@andrewfarley5127]

illmade2 sounds like you fly too much

[@illmade2]

@@andrewfarley5127 not by choice, and hopefully not again for a long time.

[@-caesarian-6078]

Which airlines were you flying? If you were picking budget ones, they end up costing the same with far worse service

[@treborironwolfe978]

Ah, the good 'ol ATL.. home of Delta..they love to fly without you and it shows. Home, Sweet Home.

[@illmade2]

@@treborironwolfe978 Yep Delta it is, late, early or not flying at all. Issues with united as well. Got much better service from budget flights.

[@lornaduwn]

Back in 1965 my entire extended family was flying from Rhode Island to Virginia to attend a cousin's wedding...in a blizzard. Our flight was delayed so long that we missed our connecting flight in Philadelphia. There were 17 of us and 3 or 4 others who had also missed the flight. They chartered a DC7 to fly us there...in a blizzard. I was too young to realize how scared I should be. My parents on the other hand prayed all the way there.

[@Dexduzdiz]

I remember when I was a kid and the flight had just landed, everyone clapped and cheered. Good Times.

[@mirzaahmed6589]

That's so annoying.

[@devrajchangkakati4994]

That was the most basic thing I ever heard

[@kat3325]

Still a thing in Russia

[@diannefaith7866]

People still do on a flight to Puerto Rico... 👏🏽🇵🇷🙋we are grateful for a safe landing, appreciation for a safe landing 💕

[@YOCOSMINMAX16]

Standard Frequency Romania still vlapping.

[@pyr0maniacyt363]

Planes then: 5 course meal, comfy seats, basically luxury everything Planes now: A i r B u s

[@kittykittybangbang9367]

But at least it's cheaper now and safer than driving

[@getass3290]

@@kittykittybangbang9367 at least in a car I can buy my own food and stuff in a airplane you get 1 peanut complain and you shall walk the plank

[@getass3290]

@@kittykittybangbang9367 at least in a car I can buy my own food and stuff in a airplane you get 1 peanut complain and you shall walk the plank

[@kittykittybangbang9367]

@@getass3290 I've only been on an airplane 3 times (well technically 6 if you count the ride back home), but whenever me and my family went on the airplane we always brought snacks with us on the plane to eat. Because we wanted to save money.

[@getass3290]

@@kittykittybangbang9367 im sure it wasn't as good as what they served in the Golden age of flying and also I forgot to mention planes had beds back then

[@ATLcentury334]

My first flight was when I was 9 years old. My parents and I traveled to California to spend the entire summer with my mothers sister and her family. The year before, my parents let me decide which I would like best, the trip to California, or an in ground pool. Living in Michigan, I thought we’d get to use the pool 3 months out of the year, and I would be expected to keep the pool clean the rest of my life, so of course I picked the trip which I still remember, 50 years later. I was so excited about flying the first time, I was hoping we’d get to travel on the new Boeing 747. Unfortunately, we flew to San Diego which was too small to accommodate such a large jet. We flew to California on a 707 which I found exciting enough. We had a memorable summer visiting everywhere from Disneyland to Tijuana. We even saw the Blue Angels squad perform, and my parents attended a Burt Bacharach concert. My dad returned home to get back to work, my mother and I stayed another month until I was to go back to school. When we returned to Michigan, our flight plans were different, but I didn’t know why. My mother and I flew to Los Angeles, to connect to our flight home. The reason was a surprise my father arranged after he returned home. My mom and I were flying back on a new American Airlines 747. I was so excited and couldn’t wait to board. We were in coach, and when I asked the stewardess if we could see the upper deck, she replied it was for 1st class passengers only, but my mother and I were welcome to use the lounge in rear of the plane. “LOUNGE IN THE REAR OF THE PLANE?”. We went back to see what this was about. It was a full size cocktail lounge with club chairs, chrome table lamps, a bar and a bartender. I couldn’t believe it. My mother and I settled in, she ordering her favorite whisky sour, me a coke. We enjoyed the lounge looking out the window at the Grand Canyon. It’s an experience I’ll never forget. If you Google 1971 American Airlines 747 lounge, ads for this particular 747 come up, you can clearly see the chrome lamps between each club chair. What a way to fly, gone for good.

[@rubenventer5235]

sounds like the pool was a good trade for such an experience : )

[@khaccanhle1930]

What was the golden age like? Very expensive, most people today would not have been able to afford it.

[@yili3339]

If you want to spend that much of money, the golden age is still with you. So don't complain the golden age is gone, we are lucky today to be able to afford the once luxury travel method.

[@preciousjose]

Exactly, I don't understand why people whine over this? Want the 'golden' experience? get a first class ticket. People want to pay highway motel prices and expects a stay at the four seasons.

[@ModernFreak123]

@Burleon Yes, the salary was around 2k. But ANUALLY, not monthly. Todays average anually salary is around 50k. It's like you never heard something about Inflation.

[@ModernFreak123]

@Burleon What I tried to say was that your Statement "people were paid better back then" necesarilly true.

[@kazunabe4288]

@Pixelside usually when people talk about things costing more or less they understand inflation. Some always comes and points out the obvious. Even adjusted for inflation people were living with less than they require now. I mean people had tons of kids, no college degree, and had houses cars and middle class lives with work stability. Now things are very different. I’m not complaining though, I’d never wanna live back then over now. It’s just that people definitely could make their lives work easier than now. I think products got cheaper though, but necessities got more expensive while wages went down each decade. (Yes yes adjusted for inflation)

[@Crosshead1]

I’m so glad I got to fly in the 1950s and 1960s. It was a so much more pleasant experience than flying today.

[@throow]

I remember there being a weight and height criteria for becoming a stewardess in the 70's. We would listen in to the older girls talking about it and they said, that even if you fit those criteria, only 1 in 100 would get the job, so it was very prestigious to be an airplane stewardess. You could apply for work as a stewardess on a ship and that could give you some credentials if you later applied to be come airline stewardess.

[@astrofrk]

I went to Hawaii in 1977, it was pure luxury.

[@Cuinn837]

I remember 1977 as a very comfortable year for flying.

[@bry117]

Pan am?

[@astrofrk]

@@bry117 I think so. I was too young for the alcoholic drinks but the food was fantastic as well as the music channels and movie. Even adults had plenty of legroom in our 747.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

I went in 2012. It was like Dante's 9th circle of hell. Like 8 hours on a plane. Ick. Then we land and there were no flower leis. They DO have them at the airport, tho. For 50.00. Yeah. From trees that drop the flowers every day, foc. They have an outdoor airport which was kinda neat.

[@syedjelani7273]

i was born in 1999, feelsbadman.jpg

[@psy9199]

Dangerous? Probably comfy? Definitely

[@Blu3B3rri3s]

Last time I flew I had to pick between pretzels and peanuts...🤔😑

[@thomash4578]

You had a choice? Must have been in business class

[@henryhaynes8962]

Stop bragging

[@zenvanden991]

You bettet have picked pretzels tf

[@marxmaratpaine]

Fabian M Next time you might have to pick between tazer or cavity search.

[@poetlenoir2328]

Must have been a long flight to have a snack at all.

[@bobcobb158]

trapped in a box of cigarette smoke, couldn't handle that.

[@CameronM1138]

I'd gladly put up with it in exchange for not being charged out the ass to simply luggage with me onto the plane.

[@jake4379]

Just roll the window down

[@johndoherty487]

@@jake4379 You could row down plane windows back then?

[@thepizzaelf]

John Doherty no he’s trolling 😂

[@johndoherty487]

@@thepizzaelf I'm also trolling him.

[@elizabethreed5178]

I traveled multiple times during the sixties as my dad was military. We traveled both domestic and international. Absolutely loved it. Best airlines were Lufthansa and Northwest Orient. Stunning stewdesses and first class service. Oh the days.

[@springertube]

^^ This. Similar experiences, mine United and PanAm early on -- DC-8s, 707s and later 720s and 727s, and a 747, L1011 and MD-11 or two in the mix as well. Even a four prop DC-6 very early on.

[@wvFrequenzkontrolle]

I began Flying in the year 1967... as a child.. I still can remember my first flight out of Pittsburgh PA... My grandparents, along with other people, were outside of my planes window waving at us, until the plane was fully boarded.. The seats were HUGE! 2 seats rows, left and right... very WIDE isle for the air crew to bring the large food carts down... And yes, they did serve you food upon Real Plates with Real utilizes.. no plastic... As I grew older, and still traveling by air, as my father was military, it was always an enjoyable experience for me. The "ONLY THING" I detested was that the cabins were not pressurized very well.. As the plane would begin it's decent, everyone's ears would start popping.. it was very painful too me.. By 1983, I had joined the USAF and off to Europe I was sent.. Still the same wonderful service was received. I flew upon TWA from the USA to Athens Greece... A couple of months later, TWA aircraft was always getting hijacked when leaving Athens... Security began appearing in the picture.. I had stayed in Greece about 8 years.. ... When it was time for me to return to the USA, upon my arrival to Philadelpia PA, I noticed so many changes. The aircraft were cramp sitting quarters, the flight attendants were RUDE, not the smiling happy people I was use to seeing.... and the Food was not that great.. it was Prefab prior to the flight and came upon a tray.. And my fellow passengers... OMG!!! Talk about a bunch of JERKS... In the past, fellow passengers, even though they did not know one another, we always chatted and shared our travel experiences and recommendations. But later, when I returned to the USA.. you dared not even speak to a fellow passenger, as they would become upset that you were talking to them. As time progressed, it just went downhill further to the point, today, I do not fly anymore. I would rather take a slow cruise ship to another nation and get there in much better condition, then risk flying anymore. It is nothing more than a cattle cart transport today...

[@yeahbutontheotherhand]

You can always buy a ticket for business class or first class to get the same experience

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

@@yeahbutontheotherhand for five times the money...?

[@1SaG]

It's be enough for me to re-live my early experiences with air-travel. That was the 1970s (as a small child) and the 80s when I first flew across the Atlantic on my own as a teen. When I look at pictures I took on those flights today, I have to remind myself that I was actually flying economy back then. The seats were still incredibly wide and offered ample leg-room when compared to today's cattle-carts.

[@ckott99]

I remember as a kid when my parents took us on an airplane flight we would get dressed up. I can still remember in the 1970's the first time I saw a man board dressed in jeans, and then later a man wearing shorts. I laugh at those memories, because at the time it seemed so shocking to me than anyone would be so casual about how they dressed while flying.

[@saulgarcia7083]

So it was the golden age for drug smuggling too then No security? Well no wonder

[@alphavegas1]

No that was the 80s when Ronald Reagan used government planes to fly in drugs.

[@BrainDeadz]

*wheezes*

[@GooseGumlizzard]

up until like the 80s you could do pretty much whatever you wanted in America it was like the wild west.

[@valmarsiglia]

When I was a kid in the 70s flying was still something you dressed up for, and yeah, the smoke was everywhere. The smoking section was in the back but there were no partitions.

[@roxannepaine2600]

Hard drives and SSDs have partitions, as well.

[@orgami100]

Flying used to be like a treat to Disneyland... in fact flying to Disneyland was Double treats...✈✈✈

[@itsmeGeorgina]

😎😎 1979 From Norway to Miami

[@ritwikreddy5670]

And as expensive as Disneyland too

[@elijahhashem4100]

You should do The Golden Age of the Railways next

[@itsmeGeorgina]

Restaurant compartment, with white cloths, until 1982

[@b9y]

YES.

[@0000-z4z]

@@itsmeGeorgina In Germany, trains do still have bord restaurants. And in Austria, there are still night trains with sleep cars.

[@suned6750]

Coming soon, The golden age of space travel

[@OHOHJOHNNY]

Vintage are so cool. Musics, fashion, the people, the places. I wish I could time travel to see that Golden age era.

[@MsJassi13]

As I women I prefer having rights and liberties 😅 But I do get the nostalgic appeal

[@waterheaterservices]

@@MsJassi13 The 'right' to jerk babies in prices out of the womb is real progress.

[@serenerhapsody]

Yeah i remember in the 90s, family could still come in after you've checked in. My mom waited with me as I waited for my plane going to our summer home.

[@osimeon00]

I remember that too!

[@jwil4286]

fwiw, some airports are now allowing visitors to come airside without a same-day boarding pass

[@ellasmommy9278]

Regarding smoking, there was an amazing air filtration system where the smoke wasn't that bad. My sister, at 6', was too tall to be considered as an airline stewardess. She was turned down by multiple airlines. One thing you didn't mention is how often luggage was lost. My sister flew to Spain (from the U.S.) and her luggage went to Hong Kong! Everyone had a story about where their luggage ended up for some trip or another. One time I flew to Ft. Lauderdale and my luggage went to Pittsburgh from Baltimore.

[@tacticalgreengecko7369]

no checkpoints man that sounds great I wonder who ruined that...oh right.

[@sparx180]

Scott Drahos Ronald Reagan!

[@tacticalgreengecko7369]

Chloe wilson I was also gonna say terrorism too. like in germany the USA and other parts of eroupe. also people like Cooper. probably didn't help.

[@sparx180]

@@tacticalgreengecko7369 Homeland Security? What a joke they are. Some terrorism I agree but who is Cooper? Are you speaking of Cooper Anderson. Tks!

[@tacticalgreengecko7369]

Chloe wilson D.B. Cooper he hijacked a plane asked for a ransom 2 parachutes then proceeded to jump out of the back of the plane never to be seen again....that would be a reason to step up security there was also the Lufthansa Flight 181 incident there good reasons why they stepped up security. I'm not saying it's good infact the TSA is pretty bad at there job. I was allowed to bring a hunting knife in my suitcase that I bought on my trip but my freind got his e cigarette confiscated from his suitcase....cause that makes sense

[@jonathantan2469]

Chloe wilson DB Cooper was a man who hijacked a flight back in the 70s. Once the plane landed for fuel, he demanded money for ransom. Back in the air, he later parachuted out and escaped with the money. His sketch appears in 3:02.

[@bradwalton8373]

I flew for the first time in 1969, which was right at the tail-end of this period. I was thirteen. I remember dressing up in a suit and tie, eating a rather good meal (medallions of beef) off real china plates and with real cutlery, and drinking tea from china cups. I certainly remember the smoking and the alcohol, liberally indulged in by the adults. Also, I was invited into the cock-pit for a few minutes. On the flight back (to Canada) there was a british soccer team that got very roudy after God knows how many beers, and began throwing their ball back and forth. There was a heavy fog, which seemed to make the adults nervous. To calm themselves, presumably, they began speculating with one another about how off-course we were (one lady swore that she recognized Spain below). When the plane landed safely everyone applauded.

[@davidhoffman1278]

Some technical errors. Pressurization was quite common on long distance flights. The DC-7 was pressurized and so was the Lockheed Constellation. By the time of jetliners and turboprops pressurization was the standard. TransAtlantic range was possible with the DC-7C and the long range Constellations. The early Boeing 707s had some difficulties traveling from East to West across the USA or the Atlantic Ocean. By the time of the B707-300 series that problem was mostly solved. As far as vibration and noise you must remember that the competition was passenger rail on track sections that were not continuously welded together like they are today and passenger ships operating on the ocean. Juan Trippe of Pan American Airlines began the seat pitch reductions with his requests to Boeing and Douglas for changes to the B707 and DC-8 proposals. The 5 across seating became 6 across in second class and 4 across in first class. He also reduced amenities as it looked like the overall trip times from say New York City, New York State, USA to San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA would be reduced by about 33% from the days of DC-7Cs and Constellations. Since the passengers would be spending significantly less time in the jetliner they wouldn't need all the amenities of piston passenger planes.

[@jimb5421]

Not the one I was on cruzin alt 12.000 ft. First pressuized plane I flew on was eal turbo prop and it was terrible as you gained altitude or desended.

[@davidhoffman1278]

@@jimb5421 , DC-7C or Constellation at 12,000 ft? It was relatively easy to switch operations of straight wing turbocompound radial piston engined pressurization capable aircraft to unpressurized altitudes, similar to DC-3 operations. Obviously there were losses in airspeed, thus trip times increased, but it could be done legally.

[@jimb5421]

@@davidhoffman1278 the 7 and 7b we're flying at 12,000 and the seats used to fall out of Trac during turbulence. The prop jet eletra.pressuization was a little wacy.they used to give out chewing gumm for the pressure changes. Miami to Boston flights.

[@davidhoffman1278]

@@jimb5421 , Okay, thanks for the clarification. Yes, the 7A and 7B had lots of problems. The golden age of piston powered aviation after WW2 was full of engine fires, cabin heater problems and fires, weak impact standards for passenger seating, and more. ATC was mishandled and mismanaged resulting in several midair collisions.

[@av_oid]

Glad someone else notice these things. The pressurisation mistake was a pretty huge one.

[@alexb5367]

Y'all have to think that in the "golden age" a normal seat costs the same as a first class seat today. So u gotta compair first class of today to the normal seating of yesteryear. If you think of it that way, it's way better today.

[@Rayburn58]

My father climbed the ladder of commercial aviation history like none could today. He trained on an open cockpit biplane. He began his airline career in 1942 at age 21 as 2nd officer on a DC-3 with Pennsylvania Central Airlines. Within two years he was DC-3 captain. Pennsylvania Central eventually became Capital Airlines in 1948 where he captained the DC-4, DC-6, L-049 Constellation, and Vickers Viscount (the first turbo-prop airliner). In 1961 Capital Airlines merged with United Airlines where he went on to captain the Boeing 720, the DC-8, the Stretch DC-8, the DC-10, and finally the B-747 which he flew from 1972 until his mandatory retirement at age 60 1981. He experienced the full evolution of commercial flight, airline pilot for 39 years and Captain for 37 years. No airline pilot over the last 50 years could experience the revolution and massive change of commercial flight like my father did.

[@roywrogers2900]

My father my father..... Shut up, bigmouth.

[@goombakiwi]

I was a young child in the early 80's. I remember my mother getting me a more formal outfit to wear on the flight. I also remember smoking still was accepted and actually getting meals like: ham and cheese croissant sandwich, roast beef gravy and mashed potatoes, eggs sausage and toast, etc. I miss the 50s, literally.

[@haddadthemaestro2856]

It was great back then, but one thing I disagree with was with tobacco.

[@arturkarpinski164]

I used to fly all the time back in the 80's and LOVING it. Now between TSA and the drama it's not the same.

[@bingobongo1615]

Artur Karpinski yeah but the 80s already had mostly modern planes unlike the 50s and 60s propellers.

[@MyBahamas242]

Artur Karpinski that's why you take amtrak tsa is non existent

[@mport09]

How were the flight attendants? Were they porfessional and didn't expect you to cater to them and adapt to them? That's how they are today, so that makes them the same as everyone else, and professional is a different level. So today they're not professional.

[@paradimecreations2365]

This is an awesome video. I think what stands out here is the "status signaling" of flying a plane has come down significantly. It's no longer something that people feel special doing. Instead we wear our comfortable clothes to be trapped in a prison for multiple hours with people we don't know. Back then, there was more of a culture of meeting people on flights and because they were so expensive, you met people within your own 'social status'. When that dynamic shifts and the flight experience has hardly changed in half a century, it makes sense that people hate flying now.

[@Cuinn837]

@Rata 4U Some of the people on these flights behave in very trashy ways, and make others feel unsafe. It's not really about social status.

[@Gamer2k4]

@Rata 4U I think you imagined he said something he didn't, because your rant is completely inappropriate here.

[@bensmall6548]

I wish flying still had these accommodations (without smoking and alcohol) but also having the modern safety laws and equipment.

[@taniamanik2012]

Ben Small They do. It's called business class 😂

[@2111jade]

If you fly first class on a long haul flight from anywhere in Asia, you do.

[@mysteryperson1737]

taniamanik2012 literally first class passengers get the same treatment as this video but with some modern regulations. Y’all just too cheap to buy first class 🤦🏾‍♀️

[@bensmall6548]

I mean for economy class. Some planes have only economy clas

[@bensmall6548]

Actually to be fair, I’ve never actually been on a plane that has a galley. I’ve only been on a320 class, 737s, md80 class and regional jets.

[@powellmountainmike8853]

When I was 8 years old my family and I flew from Claremont, New Hampshire to Charleston, South Carolina to visit my father's parents, and, of course back again. I remember the planes well. The connection between Claremont and Boston was on a DC3. After that we flew on Constellations and Douglas DC7s, changing planes in New York, and stopping in Washington before going on to Charleston. The meals were quite good. I was too small to notice the legroom situation, but it seems to me there was more room between the rows of seats, enough so that grown men were not uncomfortable. As for the flights being rough, they weren't any worse than today. Those aircraft were pressurized and flew above the weather. The old piston engines were a bit louder, but it was not nearly as unpleasant as you make it sound. When I was in the Navy, in the early 1970s, I also flew a lot, by then on jets. Even then there was more room between the rows, and one was not as cramped as today. The last time I flew was around 2000. By then the seating was much more crowded. I felt like I had been jammed into a sardine can of death. You can lie about air travel in the golden age all you want. Those of us who were there know the truth. It was better than what we have today.

[@eyecomeinpeace2707]

So, you don't fly anymore since 2000?

[@powellmountainmike8853]

@@eyecomeinpeace2707 No, thank goodness. These days I travel by train. I have taken the MBRA for shorter trips between Providence, RI and Boston, MA, and Amtrack between Providence and New York City. It is a much better way to travel. It lets you out right where you want to go. You don't have the whole hassle with security. Time wise it is about the same when you consider that. It is also a whole lot more comfortable for a man like myself who stands well over six feet tall. If you like, you can stand up and walk around. On the Amtrack trains you can go to the cafe car and get a snack, or even the dining car on the long distance trains. If you are on a train that will take a journey that lasts overnight, you can get a roomette which is even nicer. It beats the tar out of flying, except that it takes longer to travel very long distances. I'll never fly again. I'll take the train.

[@terryhazzard2676]

Would you want to live at that time? Good:luxary Bad:Hijack

[@abstracts2004]

Absolutely not!

[@javieremoya]

I mean...you never got a 9/11 type hijacking. I like to think they were offered a drink and all was settled

[@LarryOfilms]

Even with how today’s flight experience is, I still dress up somewhat when traveling, either throw on a cozy blazer or a nice cardigan over a button up shirt because part of me still gets excited about air travel

[@LarryOfilms]

Niggard JEW Power I think there are smart ways to pack like rolling up your clothes to get more space and choosing clothes that will match with one another than to pack separate outfits. When I travel, I can go with five shirts and two pants (maybe shorts too, so three) whether it’s a long trip or short. Again, I like the experience of travel so if I have to pay a bit more, then so be it but from my experience I’m always able to fit a lot in a carry on and the airlines never gave me a hard time. I just don’t think it’s worth it sitting there sweating or feel discomfort when there’s already a lot going on like people hogging up elbow room or you get the ones that recline their seats all the way down. So I want to make sure I try to be as comfortable as possible. I know everyone is different, so I’m not judging 🙂

[@badreality2]

"You were 4x as likely to die in a commercial airplane crash in 1952, than you are today." ...4 times 0.001% is like, nada.

[@Darkchosen051987]

It's easy so spin off stats... Liberals do it all the time

[@suzclayton783]

My dad flew forty years and nothing happened. Hijacking was not 9/11 It was more of passing a note to the captain and robbing the bank More of car jacking It was more often on a trip from grand forks to Duluth They were not terrorists just and not on a political jihad. You could by life Insurance in the vending machine by the gate.📬

[@h8GW]

And I see you're not spinning off _anything..._

[@theprinceofbrazil]

Kevin, do you really feel like always making this a LIB VS Conservative issue? Get lost

[@BreakThrough51]

@@Darkchosen051987 there's always that one asshole who has to bring politics into everything...congrats on not having anything substantial to say!

[@shradical]

Of course this gets recommended to me during quarantine...

[@hebneh]

There are LOTS of errors in this video - you could smoke in terminals; smoking was only prohibited while you were walking to and from the plane out in the open (no jetways yet) because you were around fuel. You could smoke at all times during the flight, including in the bathrooms, except at take-off and landing when there might be spilled fuel from a crash. Passengers were actually encouraged to smoke - cigarettes were given away for free! This was done by stewardesses offering loose cigarettes on a tray, or as mini-packs of various brands which were included on all meal trays, even those given to kids! And I speak from personal experience since this happened to me as a kid in the ‘60s.

[@silentbanshee4869]

OMG! I forgot about the free cigarettes.

[@fabrisseterbrugghe8567]

My mother was Chief Stewardess for United Airlines until she married my father in 1960. Girdles were required. Different airlines had different required heel heights. The weight variance for a stewardess was five pounds in either direction from her stated ideal weight. Mom went with United because she didn't speak any foreign languages (a requirement for both Pan Am and TWA), wasn't a nurse (required by Pan Am until at least 1950), and had the "girl next door" look that typified the United stewardess.

[@wteuscher85]

I would definitely go for the old days. Suit up, drink and smoke is fine by be. Oh, and those skyjackings? As long as I can bring my piece too.

[@wteuscher85]

@Emilia Barzini Bin Who? It's the old days. Don't know who that is.

[@j.brown70]

I remember well the pre-9/11 days of flying. In the 90s I started traveling for my job. I was that one who mostly arrived to the airport 20 minutes before my flight took off. Literally sprinted to the gate with my carry on (which contained regular sized shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, etc). Yes, I did miss a flight or two cutting it that close. Cool thing is I could sit and wait for the next plane to my destination. No rebooking fees. Also remember having whole rows to myself. Also getting seats over the wings for the extra leg room and not paying more for it. A month after 9/11 while flying back from a conference in Atlanta to Richmond, VA (I had already booked and paid for the trip in August), it took me an hour to get from curbside check in to the gate in ATL. The TSA line snaked back that far! That was the beginning of the end of me enjoying flying.

[@KMF3]

I flew mostly in the 70s to 90s. And remember it being more comfortable especially for long flights.

[@blackworldtraveler3711]

KMF More comfortable now.

[@briankelly9347]

@@blackworldtraveler3711 no it ain't

[@briankelly9347]

@@blackworldtraveler3711 fuck you 21st century shithead

[@mport09]

How were the flight attendants? Were they porfessional and didn't expect you to cater to them and adapt to them? That's how they are today, so that makes them the same as everyone else, and professional is a different level. So today they're not professional.

[@felsvx]

Just appeared at my home feed. Not disappointing. Already subscribe. Keep up the good work! Love your content.

[@littleblizzard7591]

My childhood piano teacher was a flight attendant during the golden age. She loved it! She said it was so glamorous and the passengers took dressed up because flying was a special event!

[@johnjuhasz9125]

“On the old days” all they had was basically First Class. Most people couldn’t afford it.

[@GooseGumlizzard]

yeah. Once the middle class expanded and could afford to travel they had to accommodate more passengers i.e.: more seats, less space, amenities, etc.

[@thebaconchannel8501]

Remember, this is the early days of jet travel, just after the Comet crashes, you had to give people some kind of incentive to get inside a tin can going 500 mph at 35 thou feet with four fires going on the wing!

[@movielover3416]

Frank William Abagnale winged this golden age of flying. "Catch me if you can"

[@piobmhor8529]

I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s. We were bombarded with movies and tv programs were the rich and famous were the only ones travelling by air. It was a strange and alien world for most of us common folk, but it looked like absolute luxury. When I finally did have my first airline experience, I was 17, flying to Germany with a ticket that took me months to earn enough money to purchase working part time. When the experience was over, I enjoyed it but my good clothes stunk of cigarette smoke. It wasn’t all glitz and glamour.

[@springertube]

All true, and the cigarette smoke in today's world is hard to fathom, still a much better experience than now overall. We were not well monied at all, just saved up or didn't fly. No one ever or should have promised bus fares for such an operationally expensive and inherently risky endeavor.

[@davidhoffman1278]

Turbulence due to thunderstorms was not eliminated with the introduction of jetliners. Thunderstorm tops can exist at 48,000 feet above Mean Sea Level(MSL). The turbulence may not be as bad as it is at 24,000 feet MSL, but it still exists.

[@genface7828]

Very slight compared to the golden days

[@davidhoffman1278]

@@genface7828 , True. The only aircraft that seem to escape it almost 100% were the SR-71s, U-2s and Concordes once they were at or above 60,000 feet. Flying at or above 72,000 feet in a U-2 or SR-71 was supposedly super smooth. The thunderstorm tops, and their associated updrafts and downdrafts, were about a nautical mile beneath you.

[@davidhoffman1278]

@Rata 4U , True, but some days that Doppler radar does nothing but confirm a front hundreds of miles long with thousands of storm cells in it. There is no going around them. It is more of finding the least bad path through.

[@ChloeDunIT]

The jet age with the 707 sounds like the sweet spot. I would like to have traveled on TWA’s Constellation at least once!

[@veronicaelsegood5175]

Used to fly a lot in the late 50s to mid 60s , using BEA and the trips were enjoyable, food was decent and staff were helpful and friendly .

[@susanclark6987]

My mom dressed us up to the nines every time we flew Continental! The Proud Bird with the golden wings! We were treated like royalty got my milk and a champagne glass and got the little pair of golden wings to wear on my little shirt ... people where classy and dressed up and do they were enjoying something very special ... and it was glamorous in the sixties even... so sad people of today will not get to experience it ...

[@meganruchwatercolors7186]

Yes it was a beautiful time. My Mom was very elegant and we always dressed up when flying everyone looked so nice. Today people travel in their pajamas what a disgrace!!!

[@susanclark6987]

Oh my gosh ... I just realized ... I said that wrong! Please forgive me.... ... The Proud Bird with the golden tail!! My dad was a mechanic for Continental all his life and then the last few years work for TWA before he retired ... but he would say that sometimes as we pull up to the airport here in Kansas City ... there a plane would be sitting out on the field and he would say girls .... The Proud Bird with the golden tail! Just very exciting to us as little girls! And he was very proud to be an employee there also ... well just had to clear that up guess I'm getting a little forgetful ...

[@connorwoeber1033]

Megan Ruch Watercolors i mean i would probably get all dressed up too if i had free alcohol, a lounge, real customer service from the flight attendants, instead of snarky remarks and a mildly infuriated, definitely annoyed mood. not to mention nice clothes would be a whole lot more comfortable if my 6’ 3” ass didn’t have my legs pressed against the seat in front of me and and 300lb of fat sitting next me, 50lbs of which are basically drooping onto my seat. ‘disgrace’ ya’ll baby boomers are a disgrace for not knowing how to adult or raise children and still deciding to have millions of them.

[@di7209]

Connor Woeber This is the perfect silence boomer

[@DarkMatterX1]

@@connorwoeber1033 Oh look, a millennial whines, cries and laments. Imagine my shock.

[@mikecronis]

Remember traveling in the early '70s. It was actually pretty nice. There were smoking and non-smoking sections (but that was everywhere).

[@caneface87]

Nothing beats Airplane Lobster on a Domestic flight from Chicago to Phoenix

[@fireemblemaddict128]

My sister who is 10 years older than me would alway mention how flying was very luxurious in the 80s but I never knew the specific details. KZbin somehow manages to fill all my little gaps in knowledge

[@copiludeargint]

And I can help you fill some other gaps

[@felixniederhauser7799]

I started flying in the early 60's, then I worked for an Airline and flew even more, business and pleasure. My memories are full of pleasant,fun trips accompanied with excellent food,drinks and a nice smoke! After a career change, I flew 50 to 70 hrs. per month, strictly as a passenger. Flying became a hassle. No more smoking, Airplanes got more and more packed and service became a wishful thinking item. Airlines got arrogant and detached from their income source, the Passengers and consequently collapsed. Do you remember names like: Pan Am, TWA, Swissair, etc.,etc. NB: I still fly today, however I try to keep it on a minimum of ca. 4 International trips per year and like to use alternative transports for domestic travel like Sleeper Train,upper Class Cars/Limos and Ships.

[@Petra44YT]

So you are one of those who think it is enjoyable to pollute everyone else's clean air! Nobody needs you!

[@bmoose566]

@@Petra44YT Haha and yet every breath you take you breathe out CO2 which is a pollutant.. so maybe we should all stop breathing

[@dennisvance4004]

Felix Niederhauser regarding the arrogance and detachment of the airlines: I worked for 20 years for a technical publication firm. In the early 90s air fair became outrageous; the prices could jump $150 dollars between the time our office workers found a price online and could confirmed reservations. Seating, we were told, was now a commodity; prices fluctuated minute to minute and what, exactly, was the business class traveler going to do about it? The cost analysis at our firm (the owner/CEO was a past master of logistics support analysis) found that the cost for two fully equipped tele conference rooms was less than the cost of flying a dozen of our people around the country in a 12 month period. While we still made on-sight visits to our customers we and they planned the bulk of our dealings around one week business teleconferences, each side equipped with large screen monitors, computers, printers, fax machines and white boards. Eight hours a day with no interruptions (only emergency calls were allowed) and everybody went home to their families at night. For a lot of cross-country travel we used ground transportation; factor in time for TSA security and layovers and renting a van was often as time-effective as flying and less expensive. To offset hotel costs our CEO/owner purchased an apartment building near one of our out-of-state clients where his employees stayed; at the end of the contract he sold the apartment complex at a profit. We were not alone in these kinds of creative solutions. And as expected, we saw the bottom fall out of the “captive“ business travel market. The airlines never saw it coming. Air travel is faster than ships or cars; the Internet moves at the speed of light.

[@gregingram4996]

I remember flying in 1967 from DCA to YUL. I was in the window seat next to the wing. I'll never forget that propeller droning in my ear for an hour and a half! I had such an earache afterwards, I couldn't even enjoy the destination, at least not on the 1st day!

[@skunkrat01]

Damn, I want a doco on the frequent hijackings! That sounds interesting as hell

[@thefareplayer2254]

Lammy Lams I have a bad feeling that airline companies would go nuts if someone tries to release a documentary on that, although it would be really fascinating!

[@blakeluccason9971]

@@thefareplayer2254 db cooper

[@thehand756]

Take this video to Cuba. Cuba got so sick of it, it started locking the hijackers up. I don't know if there's a single documentry on them. But there lots of stuff on YT about avation.

[@catherinetreadwell5707]

My grandma was a flight attendant for United in the 60’s and she had to stop when she got married.

[@2MeterLP]

That seems like the most ridiculous of all the requirements. As if all flight attendants had to be down for a quick affair with some old rich guy at any time.

[@roxannepaine2600]

@@2MeterLP THANK YOU!!!!

[@kittykittybangbang9367]

@Noble Failures A lot of flight attendant are actually married and have children this day

[@southwestxnorthwest]

Have you ever rode on Amtrak? Roomy, comfortable, polite conductors, decent food, and no bullshit mistreatment from TSA.

[@francisbtube]

Tim Nelson all true but not that great food, 4 coast to coast trips across the US, as a reference.

[@flygirlfly]

OH, LOVE Amtrak. Appreciate this irony: as flight crew, I commute to my base on the train. I avoid flying, even though I can fly free. I'd rather buy a train ticket, than go through the hassle of the airport.

[@flygirlfly]

@@francisbtube Tim, you'll be pleased to know,[ as of June 2021] Amtrak has returned to full service dining. Real meals prepared-- no more nasty micro meals

[@JonJonMorales]

This video met my expectations and then some! Thank you!

[@tjsogmc]

Compared to the prison shake down TSA security, the 3" leg room seats, and the horrible customer service...then yes, I would take 1950's flying over anything today. At least back then they treated you like a human instead of a pig going to the slaughterhouse.

[@briankelly9347]

@John Bold nah tech then was great

[@diamondtiara84]

I never believed all those stories about how glamorous it was to be a flight attendant, like it was one big party/travel/shopping trip; that was probably a ploy to get more people to apply for the job.

[@Eric_Hutton.1980]

I would have flown in the Golden Age of Flying. Too much hassle now and days to go flying. If Only They still offered the services that you got during the Golden Age it might make it more worth it.

[@Maximillion123]

But you have to remember, all the hassle of nowadays is so you don't die on a flight and there are much less luxury services so that you and I can afford to fly for a lot less money.

[@armorsmith43]

Eric Hutton they do in First Class

[@juliancoulden1753]

What’s this man on about? The golden age wasn’t...... but now we have Ryan Air and Easy Jet, and that’s preferable is it? Aeronautical technology was extraordinary for its time. It looks clunky now, it didn’t at the time. It’s so easy to see history through bottom bottles glasses and mock.

[@adamackerman9049]

Now imagine space travel 60 years from now

[@shizueleighhicks6174]

It was always an adventure for me . I was 9 years old in 1962. On the way over to Tokyo from San Francisco we stopped in Anchorage to refuel. Just before landing we hit an air pocket. We could hear the noise when the dishes and flatware hit the floor. On the way back to SF we usually did a layover in Honolulu. My favorite memories? Ox Tail Soup at Tin Tin Chop Suey and Cheeseburgers at Rainbow Drive In. Flying back on Western Airlines we were given Aloha leis and Japanese snack crackers and green tea To a kid it was great. Everyone was all smiles. Great memories.

[@captainsinclair7954]

Give the 50s planes like the A380 and the Boeing 747 and drop the crazy standards that the onboard crew had to meet, and that would truly be the golden age of flying

[@gapper3]

By "crazy standards", do you mean that the attendants should be pleasant and attractive ? Fly a typical US airline and then try Etihad, Emirates, Qatar, or Cathay pacific, and then tell me you don't prefer the young ladies in the latter to the overweight, over-the-hill, attitude-ridden harpies in North America.

[@woad2562]

Smoking on the airplane! Those were the Golden days of air travel!

[@cme98]

My Grandfather met my Grandmother when she sailed to meet relatives in Denmark year: 1921. The 2 fell in love & married & took a ship back to New York & a train to Tyler, Mn where they moved onto a farm & worked as farmers until retirement. Obviously their kids (my mom) grew up during the Great Depression and WW#2. Both Grandparents had relatives in Denmark & the family sent as many care packages as they could which were usually ransacked by Nazis, but some made it through. After the war, air travel to Europe resumed & my Grandparents made a little fortune as farmers feeding Europe so they decided to fly from New York to Copenhagen. It only took 24 hours & my Grandfather couldn't believe it he says, it took us 5 days to cross the ocean and a week to drive to Minnesota in 1921. 28 years later it will only take us 24 hours. Imagine that flight from New York to Copenhagen round-trip? 2 tickets RT would cost over $8,000 today, tourist class. Another 19 years later: they took a jet from Minneapolis to Seattle to visit us for Christmas (my idea) & the next year Americans landed on the Moon. My Grandparents flew back to Europe & all over quite a bit after that. Air travel was still a dressed up occasion throughout the 1970s My Grandfather saw a lot. He remembered the news of the Titanic not making it, The first car to drive into his Danish Village, world war #1, crossing the Atlantic to New York 1922, Ellis Island, the Roaring 20s, the Great Depression, World War #2, propeller & jet -trans Atlantic flights, men fly to the moon & the Space Shuttle 1st Columbia liftoff & Challenger disaster. Love you Bedstemor💕Bedstefar

[@RunLego]

“Walking the aisle was like a deadly game of American Ninja warrior”

[@godscommandmentsaretruthis2837]

I don't fly anymore. I refuse to submit to the authority of the TSA. I've also heard too many horror stories of flight attendants and passengers behaving badly. It's just not worth it. Btw, I loved the contrast in this video between the glory days of air travel vs the reality. Thanks for the realistic look at the "golden age."

[@ladymargaret778]

Air travel up to the late 80s was considered part of your vacation; not the hell you had to go through to begin and end it. I remember making sure I picked just the right clothing for my flights and made sure I was completely put together from head to toe, most of the time this included high heels. Air travel in America these days is a CF from the second you arrive on airport property. I despise it.

[@enough-applause-3368]

Laughs in jetblue an airline that gives you leg space

[@jamesmmcgill]

"Nostalgia. It's delicate, but potent." - *Don Draper* -

[@craighoover1495]

My dad was class of 1950 out of West Point then directly to flight school. His career was all Air Force until 1975. My first airplane ride was circa 1967 space available in Europe in a C-141 that had a dysfunctional rear entry that did not shut. So I gazed out the back directly at the ground and the tops of clouds. I was mesmerized and it was loud. We sat alongside of cargo. Subsequent "Space A" flights got better. Flying commercial transatlantic back to the USA was the ultimate upgrade.

[@sukamugen]

0:14 bro, I swear the girl in the grey dress was checking me out, no doubt.

[@corineusa1454]

I took my 1st plane in 1966, Eastern Airlines to Louisville Ky. I was 10 yrs old. It was the greatest experience of my life as a lover of travel. I'll never forget & I miss Eastern "The wings of man".

[@katekolstad9820]

I would gladly take the planes of today, because they're so much safer. Vastly more people are flying than ever before, while accidents have decreased to almost nothing.

[@tonybrandao4681]

Not just safer , much much more comfortable, while the video mentions it, flying in unpressurized aircraft around 10000' feet was virtually through all turbulent weather fronts, so on occasion you could be bounced around for hours. Today we encounter turbulence for a few minutes at most then its back to smooth air at high altitude.

[@AverageAlien]

even back then it was extremely safe anyways

[@georgecant-stand-yeh5451]

Average Alien beside all the hijackings

[@AverageAlien]

@@georgecant-stand-yeh5451 well, minor issue

[@georgecant-stand-yeh5451]

Average Alien small price to pay for salvation my friend