FANTASTIC, I left Australia in 1967 being my early 20's, lived in London for 3 years. What a great era, never out of a Job, Tom Jones, Beatles, Rolling Stones, George Best, England had just won the World Cup, great British pub scene. This bring back so many great memories! just not the same world today.
This brings back so many memories. I had to laugh when I saw the corporate aircraft of its day. I’m a retired corporate pilot, so I can appreciate that one
I love these short vignettes they remind me of my preteen years and going to the pictures, with 30 years experience flying as cabin crew I can say with some confidence that air travel hasn't changed too significantly but the attitudes and educational standards of the passengers have and not in a good way
I agree, but it works both ways. In the 1980s and 1990s even in economy as a passenger I felt I was treated with respect and I found air travel relaxing. After 2000 (maybe 9/11/2001?), and with the Easyjets and Ryanairs lowering the standards and BA and other airlines following them to the bottom, passengers have been treated like cattle. Also, the prevalence of obese passengers has increased, and the midget seats, inadequate to start with, are even more horrendous now, especially if you are in a middle position.
@@routeman680 I agree with what you say. Definatety the events of 11 September 2001 was the moment where the airlines changed from controlling their passengers by being nice to them to a sit down shut up or else attitude. Another factor which affected profitability and therefore levels of service was the change in fares structures (especially within Europe) with the introduction of online booking. Previously one-way fares were set at high levels while lower fares were sold on a fixed date round trip basis sometimes cheaper than a one-way fare but at a round trip level which ensured a certain amount of revenue. When the airlines started to sell the low fares on a one-way basis there was little incentive for passengers to buy the higher fares. The ban on smoking on board also had an effect. This led to an increase in tension aboard the aircraft and a less relaxed atmosphere. In the past flying was about relaxing, having a drink and a smoke, enjoying a nice meal and on a longer flight the equivalent of a visit to the cinema with a main screen movie often pre-release. Now the passengers sit in tense silence, many not removing coats or jackets, eyes glued to their portable electronic devices. In the early 2000's I was commuting to Gibraltar from London and watched Monarch airlines destroy itself in the race to the bottom. When I started flying with them on this route they were a holiday charter airline with a small number of scheduled service routes. Aboard the scheduled flights they offered their excellent Crown Service throughout the aircraft. Complimentary drink service then a nice full hot dinner (starter, main course, desert, cheese, chocolate mint, coffee) properly served on a tray with complimentary wine. Hot towels, complimentary headsets and a video programme. The quality of the meals started to drop. For example, the apple crumble desert used to have a proper portion of custard with it, but this changed to what looked as if somebody had dipped a brush in custard and quickly wiped it across the bottom of the dish. The video programme stopped changing and it was the same thing for months on end. Then they started charging for everything on board. At first this worked well as the old service levels were retained but you just had to pay. The meals actually improved. I recall eating my meal all up and really enjoying it and that was not because I had paid for it. Then things really went downhill. The number of cabin crew was reduced to 3 on the A320s. Everything was sell sell sell. Buy a copy of Hello or Top Gear magazine (strange choice I recall when Newsweek and Time were handed out not these things). Buy a Pillow. Buy a blanket. The headsets and hot towels stopped being provided. Meals had to be pre-ordered but were no longer a nice tray meal but something not very nice as the hot main course just handed to you plus a few snack type things in a box. This was handed out immediately after take off to get it out of the way so the crew could get on with the sales trolley service. You didn't even get a drink with the meal until they came around selling them.
@@harbourdogNL He said: "I live in Australia but I'll be damned if I would have business meetings with customers wearing speedos." (the cut of the men's swimsuits.)
Fantastic film, wish we lived like that today. You got on with life and enjoyed it. Actually out there and not checking up on your iPhone what you think you are missing out on. What has life become?
The human race has always travelled far and wide and when air travel became more popular in the 60's the company executive, director, MD or Chairman did exactly that. Always first class. As the decades came and went air travel became the norm. The world is so small in terms of travelling as we want to get to a place by the quickest method possible.
Travel was much easier in those days. I don't fly much anymore. Too much hassle. I vacation near home now. I don't need to go through security checks getting on a train and getting into my car.
Too much hassle? Get a grip, man. UK to Australia 1850's = 4 months on a ship 1920's = 40 days on a ship 2019 London to Perth can be done in 17 hours. The World is out there to be seen. You only live once.
Same here. I used to go on at least two international vacations each year but I am done with the hassles and discomfort created by the incompetents running the airlines. Oh, and those were discomforts in business or first class. Travel is just morbid.
We always see the past with rose tinted glasses when the reality was very different. Britain back then was not the unhurried, nostalgic country we see in films like this, it was often grim, poverty and slums were the norm for the majority of the population. Life expectancy was lower, diseases like measles, polio etc. were still a major problem and it was also a more violent, sexist society as crime statistics show.
I'm just watching this to see planes landing and taking off again....and the narrative , so blasé about the ease of travelling. 2021 , June and it's been a year since I've seen my family. ☹
3:44 Look at how wide and far apart those seats are compared to the way passengers are packed in today...like slaves in the hold of a ship in the 1700s...
I would draw your attention to the fact that this is the FIRST CLASS (F) cabin, not economy, not business (which didn't exist in those days) but BEA First Class.
@Martin Wheatley As somebody who is old enough to have flown in 1969 I would like to comment on what you have said. To clarify. For travel to Europe from the UK aboard a scheduled flight you would most probably be flying on a Trident if travelling BEA or a 727/737/DC9 if travelling with a European carrier. Scheduled flights were either all Economy (Y) or mixed First/Economy (FY). There was no club/business class within Europe until 1981. The seating configuration was 3 X 3 in Y class, the same as on a narrow body such as a 737 or A320 today. First Class (F) was 2 X 2 in a fixed size dedicated forward cabin. Seat width in Y class would have been the same as Y class seats today as the width of such narrow body aircraft has not changed and the configuration remains the same 3 X 3. The seats were however better padded and more comfortable than today's thin seats. Legroom in Y was better than today but only to the extent that my knees (I am 5ft 10in) didn't touch against the seat in front. The legroom was nothing special but I have found on shorter flights legroom only becomes an issue if it is insufficient and uncomfortable. The standard seat pitch on a scheduled flight in Y class would have been in the 32-34 inch pitch range depending on carrier and aircraft type. One massive disadvantage though was the lack of overhead bins only open coat racks which could not be used for cabin baggage and anything really did have to go under the seat in front of you thus restricting leg room although people were happier to check baggage in those days and the concept of carrying a large bag into the cabin didn't really exist. Baggage allowance in 1969 would have been 20kg/44lb in Y and 30kg/66lb in F. Excess baggage charges were applied although carriers were not over zealous and certainly there would have been a reasonable tolerance (5kg/11lb at the very least) before any charges were made or anything was said. The food and drink in Y were not the same as in F. Firstly, alcoholic beverages were charged for in Y class on all scheduled international flights in those days, the notable exception being Singapore Airlines. Soft drinks were free. Water was free, usually iced and served from a metal jug. The idea of providing free alcoholic drinks in Y class didn't start until the 1980's. Alcohol was only free in F. However, as these drinks were sold at real duty free prices on International flights they were substantially cheaper than in a pub at home. This fact, plus the fact that a meal (hot on longer sectors, cold on shorter sectors) would be served on a sector of any length (note: NO meal service in Y on short sectors such as LON-AMS/BRU/PAR) and the drinking culture of the time resulted in very good sales levels of alcoholic drinks as the passengers really were getting a bargain. On longer sectors there would be a pre-meal drink service with the trimmings of drinks mats, drinks stirrers, peanuts etc but in Y drinks were served in plastic glasses. The only exception was if Champagne was purchased when you would get a real glass. On BEA there were no printed menus in Y class although some European carriers did provide them especially on longer sectors, such as Olympic (a fantastic airline with very good service in those days) on LON-ATH. Hot towels were unknown in Y class. A typical BEA Y class meal on a longer European sector would have been something like Prawn Cocktail, Gammon steak or Chicken with potatoes and vegetables, a Desert such as Black Forest Gateau, Cheese spread and Crackers. Tea/Coffee with always at least one refill. Meals were properly served on trays almost the size of a Y class table and the cutlery was usually, but not always, metal rather than plastic. On the longer BEA European sectors the hot main course was brought separately after the trays were handed out, but not in the sense of a separate course after the starter dishes had been cleared, and put onto the trays using those long tongs. The meal was always freshly cooked for the flight by caterers, not made in a factory and prepacked like a supermarket ready meal, and was of good quality although nothing that could be considered gourmet. There was no choice of main course although special meals (religious, vegetarian etc) could be requested. The major difference was the atmosphere on board. As you correctly say fares were more expensive so passengers behaved as if they were out to dinner in a nice restaurant. They dressed decently. A drink or two, a nice meal, a cigarette. A much more relaxed and less tense atmosphere. You mention low fares today. Now, low fares did exist in 1969. Don't imagine that the mass market package holiday companies offering cheap holidays to Spain etc transported their passengers on these flights or at that sort of fare level. The 1969 equivalent of today's low cost carriers were the holiday charter airlines, such as for example Court Line who, like the low cost carriers of today, offered cramped seating and reduced seat pitch. I believe 30 inch itch was standard. Channel Airways experimented with a 7 abreast (4 X 3) configuration on their Tridents which must have been horrendous while other charter airlines (Court Line for example) offered passengers the horror of the, now banned for reasons of hygene, seat back catering. The headrest of the seat in front contained two slots with locked doors. Into these slots were placed the passengers ''meals', one meal for the outward journey and one for the return. During the flight the cabin crew would pass through the cabin and unlock one of the slots for the passenger to retrieve their meal. A typical meal would be something like a spam salad and some sort of desert plus tea/coffee. All drinks including soft drinks were charged for aboard these flights. baggage allowance was 33lb/15kg strictly enforced with no possibility to pay for excess baggage which would have to be left behind. When comparing 1969 with today, First Class could be compared to Business/Club class today, but a real business class with a dedicated cabin and 2 X 2 seating and not the disgrace which passes for Club Europe on BA today. Do not confuse the 1969 European F class offering with the longhaul international First class of today; it is more comparable to US Domestic pre-9/11 First class on a narrow body. First Class passengers had lounge access but the lounges were more basic than today. Just a lounge with free drinks, beverages and nibbles only. No hot food or buffets, showers, spas etc. First Class service was good. Seat pitch on a European sector would be in the 38 inch pitch range. A reasonable expectation would be newspapers, magazines and champagne before take off, complimentary drinks, wine, champagne, liquors etc, a meal which would by necessity be a tray meal on short sectors and a more elaborate meal on longer European sectors usually a plated starter, other courses not pre-plated and served from a trolley hot main course, desert, cheese, fruit basket, coffee and liquors. BEA did not offer printed menus or hot towels even in F as I recall. Meals were served on china, real glasses were used and there was a table cloth. However F class meals on European sectors did not offer Caviar. BEA used to give passengers a phrasebook of the destination country's language and a small gift was usually offered as well. BEA used to give small bottles of perfume, KLM small porcelain traditional Dutch houses filled with a liquor, and Lufthansa gave metal 'seals'. Economy class was certainly a premium product and priced accordingly although like today most leisure travellers didn't actually pay the full fare as excursion fares, inclusive tour fares etc were available although I will agree the point that it was more expensive than today but as fares were fixed and published they remained the same for all flights, entitlement to the lower fare types dependent on complying with the restrictions such as advance purchase, minimum/maximum stay, no changes, cancellation penalties etc, airlines did not have the opportunity to 'up' the fares on certain flights and charge certain passengers a fortune as they sometimes do today. The full economy fares (one year validity, no cancellation charges) would be directly comparable to Business class fares today and it is these fares which became the business class when BA changed their European class structure in March 1981 from FY to CM and full fare economy became Club, the full fare passengers being seated in Club which at that time was basically the old Y class service with free drinks and little frills such as separate check-in desk and hot towels added (no lounge access) while discounted economy fare passengers were relegated to the new M cabin with substantially lower service levels which improved over the years until the next big drop in service levels post 9/11. The holidays charter airlines were the low cost airlines of the day and provided cheap air travel to the masses off on their package holidays to the Costas. All comments relate to travel within Europe not longhaul and the general period of late 60's into the 70's.
Strange to think of the progress we made in 50 years from 1919 to 1969 (which essentially include Concorde) and yet we have hardly progressed much in the last 50 years. We are flying aircraft with similar speeds (apart from Concorde, the only supersonic passenger jet that has never been improved upon), food and levels of comfort. Flight times are not that different either. Progress eh?
You can notice the change in our movies. 50 years ago most movies based on the future were optimistic space-faring adventures while most movies set in the future now are disaster/dystopian movies.
There's been exponential growth from 1960 to now, more than 1900 to 1960 has. The growth curve is still going. Development has never been higher. new technology's are coming out faster than they did in the 19 60's and every social or cultural movement of today overshadows anything of the 60's
@@FFFFFFF-FFFFFFFUUUUCCCC Yeah but to counter that were adding more computational power and not making stuff smaller and smaller. We're developing but the really powerful things will just be larger
Britain was a mostly safe, clean and peaceful country. There was very little crime. Yes there was some violence in some cities, and small wars overseas, but Britain was peaceful. It is easy to be cynical and clever, getting to be clever, but this is really how Britons lived.
They got the audio track a little messed up. They said “it must be a pleasure to meet a business contact in a setting like this” at 7:42. I think they meant meeting the bikini clad ladies at 7:24, not the pale skinned shirtless guy with Woody Allen glasses.
Ah the romance from a by gone era, where today in the modern world, the airline industry has its problems after COVID, may not be a safe place to travel with bits falling off aircraft and crashes - rose tinted glasses.
One problem today with regard to domestic flights is that the traditional price order of bus, train, plane has disappeared. A situation where airlines such as Ryanair can offer domestic flights for less than the cost of the bus journey from the City to the airport makes no sense whatsoever.
This documentary was made at a time when nationalism and scattered regionalism were not rampant yet. Maybe it was a better time because nowadays there are people who think they have to weigh one's words. Back then not everything was taken literally.
"... the first transatlantic flight by those intrepid Englishmen, Alcock and Brown...." Ahem... Brown was born in Glasgow to American parents. Does this guy work for the bbc perchance?
@@tomservo5007 Unless you live like me no. Everything I have and own is from the 50s. apart from my hidden laptop I need internet in the countryside for shopping etc.
Mrs Richards: "I paid for a room with a view!" Basil: (pointing to the lovely view) "That is Torquay, Madam." Mrs Richards: "It's not good enough!" Basil: "May I ask what you were expecting to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window? Sydney Opera House, perhaps? the Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically past?..." Mrs Richards: "Don't be silly! I expect to be able to see the sea!" Basil: "You can see the sea, it's over there between the land and the sky." Mrs Richards: "I'm not satisfied. But I shall stay. But I expect a reduction." Basil: "Why?! Because Krakatoa's not erupting at the moment?
The TSA which did not exist in that era is a US thing and therefore would not be mentioned anyway. At that time there were no security checks of any sort. They were first introduced in the early 70's in response to the 1970 hijackings and, in the UK, the IRA threat. Airlines did not habitually check passports or verify identity at check in unless the passenger was checking in for a flight to a destination such as the USA where they were obliged to check the visa as they would be fined if the carried a passenger without one. For UK DOMESTIC flights it was possible for multiple passengers to travel on one ticket with only the lead name of one passenger being given. (International flights always required a separate ticket for each passenger). Customs checks were more through though. In the UK there were no red/green channels in the 1960's and passengers were individually cleared by customs US style on arrival in the UK and customs were very hot on collecting duty on items purchased overseas. Also in the 1960s the Exchange Control Act limiting the export of currency was still in force and, although not common, passengers could be checked by customs on departure to see how much money they were carrying.
Back in the day when Heathrow was 2 strips of mud & grass, a private jets interior resembled a portaloo & British diplomats openly smuggled bags of cocaine on spare seats throughout occupied countries... yeh! ... Empire n all that...
FANTASTIC, I left Australia in 1967 being my early 20's, lived in London for 3 years. What a great era, never out of a Job, Tom Jones, Beatles, Rolling Stones, George Best, England had just won the World Cup, great British pub scene. This bring back so many great memories! just not the same world today.
London is a diverse dungheap now
This brings back so many memories. I had to laugh when I saw the corporate aircraft of its day. I’m a retired corporate pilot, so I can appreciate that one
I love these short vignettes they remind me of my preteen years and going to the pictures, with 30 years experience flying as cabin crew I can say with some confidence that air travel hasn't changed too significantly but the attitudes and educational standards of the passengers have and not in a good way
You mean chavs are allowed to fly now don't you 😂😂
I agree, but it works both ways. In the 1980s and 1990s even in economy as a passenger I felt I was treated with respect and I found air travel relaxing. After 2000 (maybe 9/11/2001?), and with the Easyjets and Ryanairs lowering the standards and BA and other airlines following them to the bottom, passengers have been treated like cattle. Also, the prevalence of obese passengers has increased, and the midget seats, inadequate to start with, are even more horrendous now, especially if you are in a middle position.
@@routeman680 I agree with what you say. Definatety the events of 11 September 2001 was the moment where the airlines changed from controlling their passengers by being nice to them to a sit down shut up or else attitude. Another factor which affected profitability and therefore levels of service was the change in fares structures (especially within Europe) with the introduction of online booking. Previously one-way fares were set at high levels while lower fares were sold on a fixed date round trip basis sometimes cheaper than a one-way fare but at a round trip level which ensured a certain amount of revenue. When the airlines started to sell the low fares on a one-way basis there was little incentive for passengers to buy the higher fares.
The ban on smoking on board also had an effect. This led to an increase in tension aboard the aircraft and a less relaxed atmosphere. In the past flying was about relaxing, having a drink and a smoke, enjoying a nice meal and on a longer flight the equivalent of a visit to the cinema with a main screen movie often pre-release. Now the passengers sit in tense silence, many not removing coats or jackets, eyes glued to their portable electronic devices.
In the early 2000's I was commuting to Gibraltar from London and watched Monarch airlines destroy itself in the race to the bottom. When I started flying with them on this route they were a holiday charter airline with a small number of scheduled service routes. Aboard the scheduled flights they offered their excellent Crown Service throughout the aircraft. Complimentary drink service then a nice full hot dinner (starter, main course, desert, cheese, chocolate mint, coffee) properly served on a tray with complimentary wine. Hot towels, complimentary headsets and a video programme. The quality of the meals started to drop. For example, the apple crumble desert used to have a proper portion of custard with it, but this changed to what looked as if somebody had dipped a brush in custard and quickly wiped it across the bottom of the dish. The video programme stopped changing and it was the same thing for months on end.
Then they started charging for everything on board. At first this worked well as the old service levels were retained but you just had to pay. The meals actually improved. I recall eating my meal all up and really enjoying it and that was not because I had paid for it.
Then things really went downhill. The number of cabin crew was reduced to 3 on the A320s. Everything was sell sell sell. Buy a copy of Hello or Top Gear magazine (strange choice I recall when Newsweek and Time were handed out not these things). Buy a Pillow. Buy a blanket. The headsets and hot towels stopped being provided. Meals had to be pre-ordered but were no longer a nice tray meal but something not very nice as the hot main course just handed to you plus a few snack type things in a box. This was handed out immediately after take off to get it out of the way so the crew could get on with the sales trolley service. You didn't even get a drink with the meal until they came around selling them.
At least business men aren’t allowed to harrass the flight attendants
Ahh the old sunglasses trick to view the walking scenery 👍👍👍👍
Used to spend my Summer holidays on the Heathrow rooftops. Uncle worked for BEA as well.
Queen ELizabeth building I was there !
Spot the Brit at the copa cabana, wearing a shirt and tie the rest all in swimming gear
And stunning young ladies in bikinis with not a hint of plastic surgery butchering their natural good looks all around.
A wonderful era of civil aviation . And it was a treat for a trip to Heathrow to watch the aircraft . Even better taking a trip on one
Picture, sound, graphics, good quality, the diplomatic traveller, with his goodie bag.!
7:49 Jensen Interceptor! also, never a more glam plane than the 707, esp in PanAm colors
I live in Australia but I’ll be buggered if I’m going to have meetings with customers wearing budgie smugglers
?
@@harbourdogNL He said: "I live in Australia but I'll be damned if I would have business meetings with customers wearing speedos." (the cut of the men's swimsuits.)
I'm an Australian too, dead right mate.
1969 I was 13 years old :) Used to see lots of Avro Vulcan Bombers flying over my home in Derbyshire on their way back to Lincolnshire Airfields :)
Oliver Reed! Now that would have been a fun flight!
I detected a little stumble (hic!) up the stairs just before the cut to the outside shot of them at the plane’s door.
Not much fun for some.
Fantastic film, wish we lived like that today. You got on with life and enjoyed it. Actually out there and not checking up on your iPhone what you think you are missing out on. What has life become?
Yes you'll so right, people back than actually talked to each other! the way things are going in a few decades babies will be born with bent necks!
Going back 50 years in those days was like goung back to the stone age.
British United and BEA , that's stirred a few memories.
And who was the first Airline to get into the Picture? Correctly a Lufthansa Jet from Germany. Fun. Greatings from Cologne (Germany)
The human race has always travelled far and wide and when air travel became more popular in the 60's the company executive, director, MD or Chairman did exactly that. Always first class. As the decades came and went air travel became the norm. The world is so small in terms of travelling as we want to get to a place by the quickest method possible.
Please,please take me back from this insane world?
8:09...Oliver Reed, so make sure there's lots of booze aboard!
Lol...
In 1969 I went from LHR to Kennedy on a Boeing 707,was it really like this ?? at the time I thought I was the young jack the lad..
Travel was much easier in those days. I don't fly much anymore. Too much hassle. I vacation near home now. I don't need to go through security checks getting on a train and getting into my car.
Security checks are quick, and generally nothing. It's faster than ever, safer, cheaper and more luxurious
Too much hassle? Get a grip, man.
UK to Australia 1850's = 4 months on a ship
1920's = 40 days on a ship
2019 London to Perth can be done in 17 hours.
The World is out there to be seen. You only live once.
Same here. I used to go on at least two international vacations each year but I am done with the hassles and discomfort created by the incompetents running the airlines. Oh, and those were discomforts in business or first class. Travel is just morbid.
It was a happier world in those days, no pushing and shoving, no mobile phones and people shouting.
What went wrong with the world ?
Simple my dear boy........TOO MANY PEOPLE !!!!STOP BREEDING !!
We always see the past with rose tinted glasses when the reality was very different. Britain back then was not the unhurried, nostalgic country we see in films like this, it was often grim, poverty and slums were the norm for the majority of the population. Life expectancy was lower, diseases like measles, polio etc. were still a major problem and it was also a more violent, sexist society as crime statistics show.
@Elisha Sage Fuck off with your spam, account stealing attempts you complete loser.
@@kevinh96 How old are you please ?
Population expansion is the problem and it's scary-
1950- 2.5 Billion
2020- 7.7 Billion
Watch the Michael Moore film - 'Planet of the Humans'
At the start the music from wickers world from Yorkshire tv in 1968
Tridents, DH104 Doves-all born in my home town!
I'm just watching this to see planes landing and taking off again....and the narrative , so blasé about the ease of travelling.
2021 , June and it's been a year since I've seen my family. ☹
A year and 3 months so far for me…
A BUA VC10, now there is a rarity.
3:44 Look at how wide and far apart those seats are compared to the way passengers are packed in today...like slaves in the hold of a ship in the 1700s...
I would draw your attention to the fact that this is the FIRST CLASS (F) cabin, not economy, not business (which didn't exist in those days) but BEA First Class.
@Martin Wheatley As somebody who is old enough to have flown in 1969 I would like to comment on what you have said.
To clarify. For travel to Europe from the UK aboard a scheduled flight you would most probably be flying on a Trident if travelling BEA or a 727/737/DC9 if travelling with a European carrier. Scheduled flights were either all Economy (Y) or mixed First/Economy (FY). There was no club/business class within Europe until 1981. The seating configuration was 3 X 3 in Y class, the same as on a narrow body such as a 737 or A320 today. First Class (F) was 2 X 2 in a fixed size dedicated forward cabin. Seat width in Y class would have been the same as Y class seats today as the width of such narrow body aircraft has not changed and the configuration remains the same 3 X 3. The seats were however better padded and more comfortable than today's thin seats. Legroom in Y was better than today but only to the extent that my knees (I am 5ft 10in) didn't touch against the seat in front. The legroom was nothing special but I have found on shorter flights legroom only becomes an issue if it is insufficient and uncomfortable. The standard seat pitch on a scheduled flight in Y class would have been in the 32-34 inch pitch range depending on carrier and aircraft type. One massive disadvantage though was the lack of overhead bins only open coat racks which could not be used for cabin baggage and anything really did have to go under the seat in front of you thus restricting leg room although people were happier to check baggage in those days and the concept of carrying a large bag into the cabin didn't really exist. Baggage allowance in 1969 would have been 20kg/44lb in Y and 30kg/66lb in F. Excess baggage charges were applied although carriers were not over zealous and certainly there would have been a reasonable tolerance (5kg/11lb at the very least) before any charges were made or anything was said.
The food and drink in Y were not the same as in F. Firstly, alcoholic beverages were charged for in Y class on all scheduled international flights in those days, the notable exception being Singapore Airlines. Soft drinks were free. Water was free, usually iced and served from a metal jug. The idea of providing free alcoholic drinks in Y class didn't start until the 1980's. Alcohol was only free in F. However, as these drinks were sold at real duty free prices on International flights they were substantially cheaper than in a pub at home. This fact, plus the fact that a meal (hot on longer sectors, cold on shorter sectors) would be served on a sector of any length (note: NO meal service in Y on short sectors such as LON-AMS/BRU/PAR) and the drinking culture of the time resulted in very good sales levels of alcoholic drinks as the passengers really were getting a bargain. On longer sectors there would be a pre-meal drink service with the trimmings of drinks mats, drinks stirrers, peanuts etc but in Y drinks were served in plastic glasses. The only exception was if Champagne was purchased when you would get a real glass.
On BEA there were no printed menus in Y class although some European carriers did provide them especially on longer sectors, such as Olympic (a fantastic airline with very good service in those days) on LON-ATH. Hot towels were unknown in Y class. A typical BEA Y class meal on a longer European sector would have been something like Prawn Cocktail, Gammon steak or Chicken with potatoes and vegetables, a Desert such as Black Forest Gateau, Cheese spread and Crackers. Tea/Coffee with always at least one refill. Meals were properly served on trays almost the size of a Y class table and the cutlery was usually, but not always, metal rather than plastic. On the longer BEA European sectors the hot main course was brought separately after the trays were handed out, but not in the sense of a separate course after the starter dishes had been cleared, and put onto the trays using those long tongs. The meal was always freshly cooked for the flight by caterers, not made in a factory and prepacked like a supermarket ready meal, and was of good quality although nothing that could be considered gourmet. There was no choice of main course although special meals (religious, vegetarian etc) could be requested.
The major difference was the atmosphere on board. As you correctly say fares were more expensive so passengers behaved as if they were out to dinner in a nice restaurant. They dressed decently. A drink or two, a nice meal, a cigarette. A much more relaxed and less tense atmosphere.
You mention low fares today. Now, low fares did exist in 1969. Don't imagine that the mass market package holiday companies offering cheap holidays to Spain etc transported their passengers on these flights or at that sort of fare level. The 1969 equivalent of today's low cost carriers were the holiday charter airlines, such as for example Court Line who, like the low cost carriers of today, offered cramped seating and reduced seat pitch. I believe 30 inch itch was standard. Channel Airways experimented with a 7 abreast (4 X 3) configuration on their Tridents which must have been horrendous while other charter airlines (Court Line for example) offered passengers the horror of the, now banned for reasons of hygene, seat back catering. The headrest of the seat in front contained two slots with locked doors. Into these slots were placed the passengers ''meals', one meal for the outward journey and one for the return. During the flight the cabin crew would pass through the cabin and unlock one of the slots for the passenger to retrieve their meal. A typical meal would be something like a spam salad and some sort of desert plus tea/coffee. All drinks including soft drinks were charged for aboard these flights. baggage allowance was 33lb/15kg strictly enforced with no possibility to pay for excess baggage which would have to be left behind.
When comparing 1969 with today, First Class could be compared to Business/Club class today, but a real business class with a dedicated cabin and 2 X 2 seating and not the disgrace which passes for Club Europe on BA today. Do not confuse the 1969 European F class offering with the longhaul international First class of today; it is more comparable to US Domestic pre-9/11 First class on a narrow body. First Class passengers had lounge access but the lounges were more basic than today. Just a lounge with free drinks, beverages and nibbles only. No hot food or buffets, showers, spas etc. First Class service was good. Seat pitch on a European sector would be in the 38 inch pitch range. A reasonable expectation would be newspapers, magazines and champagne before take off, complimentary drinks, wine, champagne, liquors etc, a meal which would by necessity be a tray meal on short sectors and a more elaborate meal on longer European sectors usually a plated starter, other courses not pre-plated and served from a trolley hot main course, desert, cheese, fruit basket, coffee and liquors. BEA did not offer printed menus or hot towels even in F as I recall. Meals were served on china, real glasses were used and there was a table cloth. However F class meals on European sectors did not offer Caviar. BEA used to give passengers a phrasebook of the destination country's language and a small gift was usually offered as well. BEA used to give small bottles of perfume, KLM small porcelain traditional Dutch houses filled with a liquor, and Lufthansa gave metal 'seals'.
Economy class was certainly a premium product and priced accordingly although like today most leisure travellers didn't actually pay the full fare as excursion fares, inclusive tour fares etc were available although I will agree the point that it was more expensive than today but as fares were fixed and published they remained the same for all flights, entitlement to the lower fare types dependent on complying with the restrictions such as advance purchase, minimum/maximum stay, no changes, cancellation penalties etc, airlines did not have the opportunity to 'up' the fares on certain flights and charge certain passengers a fortune as they sometimes do today. The full economy fares (one year validity, no cancellation charges) would be directly comparable to Business class fares today and it is these fares which became the business class when BA changed their European class structure in March 1981 from FY to CM and full fare economy became Club, the full fare passengers being seated in Club which at that time was basically the old Y class service with free drinks and little frills such as separate check-in desk and hot towels added (no lounge access) while discounted economy fare passengers were relegated to the new M cabin with substantially lower service levels which improved over the years until the next big drop in service levels post 9/11.
The holidays charter airlines were the low cost airlines of the day and provided cheap air travel to the masses off on their package holidays to the Costas.
All comments relate to travel within Europe not longhaul and the general period of late 60's into the 70's.
Hope there were sufficient quantities of vodka and orange on that flight for Ollie.
Are you kidding ? He'd need so much booze the plane wouldn't be able to get off the ground !
Strange to think of the progress we made in 50 years from 1919 to 1969 (which essentially include Concorde) and yet we have hardly progressed much in the last 50 years. We are flying aircraft with similar speeds (apart from Concorde, the only supersonic passenger jet that has never been improved upon), food and levels of comfort. Flight times are not that different either.
Progress eh?
You can notice the change in our movies. 50 years ago most movies based on the future were optimistic space-faring adventures while most movies set in the future now are disaster/dystopian movies.
There's been exponential growth from 1960 to now, more than 1900 to 1960 has. The growth curve is still going. Development has never been higher. new technology's are coming out faster than they did in the 19 60's and every social or cultural movement of today overshadows anything of the 60's
@@TheFreshSpam Moore's law is slowing down as we speak
@@FFFFFFF-FFFFFFFUUUUCCCC Yeah but to counter that were adding more computational power and not making stuff smaller and smaller. We're developing but the really powerful things will just be larger
I think Elon Musk would disagree with you
Ah, those simpler days.
Yes, they had their problems but nothing like the anger, hatred and violence of today. Sad
Ahhhh, the good old time, the fear of nuclear apocalypse, the colonial and post colonial wars, and so much more...
Yes, the Krays sorted the violence ...
Britain was a mostly safe, clean and peaceful country.
There was very little crime.
Yes there was some violence in some cities, and small wars overseas, but Britain was peaceful.
It is easy to be cynical and clever, getting to be clever, but this is really how Britons lived.
Executive lounge! My first flight was on a Trident Two. Pity terrorism has transformed air travel
Thought that was Corbyn at 2.50 mins, enjoyable video...
It is his dad
Wonderful views of London Airport. A Lufthansa Boeing 707? (Or perhaps Boeing 720)
They got the audio track a little messed up. They said “it must be a pleasure to meet a business contact in a setting like this” at 7:42. I think they meant meeting the bikini clad ladies at 7:24, not the pale skinned shirtless guy with Woody Allen glasses.
Good stuff
So vivid and realistic.
How ironic a advert on this video telling you how to block adverts, which by the way doesn't work !
It's nice to see a short film with no token black people in or minority people's!!!
Why? Whats wrong with them?
All very convivial compared with today but no mention that in those days there was an airliner crashing about once a month .
Easy to spot the starchy english businessman on the beach in Rio!🤣Stands out like a sore👍.
Ah the romance from a by gone era, where today in the modern world, the airline industry has its problems after COVID, may not be a safe place to travel with bits falling off aircraft and crashes - rose tinted glasses.
A nice breakfast on a 1 hour flight…now you just get pretzels…
4:22 Lord Robens! Only three years on from the scandal surrounding him -- alive and well, unlike all those dead children.
Happy days.
These little films...it was all already going completely tits up but very few knew it yet.
I feel like Benny Hill is going to show up in this footage.🤣
This is how it should be only the middle classes and above should fly not like today.
Covid will sort it
@@Iain1962 With his man !
One problem today with regard to domestic flights is that the traditional price order of bus, train, plane has disappeared. A situation where airlines such as Ryanair can offer domestic flights for less than the cost of the bus journey from the City to the airport makes no sense whatsoever.
Very very romantic
Alcock and Brown were not both English - Arthur Brown was born in Glasgow.
This documentary was made at a time when nationalism and scattered regionalism were not rampant yet. Maybe it was a better time because nowadays there are people who think they have to weigh one's words. Back then not everything was taken literally.
“Executive club”
...yes we know what that means
"and by 1990 we will all have flying cars"
...and by 2020 a pandemic will all but stop international travel
Did Oliver Reed force the plane to land with his behaviour?
8:06 It's 'Women in Love'! Not sure where the narrator went to school, but he must have been asleep during English Literature! :0/
RIP Larry Kramer... He was a good man.
"... the first transatlantic flight by those intrepid Englishmen, Alcock and Brown...." Ahem... Brown was born in Glasgow to American parents. Does this guy work for the bbc perchance?
Have another cigarette mate🤣
I honestly was born in the wrong era
Being a millenial is just a big burden, sometimes I'm also thinking how lovely to live on past day
You would be a serf
you believe this is your first birth?
@@tomservo5007 Unless you live like me no. Everything I have and own is from the 50s. apart from my hidden laptop I need internet in the countryside for shopping etc.
é Power-Phull Aadmé untt AuRát
7:39 Why does the term 'Business and pleasure' always sound so corrupt and dodgy? Is it because it almost always is? :0/
Days when the royal family were revered worldwide. Now they are easy game for the statue topplers.
Alcock and Brown every schoolboys joke
Why don't people talk like the narrator anymore ?
Security checks and masks.......how did people ever complain back then
Mrs Richards: "I paid for a room with a view!"
Basil: (pointing to the lovely view) "That is Torquay, Madam."
Mrs Richards: "It's not good enough!"
Basil: "May I ask what you were expecting to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window? Sydney Opera House, perhaps? the Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically past?..."
Mrs Richards: "Don't be silly! I expect to be able to see the sea!"
Basil: "You can see the sea, it's over there between the land and the sky."
Mrs Richards: "I'm not satisfied. But I shall stay. But I expect a reduction."
Basil: "Why?! Because Krakatoa's not erupting at the moment?
I did not hear him mention TSA
He also said nothing of planes ramming skyscrapers
Planes did frequently get hijacked though!
Because we don’t have that in the U.K. 🇬🇧
The TSA which did not exist in that era is a US thing and therefore would not be mentioned anyway. At that time there were no security checks of any sort. They were first introduced in the early 70's in response to the 1970 hijackings and, in the UK, the IRA threat.
Airlines did not habitually check passports or verify identity at check in unless the passenger was checking in for a flight to a destination such as the USA where they were obliged to check the visa as they would be fined if the carried a passenger without one. For UK DOMESTIC flights it was possible for multiple passengers to travel on one ticket with only the lead name of one passenger being given. (International flights always required a separate ticket for each passenger).
Customs checks were more through though. In the UK there were no red/green channels in the 1960's and passengers were individually cleared by customs US style on arrival in the UK and customs were very hot on collecting duty on items purchased overseas. Also in the 1960s the Exchange Control Act limiting the export of currency was still in force and, although not common, passengers could be checked by customs on departure to see how much money they were carrying.
Back in the day when Heathrow was 2 strips of mud & grass, a private jets interior resembled a portaloo & British diplomats openly smuggled bags of cocaine on spare seats throughout occupied countries... yeh! ... Empire n all that...
"Queens messengers"?!
Yes. Google them or try Wikipedia.
They delivered the stuff to embassies not many left now
They all use government/company perks to the full.
B4 deregulation. 🤑
Before Islam ruined easy jet travel...
6:07 and five pounds of cocaine
come for a day no customs or immigration..... fkkn hell try that today lol
They are talking about passengers making day trips aboard domestic flights to London from other parts of the UK.
@@Ben-xe8ps Don't waste your time mate. His single brain cell won't compute!
Pan American, like many, gone.