I flew International SFO to Tokyo in 2019, the JAL Dreamliner had Upgraded economy seats w/ more legroom and Amneties. JAL still hands out Pilot wings, HOT towels before meals, and FREE Stationary, Pen & Postcards, FREE personal Tissues. the Bathrooms had FREE Toothbrushes and FREE mini Tubes of Toothpaste.
Missing from Airlines today is FREE food, snacks of Chips/Popcorn & Fresh fruit , and sometimes a Cheese & Meat tray. JAL gives pretty Generous meals w/ both Japanese & Western dishes. Missing from Airlines of the 1980's are Childrens crayons/ Colored markers and a Airline themed Activity book . I once got a Magnet game board / Activity book. these were flat Vinyl magnets w/ Dolls/Chracters. in the 1970's JAL gave me a Reuseable green tea bottle, JAL themed.
@@markplott4820 In my limited international travel experience, I've found that international airlines tend to treat even coach passengers better than domestic. British Airways is currently my favorite airline.
Yes!! The nervous excitement while standing there and waiting for your loved one to get off the plane. Especially when you hadn't seen them in a really long time.😭
I really miss when non-passengers were able to either go right up to the boarding gate to see you off or be waiting there at the gate when you got off the plane. I would always cry whenever I would see my whole family standing there waiting to greet me!
Non passengers can still come to the gate and wait with you in Australia for domestic flights, it’s so surprising that it hasn’t been stopped but it does add to the security lines. There’s nothing like a hug at the gate 😊
Yes, seeing my parents and then grandparents at arrivals was wonderful as a child. And my parents had an American bag that I used to use before it finally broke. I loved that bag. I also remember as a children peeking through the cockpit door on entering a plane and having the co-pilot allow me to step inside to see. Such fond memories when flying was fun and not a chore. And we all got pilots wings.
@@gatewayz75 Yep, I freaked out some relatives coming in from overseas recently when they came to Sydney on a domestic flight after transferring from Brisbane (where their international flight initally landed) and I was there at the gate when they walked off the jetway. They were literally like "WTF; how did you get in here?"
@@locklear74, don’t know if you are of Lumbee heritage but when I saw your name, I thought so and I agree, I really miss going to this area in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg airport to see my sister and her husband and children return from Saudi Arabia in the 1980s.
I worked for Trans World for 5 years as a reservations agent. First domestic, then international. My future husband worked at the ticket counter. We met in 1977 and were married in 1979. We still reminisce about those fun times working for the airline. TWA was a great company to work for. So sad that they didn't survive.
In jfk airport in ny there's a TWA hotel its great !! Also has a heated pool ( outdoor) and bar plus poolside food all in the TWA terminal .worth a visit imho
There are many things that are worse about flying today but for me it's not being able to go to the gate of the person you are picking up. There was nothing like watching the people walk out the plane and you finally spot your loved one.
The beginning/ending of the movie "Love Actually" would have been completely different if it was filmed today. People born after 9/11 will never have had that lovely experience.
One of the things that I remember very well is suitcases, not having wheels on them. I often wondered what took us so long to think of putting wheels on suitcases!
When I first started as a flight attendant, we had a regular suitcase and carried our fold up wheels to carry it around. I kept that suitcase and amazed at everything I packed in there! It's small by today's standard! I started in 1988. It was 1991 when Samsonite came out with the first wheeled suitcase! What a concept!😃
I started working as a flight attendant myself in 1988 and we had Samsonite suitcases with wheels then and they weren't a novelty product. So no, they didn't come up with that in the 90's
@Xiroi87 were they the ones with the handle that extended? I never saw any like that until 1990. Some suitcases had wheels, but you had a loop to pull it.
There’s a scene in the early 70s film The French Connection in which a character buys a flight ticket at the airport for cash without ID. Always make me smile.
@@tomhaskett5161 Parallax View I rewatched a few months ago and really enjoyed the Hitchcock influence I’d completely missed when I first saw it. First Hitchcock I saw was Family Plot so I may well have seen P.View before I saw any Hitchcock film.
I remember public viewing spaces at airports where anyone could watch planes landing and taking off. Often above the departure and arrivals levels, on the airfield side of the terminal. No security. It was worth a trip to the airport even if you weren't flying anywhere.
I used to do that. I would go down to O’Hare from Milwaukee and just walk around the terminals. Have lunch and some beer then come back home. Then 9-11 changed all that.
@@markplott4820 I haven't been there since before the pandemic, but Hamburg T4 is/used to be one such example. 🛫 Having the area landside but placed above arrivals/departures levels such that you can look across the apron and runway is a great idea, and I'm totally not surprised to find this at a German airport but never at any British ones! 🙃
My father and I would go to Newark Airport during the 1960s, and we would watch the Constellations flown by TWA and Eastern, and Electras flown by American. There were also Viscount aircraft, but I can't recall which airline flew them, and they were farther away from our vantage point.
There was an airline flying out of Milwaukee called Midwest Express, they prided themselves with having all the old time perks like all non stop flights, excellent service, extra wide seats, delicious chocolate chip cookies fresh baked on board and galley food a step above the rest. Unfortunately, they were sold about a dozen years ago
We used to fly Midwest Express a lot when we visited my wife's family in Milwaukee. They were the only airline to fly nonstop from San Francisco to Milwaukee in the 1990s. And the MD80s they flew only had 4 seats per row rather than the 5 seats you saw on other airlines. They were great.
In the mid-seventies Pan Am had a deal called "Around the World In 90 Days for $999.00" With this ticket, you could fly anywhere Pan Am serviced as long as you traveled in the same direction. You could get off the plane anywhere they stopped and stay as long as you liked within 90 days. I circumnavigated the globe 3 times in one year and stopped at so many places I couldn't count them all! What a riot!!
I recall the existance of these round the world fares, quite common from the late 70's into the 80's and 90's although they normally involved the participation of at least 2 carriers. This Pan-Am only fare is not really as good as it sounds as basically it would allow a transatlantic crossing, no access to Africa, then just LON and FRA as any other European destination would involve backtracking as no onward flight, then really whatever route PA1/2 took that year across the Middle East/Indian Subcontinent (probably a selection from IST/BEY/THR/KHI/BOM/DEL depending on the day of the week) to SE Asia (BKK) then up to HKG and TYO then back across the pacific to the US. No access to Australia as no PA service from SE Asia to Australia and no access to South America either.
That RTW ticket on Pan Am was indeed $999. However, for just a bit more, $1199 - I actually got confirmed seats on any selected flight departure. Eastern Airlines had something similar, but for much less. Visited 101 of their destinations for $401. Man, I miss those days!!!
@@BigDukeX Eastern Airlines was a US DOMESTIC carrier. Don't understand the bit about paying $1100 to get confirmed seats on PA. The $999 fare was not standby was it!
My father worked for Pan Am in the early 1950s when flying was a civilized experience. Men wore suits, women dresses with hats and white gloves and children were a rare sight. Food was served on real china and silverware was provided. Now flights are nothing more than shoulder-to-shoulder, crowded flying buses. Dang, I miss those days.
I was thinking the very same thing, and I liked your comment. I heard this very same thing a few years ago on a podcast I was listening to. They were talking about how people have become bigger, but the seats have gotten smaller. And I myself am a bigger person. Frustrating. Good thing I don’t fly much.
After Lockerbie, I flew from the UK to Miami on a Pan Am 747. There were 15 passengers and a full crew. PanAm was a good airline but sadly it went the same way as TWA. Today, I drive in the USA: maybe less secure and expensive for long trips but at least I do not have to endure crowds, lousy restaurants and the TSA.
@@BobBritt Tell me you're American without telling me you're American. Or perhaps it's my response to your statement - tell you I'm British without telling you I'm British! We consider 2 hours to be quite a long way😅 You could drive from the south of England to the north of Scotland in 12 hours.
I have actually worked in this industry for 56 year's and this video really brought back some great memories. Other things as well have disappeared that I remember well. Thank you so much for putting this video on TH-cam.
As a kid in the 70s and 80s, I remember that flying was an event that people dressed up for. Flying today had degraded so much that it's similar to riding in a Greyhound bus. You'll see all kinds of "interesting" folks.
We are prob the same age. Flying overseas my mom wore a white 3 piece suit with heels in the late 70s. She was dressed like Tony from Saturday Night Fever only her blouse was not unbuttoned that far and she was not wearing gold chains. 😂
I remember the dress code on boarding commercial Airlines back in 1963 that even child have to wear a jacket and tuxedo! I hate tuxedo because I have a difficulty to be comfortable and it was very hot and humid in Far East.
Good video. Just a few points. I think cockpit doors started getting locked long before 9/11. In the 70s there was a whole series of hijackings that resulted in cockpit doors not only getting locked, but also being armored. Also, in addition to those airline bags, international business and first class passengers received little kit bags that contained combs, soap, a razor and shaving cream along with creams and scents for women. Bathrooms on airplanes were a decent size. There was also a closet for hanging jackets and coats so you wouldn't look all wrinkled when you arrived in your destination. There were also two magazines per seat. One was the airline's own travel magazine and the other was a wonderful collection of gadgets that you could order by mail.
The cockpit doors were not armored in the 1970s. Other security measures had been taken though. The airlines continued to oppose armored cockpit doors right thru the 1990s, which is why the 9-11 hijackers had no trouble taking over those planes.
Inflight magazine and Sky Mall catalogs were common as recently as a decade ago. Inflight internet and entertainment options via smartphones, tablets and laptops has been the final nail in that particular coffin though.
In 1988, I flew first class from Paris to Rio with Air France. My wife and I were put in first class because the flight was overbooked. I was really surprised at how luxurious it was: whisky and caviar before dinner, a first class meal with wine and reclining seats. I remember the kit bag with the shaving cream, etc. The aftershave lotion was really good and lasted for months.
In 2017 and 2018 I made several Atlanta to Heathrow flights. Fortunately Company policy allowed Business Class for those flights. Not sure how it compared to earlier times but it was really nice. Made an overseas trip last year (2022) and flew Coach. Could only look longingly toward the front of the plane.
Airports used to have observation decks where you could go and watch the planes come and go. As a kid, it was always something we did on a summer evening, then stopped at a snack bar inside the terminal for a treat like fresh popcorn. In the mid-1980's my wife and I flew on KLM from Amsterdam to New York. My wife went up to the cockpit during the flight and took a picture of her antique teddy bear sitting in the pilot's seat.
I remember when the passenger and their family can walk to the aircraft boarding gate and present the glance with flower and took a picture on both incoming and departure flights!
Hello, Nancy. My father was a PanAm mechanic for 35 years and my siblings and I had those nifty PanAm shoulder bags as our school bags, too! Strong and practically indestructible. Mine lasted an entire decade of carrying heavy school text books!
I remember my grandparents having the airline bags in the 60s and 70s. I remember when we didnt have jetways in Phoenix and one place you went to get your tickets was the airline's CTO or city ticket office. The airport was the place my family went to stand on the obsevation roof and listen to the tower and pilots while watching the planes arrive. My love for the airlines put me into a travel school in the late 80s and in an airline career from 87 to 95. It was also the job that allowed me to meet and marry my wife in 1990 and we traveled a lot as a standby non rev passenger. My kids got to see a lot of places. Those were the good old days and fond memories! Thanks for sharing! A lot of fun stories I could tell about airport life.
Interesting that you mentioned Phoenix. I,lived there from 1955 to 2003. One of the favorite and free things to do in the “old” days was to go down to Sky Harbor Terminal #1 (long gone) and go up in the roof to watch planes land and take off. We a,so used to drive down to the end of the runway (off 40th street if I remember) and watch the planes take off, too. My Dad worked for AiResearch which was/is close by (so did I and my husband and close to eventually of about 10 or so relatives!!!! I miss the original terminal in many ways!
My dad used to be an aircraft mechanic for one of the biggest airlines in the 70's. We went on many trips in those standby seats. I remember getting many tours of the cockpit and earning my wings. Nowadays I understand why the pilots were happy to see him once they knew what he did for a living. What better way to say your aircraft is safe than for the mechanic to bring his family onboard. I also have some of the silverware from those in flight meals. Dad snagged several sets when they stopped that service. They were really nice and I find them a comfortable shape/weight. In fact I stole a couple of sets when I moved out and got married. My oldest says that she wants them when she moves away too.
On the plane, they used to ask you if you wanted a magazine or paper at the beginning of the flight, then the flight attendant would bring them to you. I don't miss the smoking at all, but I do miss the larger seats and the planes not packed to capacity.
When you flew on a wide-body plane, the takeoff was shown on the in-flight movie monitors. The cameras were in the cockpit positioned over the captain's shoulder so you saw the view through the cockpit window. That ended abruptly after American Airlines Flight 191 crashed on takeoff at O'Hare Airport in Chicago on May 25, 1979. An American Airlines spokesperson stated that passengers were likely watching the takeoff during the crash. The takeoff cameras went dark, never to be seen again.
Take-off cameras still exist; on the Airbus A380 for certain. You’ll be watching on personal seat back monitor rather than a big movie monitor, but it’s available.
I remember that camera on AA. I thought that was cool. I also liked listening to air traffic control on channel 9 on the inflight entertainment on United.
@@jacksons1010 I've never flown on an A380, these days most of my flights are on A320s or 737s. I'm not aware of any US airline flying the A380 so you'd have to be on a non-US carrier. Post-1979 I did fly on a lot of wide-bodies including the DC-10 with United and American, they had definitely stopped showing the takeoff camera.
@@Zzyzx-- there are 14 airlines worldwide still operating the A380, all of which conduct operations within the US but none of which are US owned or based carriers. The A380, for obvious reasons, is heavily disfavored for CONUS travel due to its size and inefficient operating expense. It’s also destination restricted with only 16 US airports FAA approved for landing.
The last time I flew was in the 1980s. Not only did I get flight wings, I also got a small United Airline jet toy. It was like a Hot Wheels toy. It's a great memory.
Smoking lounges! They used to be quite common in airports. In 2011, I was stunned to still find one in the Salt Lake City International Airport when I had a layover there.
My mom & her twin sister were stewardesses in the 1950s. I've been told, the meals were always overstocked for those passengers that wanted 'seconds'. The crew would bring all of the leftovers home in barf bags... she says, the steaks were ''especially delicious!''
@@stephendacey8761 If you saw the relative cost of airline tickets back in the 1950s, you'd think, "this steak meal is all I get for the huge cost of this flight?"
@@stephendacey8761 It is all about money now. People want cheap fares and airlines want max profit. So pesky little things like "food" are now history.
I remember getting to visit the cockpit on a few occasions as a kid. I did meet this one captain that kept asking me odd questions, such as if I liked movies about gladiators or seen a grown man naked.
This video brings back so many memories.. thank you so much... one thing that has also gone away is having your bag tags checked at the door of the airport before you leave the baggage claim area... someone would stand there and match your bags tag with the claim ticket you got when you checked in... now people just walk out with their bags (or yours) lol
Most train stations have also replaced their click-clack departure and arrival signs with digital ones. But at least a few train stations I've been in still generate the click-clack sound when those digital signs are updated. Whether they reproduce the sound for nostalgic reasons, or simply to inform people waiting in the waiting room that there is an update, it is a nice familiar sound.
@@stephendacey8761 You name someone else as the beneficiary. This was a money maker for the insurance companies, because the planes didn't crash that much.
Hello, I have only flown twice. My first flight was in 1992. The second flight was in 2009. My flight was so much different in 1992 versus the one seventeen years later. I remember that my dad accompanied me to the gate and the airline employees were in general much nicer. I flew coach and got a full meal. A couple of things that I didn’t hear you mention were the life insurance policies available in airports. Also, my mother said that years ago, people would wear formal clothes to fly. Such as, dresses, hats, and white gloves for women. While men wore suits and ties on the airplane. She told me that people even dressed formally on the Greyhound bus.
I flew back to the USA in the very early Fifties on a Connie. The seats were luxurious, the food very good and the entire experience was one now vanished. The journey took 14 hours to cross the Atlantic and as it was raining when we disembarked, a host of people appeared with large umbrellas to walk us to the terminal. The “air hostesses” were very attractive women, one who told my grandfather who flew with me, that she would be replaced when 28 years old and put on ground duties. Flying today is basic and devoid of the humanity and fun it once had. Cattle trucks with wings.
Thats funny that you said people use to dress formal for Greyhound busses. Today Greyhound is at the bottom of the barrel. I rode Greyhound a couple of times from the Disneyland area to Las Vegas, and I thought I was going to get mugged. Southwest airlines looked a lot better after that!
Thanks for another great video!. Small packs of Chiclets chewing gum were given to passengers in unpressurized planes to help alleviate ear pressure problems in flight. Also, free packs containing 5 cigarettes were often handed out. Before seat-back screens were installed, in-flight movies were projected on large pull-down screens and video tape was used. Prior to that, movies were film on a single huge reel and the film travelled in hidden channels around the cabin. With multiple projectors on smaller screens, if you missed a scene, you might catch it again as the film advanced to another projector. Dinnerware was once china plates and metal silverware. Flying PSA on the West coast, one could simply walk on board and purchase a ticket with cash ($28 LAX to SFO.)
When I flew over Atlantic in 80s, there were stethoscope like headphones that would cost $5 if you wanted to watch in flight moves. There were brochures in the seat pockets showing the name of the movies and the food being served. There was only one big screen per section that everyone could watch the movies. There were rows of payphones (do generation z know this word?) Near the gates. And last one, the stewardess were very good looking and kind. I missed this one the most.
The standard charge for he rental of headphones applied by all airlines in Y class was US$2.50 which was abolished sometime during the 80's, can't recall exactly when. I doubt that these 'brochures' contained details of the food as the menu would differ greatly from flight to flight although the airlines own magazine would normally give details of the movies. I assume you mean you were provided with individual printed menu cards.
@@Ben-xe8ps I know what you are referring to. That's why I specifically said that earbuds (and not what you are describing) was still available as late as 2001.
Being met by your family at the gate was so wonderful. My dear husband usually brought flowers. It was fun going to the airport. You could go in without a ticket. We would take the kids in for ‘airport cake’ at the Portland, Oregon airport. And they could watch the planes landing and taking off. Also, fights were not so crowded so you might get an entire row to yourself. You could put up the arm rests and almost sleep comfortably. I loved flying in the 70s-90s.
One thing you definitely won't see. A handwritten airline ticket. When I took a travel tourism class in 1989, we were taught how to fill out paper tickets. This was for just in case the automatic ticket printer was down.
My first airline ticket to the US from Thailand back in 1972 was purchased at airline ticket office with the passenger must be present in front of sale agent with cash based on the price quote in USD. The ticket with all connection flights were all hand written with carbon copy like old coupons and in was loaded in leather bounder with travel documents and cash like a big folder. My mother told me that if the pick pocket cut through the jackets, they can remove the whole package and I will be in trouble.
Or back validating! LOL. How about fare extension ladders? Books to store metal airline validation plates. Calling credit card companies to get a manual approval code. ETAs, RENs, MCOs, Tour Operator coupons, prepaids...oh how things have changed!!!
@@tisenhow I must be older than you. I recall he days before the airline validation plates when travel agents maintained the dedicated ticket stock of different carriers and submitted monthly sales returns individually to each airline that they held ticket stock for. I remember writing manual tickets, using the Air Tariff or APT to make manual fare calculations for complex itinaries with no computer assistance. I recall all the things mentioned but what is a REN?
@@Ben-xe8ps REN is a refund exchange notice so ARC knows how much to have the bank refund a credit card. Yes you're older than me. I do know my travel boss worked for Pan AM and sat at a round table that had file folders on a lazy Susan when she worked in reservations. Lol
When I was born, there were no metal detectors at airport check-in lines at all. They got added after a spate of hijackings in the 1960s. But as late as the late 1970s, you could get a decent meal on board. I remember flying coast to coast on a TWA L1011. The lunch was all-you-could-eat fried chicken. I went back for seconds.
Metal detectors at check-in lines? Don't you mean at the checkpoint when entering the departures area or at the gate? Never encountered that 'all you can eat' concept or the idea of 'going back' for seconds. How did that work?
Pan Am was a great airline. When Business Class was a new idea, the major airlines competed for business with First Class-type perks. They didn't give you a large carry on bag, but a smaller zippered bag filled with Pan Am toiletries, like hair combs, a portable toothbrush with a tiny tube of toothpaste, and other items for women. These were given to you at the beginning of the flight. Pan Am was also the first airline to order the 747. They used the upstairs compartment in unique ways. The started with putting a piano bar up there, accessible to First Class only. By the time I came along, it was still a lounge upstairs but no more piano. It was accessible to both First and Business Class flyers. It was a pleasant place to talk and share a drink with fellow passengers on the 11 hour overnight to London. When Boeing delivered the 747-400 with an extended upper compartment, Singapore Airlines used that upper area for Business Class, exclusively. I believe they called it Big Top. When I flew to Singapore in 1984, I traveled in the Big Top, that had 22 rows of double seats with an aisle down the middle that led to the flight deck, 40' above ground. This gave us 88 seats apart from the 300 coach class and 20 First Class seat passengers and both above and forward of the 4 Rolls Royce engines, so it was surprisingly quiet. I sat a few seats away from the front bulkhead, and with the cabin door open we were all invited to look out the front windscreen and see the pilots' "office." That was until sundown. That was another long flight with three-hour layover in Hong Kong, and 12 hours to San Francisco via the Great Circle over Alaska down the West Coast of Canada. We were served two or three meals on real China plates and cups, using steel knives, forks, and spoons, on linen napkins. There were a choice of meals, of course. Singapore gave you a branded toothbrush and tiny toothpaste, slippers for you to wear in the plane, a branded eye mask for sleeping, and the drinks were always free. Out of all the major airlines I used in my business traveling days, Singapore Airlines was probably the best. That's what I miss about the airlines -- the service, and that great aircraft, the Boeing 747. In the airports themselves, I still recall being able to access any part of the airport and terminal without any checkpoints. When the metal detectors were added after Islamic terrorists began hijacking passenger jets in the late 1970s, one could usually pass through without a problem, quickly. The airport furniture used to be more comfortable. The restaurants were better and fastfood was absent. Getting from the check in desk to the gate was more convenient. Today, everything is plastic, the carpets a filthy, and gate sizes have gotten smaller to accommodate more passengers with less seats. Because everyone wants to pack their wardrobe for an entire week in Vail, huge carry-on suitcases that will never get on the plane are everywhere, always in your way. People get more rude annually. Once, we were all in it together, whether flight delays, bad weather rerouting, or simply overbooked flights and crowded boarding scenarios. Today, it's every man for himself, even if he is a she, or none of the above. I travel once a year, and with a cane as I live with advanced spine disease that makes walking a challenge on some days. Still, people try to run me over as I walk up7 the jetway to the plane, and my seat. Sometimes I'll hear a loud comment behind me about them getting a cane too, so they can have preferred boarding. Lovely. People used to be more kind and helpful to each other. That's what I miss the most.
Very interesting but please permit me to correct some errors. I don't believe that pianos were ever to be found in Pan Am 747 upstairs lounges. The 'piano bar' thing was found on US domestic AA 747's in the rear coach lounge during that short lived period of massive over-capacity on US domestic routes following the introduction of wide body aircraft circa 1970 which allowed US carriers to offer some very comfortable configurations on domestic flights for a few years. . The bags that you refer to are what today would be called amenity kits and are still given to First and Business class passengers. These are different from the cabin bags mentioned in the video. These bags were given out by travel agents and airline ticket offices. Originally given to all back in the 50's, who was given them was reduced over the years until by the early 80's onwards it was strictly to First class international passengers only. They disappeared during the 80's I think. They became very unfashionable. 747 upstairs lounges were strictly FIRST CLASS ONLY. No carrier, even Pan-Am, allowed access to business class passengers. By the time business class was introduced Pan-Am were using the upstairs lounges for their restaurant style service of meals with tables (not very satisfactory in my opinion as not enough seats for ALL F class passengers) and they were in effect no longer lounges. The F class lounges (there were NEVER any lounges accessible to Business Class passengers until Emirates introduced one in recent times aboard their A380) on all carriers started to disappear circa 1980 when business class was introduced and F class seating was changed from the old approx 40 inch pitch (6 rows in the nose of a 747-100 or 200) to the new approx 60 inch pitch (4 rows in the nose of a 747-100 or 200). The upper deck was then used variously by different carriers. Some added F class seats on the upper deck as well as in the nose to retain the same number of F class seats. Others used the upper deck for business class, less common others moved F class upstairs and put business class in the nose and some even turned the upper deck into an economy cabin. 1984 would not have been a 747-400, most probably it was a 747-300. Also I don't think there were 22 rows up there. The upper deck was not THAT big! Probably around half that number of rows absolute max. Metal detectors were added after the Palistinian (please don't say 'Islamic' as their motive was very much political not religious) terrorists hijacked some aircraft in 1970.
Before 9/11, you could rush to the airport at the last minute to catch your flight, but now with all the security, they want you to arrive at least 2 hours before your flight departs.
Flying sure has become different since 9/11. As an older (age 75) person, I now do not have to remove my shoes and can go through a different/regular gate instead if being herded through the X-ray gate! My Mom moved back from AZ to PA about 2-1/2 weeks after 9/11 - was the weirdest f,isn’t I’ve ever been on - no people at all leaving or arriving at gates.
The printed timetables (both systemwide & city schedules) that they airlines displayed on the ticket counters for passengers to take have been gone for years now.
I used to travel a lot in the late 1980's and early 1990's. Back then carrying an OAG (Official Airline Guide) which listed all flights and times was an absolute must so that you could change flights quickly - by calling the airline's 800 number!
@@kjquinn7856 I still have quite a few OAGs (both pocket size with the limited amount of flights & the large, full size ones with every flight) with some going back as far as the 1950s. Should sell them on ebay but they are great reference to the way air travel used to be & I hate to give them up!
That is what I miss most from as a kid...going to the airport every few months to collect a new set of schedules for the airlines that served my aiport
My daughter was a flight attendant years ago. It was nice to have family come with you and watch you take off before 911. Now they can only walk you to security and say goodbye there with hugs.
My aunt used to work as a stewardess for TWA back in the early to mid 80s. She brought me back flight wings which I've long since lost. Funnily enough, when I was a teen, my aunt also became a travel agent after leaving TWA.
I was lucky enough to fly from Syracuse to NYC back in the very early 60s, and yes, I got to visit the cockpit and was given a set of "wings" to commemorate my flight. Sure miss those days.
I remember that in the sixties one went to the Airline Office, got offered an armchair and purchased one's ticket in comfort and being treated in a friendly manner.
As far back as the 70s airlines started "no frills" flights which almost immediately became the butt of jokes - especially in MAD Magazine! I flew with a more kind airport that allowed me to have my shoes scanned instead of taking them off due to the difficulty of my being disabled!
I have a "lift" in every left shoe I own ever since they screwed up my hip-replacement surgery leaving one leg 1.5" shorter. *If anyone looks like they are smuggling a shoe-bomb on board it's me!!*
@@Ben-xe8ps Actually, I suspect it is mostly because 'that's the rules and it has been like that as long as I remember' and people having got used to it, rather than real active paranoia
In the 70s, camera stores used to sell lead-lines bags to hold rolls of film for travelers. The bags would prevent the film from being exposed as it went through airport x-ray scanners.
I miss some of the other airlines that are gone, like America West and Northwest. Less competition has led to higher prices and even less service. I can remember not that long ago when you didn't have to pay for checked bags. Now only Southwest does that, and only for for the first 2 bags.
It's hyper capitalism in it's purest form. Contrary to what many will tell you the marketplace doesn't lower pricing and create a better product, it incentivizes competitors to buy out their competition and eliminate it to create a monopoly where they set pricing instead. Our country learned this during the Gilded Age and took steps to address by breaking up such monopolies and trusts. It's a pity everybody has forgotten that.
Keeping the cockpit door shut & locked happened before 9/11 & was standard procedure with the major carriers. I can remember non-reving on an Air Aruba flight back in 1990 & the crew kept the cockpit door open which the FAA deemed Air Aruba's practice of an open door in flight as unsafe. However, we re-enforced the doors after 9/11.
My first flight was in the early 1970’s when I was about 4 years old. My mother wouldn’t let me go to the cockpit, but I was still given the plastic wings. I think I might have them in a box somewhere. The stewardess also gave me a bag of peanuts and a tiny game that you had to roll a ball through a maze. I haven’t flown anywhere since 9/11. I’ve been to the airport to drop off and pick up family, but haven’t had the joy of airport security myself.
I remember when I was about 6 flying from Billings, Montana to Albany, New York. This would have been in 1967. I would always be allowed to go into the cockpit and chitchat with the flight crew before we took off and would get a set of Junior Pilot wings. Even in coach you would get a cloth placemat and metal silverware. I distinctly remember the salt and pepper shakers were little plastic cups with removable paper tops. And glass drink ware.
You forgot to mention the smoking section on flights. As soon as the plane took off you would hear flick the bic. Also how everyone would have to close their windows for the in flight movie and you’d have to pay for those crappy air headsets to listen to the movie.
Seems everything is changing. The world evolves. Sometimes for the good. Sometimes for the bad. Anyway I like your work on the videos! Keep it up, pls? 😊
Smoking and nonsmoking sections on planes. Smokers were confined to the rear 1/3 of the plane. Usually the no smoking sign went of at wheels up and the lighters started clicking immediately.
I remember that you could just walk out to any gate and sit to watch flights come and go. It was easier to pick folks up that way because you could just meet them as they were getting off the plane. You could also bring drinks and food to consume on the flight, smoking was allowed on the plane. Heck ashtrays were almost every fifty feet inside the terminal.
I miss Braniff airlines, I don't miss the loop recording I heard "This area is for loading and unloading of passengers only, no parking. The violator's car will be towed and impounded at their experience, thank you ". Yes after 50 years I still remember.
I am a retired Flight Attendant. I started in the mid 80’s and I can tell you the US has gone so down hill that it’s shameful. The over seas carriers still provide a very nice service. They could not pay me enough to fly for a living today. It really is horrible to travel by air in the US. I would love to see the rail come back.
Live in Europe now: I pay extra to avoid US carriers when I fly. Last time code sharing tricked me into flying a United flight, the worn out seats meant I ached for three days after the flight.
@@shinnam I fully understand. I flew for the then USAir/Piedmont. We were a really a good company until it went to hell. We had hot meal service in economy from PHL to DFW and even served ice cream and provided hot towels before landing. Our First Class was really nice and you always got food no matter how short the flight was and we enjoyed providing it. Emirates and Cathay Pacific to name a few are real classy airlines. Lufthansa provides a nice first class service not to mention Virgin Atlantic. We had virgin America here for a short time until government corruption took hold of them and they were really great in first class service on the West Coast I think Alaska Airlines took them out. Such a shame.
@@shinnam American comes to mind. Old aircraft, poor service and food even on long haul. The USA is the last bastion of the 767 with its drop down screens offering no choice of entertainment. Like going back to the 1980s
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@@shinnam there isn‘t that much flying anymore from Frankfurt/Amsterdam for some reason unless you pay 1000€ more to fly with Lufthansa or have enough miles to book a flight. I just hope, Condor and Eurowings Discover will bring back their service and also, the LH A330 routes will return to Düsseldorf as they are either affordable or somewhat good at least.
I can remember calling Airlines in the early 90s and provided you booked at least a week or so in advance the air tickets were mailed to your home which was more convenient than going into an agent plus at the WTC in NY the north tower lobby had small airline ticket counters to purchase tickets. One thing I don’t miss is taking a gamble with seat selection before the advent of online seat selection. Back then your seat was allocated at check in so you’d get stuck with middle seats if you checked in not long before the flight closed plus if passengers weren’t nice the agent could slip people a bad seat with a smile 😊
Thanks for reminding me of the bags and the playing cards. I remember having Pan Am ones. I loved and still love flying. It may have lost some of the glamour but it’s still an amazing experience, and quieter and safer than it’s ever been.
I remember upon boarding a particular flight using the jetway there was a large container immediately before the plane's door. We were each instructed to take one as we boarded. Like the other passengers, I grabbed one of the items while continuing to walk past it. The item was a paper bag lunch!
Lufthansa's Airbus from Frankfurt to Stuttgart had something similar in the early to mid 80s: In the waiting lounge they had a rack with hooks on it. On the hooks they had a plastic purse where the handles clicked together. When you unlocked them, the purse/bag contained juice that was inside what looked like a yogurt cup with the foil on top, a glass, some cheese, fresh fruit, a roll, butter and a small piece of chocolate. I remember it was apple juice and it was delicious.
3:40 Travel agents give you advantages. * They’ll get you the most compensation for cancelled or delayed flights, or lost baggage. * Call them personally to rebook. * They can suggest itineraries you might not find online. * They live and breathe travel. Take advantage of their expertise.
The mention of airport security in this video reminded me of a time when there was no airport security, like metal detectors or scanners. Everyone simply walked to and from the gates. Arrival gates would be crowded with family and friends there to greet an incoming flight. I remember the first time I walked off a plane into the arrival gate area and no one was there. It felt like an empty and sad place that once had been quite exciting.
I used to get a stockpile of those bags both handbag and shoulder strap types both real and counterfeit! I also, had china silverware custom made for airlines including water glass with airlines logo.
Wow, those bags, back in the 70's, in the state of Hawaii......(was living there '73-75,), every Elementary school kid,(boy) had one of Pan Am/United/Northwest Orient/TWA /JAL,etc. back then everyone had them to bring your books home to read & study, and then back to school the next day.
Oh the stories I could tell from the 80-2000s with my father working at ORD. I miss these simpler times. 9-11 pooched all the good times. Ty for this. Back in the day I was able to tell you what kind of plane was overhead and what airline as it flew by. Braniff was another airline gone in the ages as well as Condor, Sabena, and air lingus
We had one of the flight bags like you showed in the first scene, but it was Piedmont Airlines since my dad was an employee. What a great airline. Too bad they sold out to "Useless" Air, lol. You should do a whole episode on now defunct airlines of the past like Piedmont, Eastern, Braniff, etc.
Piedmont was the BEST! I flew with them exclusively during the 80s when I was vacationing with my grandmother. In 92 when I first took a flight from Atlanta to North Carolina I booked with USAir since I knew they bought out Piedmont.... and THAT was the last time I ever set foot on a USAir Flight. It was a Christmas disaster and though I might have given them a second chance it just didn't make sense to book with anybody but Delta back then if you lived in Atlanta and wanted to fly domestically.
"You should do a whole episode on now defunct airlines of the past like Piedmont, Eastern, Braniff, etc." IOW the airline version of railroad "Fallen Flags" like the Pennsylvania RR, the B&O, Southern Pacific, and other railroads large and small that were merged out of existence or went out of business. Yes, Recollection should do a vid on defunct airlines.
Somewhere in the late 90ies I flew from Berlin Tempelhof airport which is no longer in operation. They had a complete computer-less checkin - which was already uncommon back then. The seat assignment was done by taking a sheet of stickers where all the seat numbers were printed on: 1A 1B, 1C, 2A... and they took one sticker off and put it on the boarding pass.
In the mid 90's I flew out of Milan-Linate. One of the most ridiculous things I experienced was the PA system repeating over and over in several languages "In an effort to reduce noise pollution this airport will no longer announce arrivals and departures"
I had a business trip to Berlin in 1996, and the inbound flight went to Tegel, but the return went from Tempelhof - quite confusing. Some post-unification politics to keep the different airports active at the time, I guess
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This type of seat assignment actually was pretty common until the mid 2010‘s to before the pandemic, but they later used computers for it. I think airlines were/are required to seat childs under 12 near their parents and they therefore usually had to assign seats at the airport if the families haven‘t done so online. Actually brought me into business class for free once because they didn‘t have a suitable seat in economy.
Being a frequent flyer nowadays (well 10 or more flights a year) I certainly don't dress up for the occasion. Not too warm works for me. For flights longer than 2.5 hours I bring noise canceling headphones, for shorter ones I don't even bother. I don't expect better service because of the way I'm dressed, I do try to be polite all the time.
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@@paulhoogsteder4484 I mean a good suit often costs more than the entire flight. Sometimes, a Lufthansa long-haul business class flight costs like 20000 miles with their Miles and More program, equal to around 250€. Therefore, I also don‘t really see a point of being dressed nicely, I just get some expensive shirt (Boss/Lacoste) and perfume and that‘s it.
Airlines used to have TV advertisements with catchy slogans & jingles. I used to collect paper airline flight schedules at their satellite offices in order to plan trips & vacations. It was great to select the types of equipment & times of flights indicating whether or not meals were served for coach passengers from the schedules. The placement of skyways at gates eliminated the need to walk up or down stairs onto tarmacs at terminals which was a big plus. Flight Attendants (aka Stewardesses) were actually RN's through the '70's. Passengers dressed in business attire back then, not sweatpants, flip flops, Tshirts, tank tops. It's essential now that you need to get undressed to get through TSA checkpoints.
I remember being able to arrive at the airport for a domestic flight 15 or 20 minutes before boarding and not be particularly worried about making the flight even with checked luggage. Now a 2 hour flight is really a 4 hour flight since you have to arrive so early.
A business companion and I were late for a flight out of Amarillo and were literally running through the airport. The front desk had alerted security who just waved us through!
Ah, I remember flying in the '70s, back when it was a pleasant experience. More than one flight, something went wrong on the ground, a small delay, the pilot came on the PA and said "free drinks for everyone."
@@thejerk95 I flew Chicago to Los Angeles, mid-day, with my parents in the late 60's. I was a young teen and asked if I could sit by myself in the row before my parents. There were maybe 10 other people on that flight. So no problem at all with me moving up a row! I felt so grownup! But I know what you mean about traveling now, I can't remember the last time I was on a plane that wasn't completely full!
Paying for a ticket using cash may be a thing of the past, like smoking sections. I had a part-time job when I was in high school delivering airline tickets for a travel agency to regular clients they had, mostly businesses. Seeing those lockers made me think of the movie Get Shorty. I remember when meals were a thing no matter where you sat. Things have changed that's for sure.
@@incog99skd11 not even peanuts, due to allergies! Some kind of snack cracker chips that most closely resemble toenail clippings!
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Smoking sections are gone for good, I have heard many older people complaining about them. What still should be there, are these smoking lounges at airports and also, these churches in airports. But they don‘t seem to be disappearing in the near future.
What planet are you living on? If you are a fan of deregulation perhaps you should look up what deregulation did to the financial sector resulting in the 2008 crash.
Check out this video on airports too
th-cam.com/video/OkjBV18GvLI/w-d-xo.html
I flew International SFO to Tokyo in 2019, the JAL Dreamliner had Upgraded economy seats w/ more legroom and Amneties.
JAL still hands out Pilot wings, HOT towels before meals, and FREE Stationary, Pen & Postcards, FREE personal Tissues.
the Bathrooms had FREE Toothbrushes and FREE mini Tubes of Toothpaste.
Missing from Airlines today is FREE food, snacks of Chips/Popcorn & Fresh fruit , and sometimes a Cheese & Meat tray.
JAL gives pretty Generous meals w/ both Japanese & Western dishes.
Missing from Airlines of the 1980's are Childrens crayons/ Colored markers and a Airline themed Activity book .
I once got a Magnet game board / Activity book. these were flat Vinyl magnets w/ Dolls/Chracters.
in the 1970's JAL gave me a Reuseable green tea bottle, JAL themed.
gone is PSA Airlines & big hair Stewderess wearing Short Shorts in the cabin .
@@markplott4820 In my limited international travel experience, I've found that international airlines tend to treat even coach passengers better than domestic. British Airways is currently my favorite airline.
You used to be greeted at the gate where your plane landed. Seeing family as you exited the gate was a happy time.
Yes!! The nervous excitement while standing there and waiting for your loved one to get off the plane. Especially when you hadn't seen them in a really long time.😭
I got proposed to when I got off the plane in 1997. I guess that doesn’t happen at the gate anymore.
Yup now we just run like hell so we don’t miss our connections.
@@lisaholland9062 oh that's so sweet!
@@lisaholland9062 I forgot to ask you if you said "yes?"😊
I really miss when non-passengers were able to either go right up to the boarding gate to see you off or be waiting there at the gate when you got off the plane. I would always cry whenever I would see my whole family standing there waiting to greet me!
Non passengers can still come to the gate and wait with you in Australia for domestic flights, it’s so surprising that it hasn’t been stopped but it does add to the security lines. There’s nothing like a hug at the gate 😊
Yes, seeing my parents and then grandparents at arrivals was wonderful as a child. And my parents had an American bag that I used to use before it finally broke. I loved that bag. I also remember as a children peeking through the cockpit door on entering a plane and having the co-pilot allow me to step inside to see. Such fond memories when flying was fun and not a chore. And we all got pilots wings.
Yes I haven't thought about it, but yes miss that too
@@gatewayz75 Yep, I freaked out some relatives coming in from overseas recently when they came to Sydney on a domestic flight after transferring from Brisbane (where their international flight initally landed) and I was there at the gate when they walked off the jetway. They were literally like "WTF; how did you get in here?"
@@locklear74, don’t know if you are of Lumbee heritage but when I saw your name, I thought so and I agree, I really miss going to this area in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg airport to see my sister and her husband and children return from Saudi Arabia in the 1980s.
I worked for Trans World for 5 years as a reservations agent. First domestic, then international. My future husband worked at the ticket counter. We met in 1977 and were married in 1979. We still reminisce about those fun times working for the airline. TWA was a great company to work for. So sad that they didn't survive.
In jfk airport in ny there's a TWA hotel its great !! Also has a heated pool ( outdoor) and bar plus poolside food all in the TWA terminal .worth a visit imho
@@djack915 I visited there. It was amazing! I’m definitely going back there (hopefully in the near future). My grandfather worked for TWA.
There are many things that are worse about flying today but for me it's not being able to go to the gate of the person you are picking up. There was nothing like watching the people walk out the plane and you finally spot your loved one.
Very US domestic specific. Obviously applied to domestic flight only and even then most other countries did not permit this.
@@Ben-xe8ps So?
@@Ben-xe8ps not true, Brazil had that. Im confused. DO they not allow this anymore?
@@Ben-xe8ps so what
The beginning/ending of the movie "Love Actually" would have been completely different if it was filmed today. People born after 9/11 will never have had that lovely experience.
One of the things that I remember very well is suitcases, not having wheels on them. I often wondered what took us so long to think of putting wheels on suitcases!
My mother had a Large green Samsonite case w/ removable wheeles .
When I first started as a flight attendant, we had a regular suitcase and carried our fold up wheels to carry it around. I kept that suitcase and amazed at everything I packed in there! It's small by today's standard! I started in 1988. It was 1991 when Samsonite came out with the first wheeled suitcase! What a concept!😃
Those carts at the airlines were necessary when luggage had no wheels.
I started working as a flight attendant myself in 1988 and we had Samsonite suitcases with wheels then and they weren't a novelty product. So no, they didn't come up with that in the 90's
@Xiroi87 were they the ones with the handle that extended? I never saw any like that until 1990. Some suitcases had wheels, but you had a loop to pull it.
Flying in the 70s and 80s was wonderful People actually knew how to behave back then.
and how to Dress correctly.
@@markplott4820 Nothing irks me more than witnessing a 20 year old woman wearing pajamas, slippers and carrying a pillow walking in the concourse.
Liberals ruin everything
I was born in the 80s. Early 90s flight STILL was amazing. I weep nowadays.
You hit the nail on the head, kristen. I despair the human species of the 21st century
There’s a scene in the early 70s film The French Connection in which a character buys a flight ticket at the airport for cash without ID. Always make me smile.
In the 1974 film The Parallax View, Warren Beatty just walks onto a plane and buys a ticket from the stewardess in cash as though on a train!
Nowadays, the airline would probably have to make an ''emergency I.D.'' just to allow cash purchase of a ticket...
@@tomhaskett5161 Parallax View I rewatched a few months ago and really enjoyed the Hitchcock influence I’d completely missed when I first saw it. First Hitchcock I saw was Family Plot so I may well have seen P.View before I saw any Hitchcock film.
I did that few times in the early 80s : London - Los Angeles/ New York - - it was called STAND BY TICKET - -
I think it was Magnum Force where Clint is chasing someone through SFO and summons the ONE security guard working to help him !
I remember public viewing spaces at airports where anyone could watch planes landing and taking off. Often above the departure and arrivals levels, on the airfield side of the terminal. No security. It was worth a trip to the airport even if you weren't flying anywhere.
I used to do that. I would go down to O’Hare from Milwaukee and just walk around the terminals. Have lunch and some beer then come back home. Then 9-11 changed all that.
some Airports still have these , usually a coffee bar/Lounge area as well , Perfect for Scanner Listening.
Yes it was fun to go have a cocktail or two and people-watch
@@markplott4820 I haven't been there since before the pandemic, but Hamburg T4 is/used to be one such example. 🛫
Having the area landside but placed above arrivals/departures levels such that you can look across the apron and runway is a great idea, and I'm totally not surprised to find this at a German airport but never at any British ones! 🙃
My father and I would go to Newark Airport during the 1960s, and we would watch the Constellations flown by TWA and Eastern, and Electras flown by American. There were also Viscount aircraft, but I can't recall which airline flew them, and they were farther away from our vantage point.
There was an airline flying out of Milwaukee called Midwest Express, they prided themselves with having all the old time perks like all non stop flights, excellent service, extra wide seats, delicious chocolate chip cookies fresh baked on board and galley food a step above the rest. Unfortunately, they were sold about a dozen years ago
I have a copy of the recipe for the cookies. Complicated, but super delicious..
We used to fly Midwest Express a lot when we visited my wife's family in Milwaukee. They were the only airline to fly nonstop from San Francisco to Milwaukee in the 1990s. And the MD80s they flew only had 4 seats per row rather than the 5 seats you saw on other airlines. They were great.
@@stephendavidbailey2743 Are you really going to write that and not share the recipe!?!?! What the heck!
@@markhostetler6319 I will hunt it down, but it might be on line.
Reno Air was like that. Great little airline that got bought up by another airline.
In the mid-seventies Pan Am had a deal called "Around the World In 90 Days for $999.00" With this ticket, you could fly anywhere Pan Am serviced as long as you traveled in the same direction. You could get off the plane anywhere they stopped and stay as long as you liked within 90 days. I circumnavigated the globe 3 times in one year and stopped at so many places I couldn't count them all! What a riot!!
That would be so cool!
I recall the existance of these round the world fares, quite common from the late 70's into the 80's and 90's although they normally involved the participation of at least 2 carriers. This Pan-Am only fare is not really as good as it sounds as basically it would allow a transatlantic crossing, no access to Africa, then just LON and FRA as any other European destination would involve backtracking as no onward flight, then really whatever route PA1/2 took that year across the Middle East/Indian Subcontinent (probably a selection from IST/BEY/THR/KHI/BOM/DEL depending on the day of the week) to SE Asia (BKK) then up to HKG and TYO then back across the pacific to the US. No access to Australia as no PA service from SE Asia to Australia and no access to South America either.
That RTW ticket on Pan Am was indeed $999. However, for just a bit more, $1199 - I actually got confirmed seats on any selected flight departure. Eastern Airlines had something similar, but for much less. Visited 101 of their destinations for $401. Man, I miss those days!!!
Wow what a cool experience!!
@@BigDukeX Eastern Airlines was a US DOMESTIC carrier.
Don't understand the bit about paying $1100 to get confirmed seats on PA. The $999 fare was not standby was it!
My father worked for Pan Am in the early 1950s when flying was a civilized experience. Men wore suits, women dresses with hats and white gloves and children were a rare sight. Food was served on real china and silverware was provided. Now flights are nothing more than shoulder-to-shoulder, crowded flying buses. Dang, I miss those days.
I flew to Japan pre Pandemic in 2019, they still had Proper Silverware on the Flight.
also HOT towels to clean hands.
With less leg room than buses.
Because back then only the uber rich could afford to travel by plane.
And it would cost an average man’s one year salary to fly. Today flying is not glamorous as before but atleast we peasants have a chance.
What’s glamorous about emotional labor and sexism against flight attendants?
Interesting - the seats became smaller as people became larger
I remember working as a Software QA for aircraft designer and the room space and comfortable are not priority anymore!
I was thinking the same thing!
I was thinking the very same thing, and I liked your comment. I heard this very same thing a few years ago on a podcast I was listening to. They were talking about how people have become bigger, but the seats have gotten smaller. And I myself am a bigger person. Frustrating. Good thing I don’t fly much.
It's ridiculous ! I feel as if my neighbor is in my personal space and vice versa.
Airlines should charge by the pound. They would make a fortune.
After Lockerbie, I flew from the UK to Miami on a Pan Am 747. There were 15 passengers and a full crew. PanAm was a good airline but sadly it went the same way as TWA.
Today, I drive in the USA: maybe less secure and expensive for long trips but at least I do not have to endure crowds, lousy restaurants and the TSA.
Yes. I love airplanes, but hate flying.
Only 15 passengers on a 747? No wonder why they went bankrupt. I remember half full flights in the 80s on Republic Airlines and Ozark airlines.
If I can drive it under 12 hours I'll do it, otherwise it's a pain.
Maybe it was because I was an enlisted airman in the air force at the time , but I found them to be an arrogrant bunch.
@@BobBritt Tell me you're American without telling me you're American. Or perhaps it's my response to your statement - tell you I'm British without telling you I'm British! We consider 2 hours to be quite a long way😅 You could drive from the south of England to the north of Scotland in 12 hours.
I have actually worked in this industry for 56 year's and this video really brought back some great memories. Other things as well have disappeared that I remember well. Thank you so much for putting this video on TH-cam.
As a kid in the 70s and 80s, I remember that flying was an event that people dressed up for. Flying today had degraded so much that it's similar to riding in a Greyhound bus. You'll see all kinds of "interesting" folks.
On an overseas flight a few years back, it seemed the dress code was t shirt, shorts, and flip flops 😏.
Yup, now it's all sweats & socks in glides.
We are prob the same age. Flying overseas my mom wore a white 3 piece suit with heels in the late 70s. She was dressed like Tony from Saturday Night Fever only her blouse was not unbuttoned that far and she was not wearing gold chains. 😂
Also, there are more rude people on planes.
I remember the dress code on boarding commercial Airlines back in 1963 that even child have to wear a jacket and tuxedo! I hate tuxedo because I have a difficulty to be comfortable and it was very hot and humid in Far East.
Good video. Just a few points. I think cockpit doors started getting locked long before 9/11. In the 70s there was a whole series of hijackings that resulted in cockpit doors not only getting locked, but also being armored.
Also, in addition to those airline bags, international business and first class passengers received little kit bags that contained combs, soap, a razor and shaving cream along with creams and scents for women. Bathrooms on airplanes were a decent size. There was also a closet for hanging jackets and coats so you wouldn't look all wrinkled when you arrived in your destination. There were also two magazines per seat. One was the airline's own travel magazine and the other was a wonderful collection of gadgets that you could order by mail.
The cockpit doors were not armored in the 1970s. Other security measures had been taken though. The airlines continued to oppose armored cockpit doors right thru the 1990s, which is why the 9-11 hijackers had no trouble taking over those planes.
For some flights, yes, but it wasn't mandatory until after 9/11. You literally can not take off any longer without the door being sealed.
Inflight magazine and Sky Mall catalogs were common as recently as a decade ago. Inflight internet and entertainment options via smartphones, tablets and laptops has been the final nail in that particular coffin though.
In 1988, I flew first class from Paris to Rio with Air France. My wife and I were put in first class because the flight was overbooked. I was really surprised at how luxurious it was: whisky and caviar before dinner, a first class meal with wine and reclining seats. I remember the kit bag with the shaving cream, etc. The aftershave lotion was really good and lasted for months.
In 2017 and 2018 I made several Atlanta to Heathrow flights. Fortunately Company policy allowed Business Class for those flights. Not sure how it compared to earlier times but it was really nice.
Made an overseas trip last year (2022) and flew Coach. Could only look longingly toward the front of the plane.
My first flight was NYC to LA. The movie we saw was The Odd Couple 1968. I was 15 and it felt so exciting. So much has changed.
More direct flights today.
I had a red Buick Invicta convertible back in 1963 ❤
That was a good movie.
There was probably a good reason that on flights to NYC they didn't show The Out Of Towners.
I got to fly on Eastern airlines “The wings of man” (something like that) way back in the day! Everyone dressed so elegantly to travel!!
Airports used to have observation decks where you could go and watch the planes come and go. As a kid, it was always something we did on a summer evening, then stopped at a snack bar inside the terminal for a treat like fresh popcorn.
In the mid-1980's my wife and I flew on KLM from Amsterdam to New York. My wife went up to the cockpit during the flight and took a picture of her antique teddy bear sitting in the pilot's seat.
same
Large train stations and subway stations used to have coin-operated lockers too. I remember them in Toronto, Canada, when I was a kid.
Here in the rest of the world large stations still do. As do airports.
Train station and airport lockers were always important to mysteries and espionage type movies and books in the past.
These still exist, but perhaps not coin operated anymore. You buy a token at a kiosk or in some places you use a phone app to unlock.
Feel like it’s a bus station thing
@@xr6lad Japan, Amsterdam, and other city airports still make lockers available. The world is a much sadder place.
You didn't mention about how your family used to be able to walk out onto the tarmac to say goodbye to you as you boarded your plane!
I remember when the passenger and their family can walk to the aircraft boarding gate and present the glance with flower and took a picture on both incoming and departure flights!
Or how, in the days before jet ramps, you'd have to walk out and climb the steps to board. Especially pleasant if it was raining!
I remember when families were allowed on the plane to greet you.
That Pan Am shoulder flight bag was my school bookbag when I lived in Japan in 1972. They were made well. I sure miss them.
I have a Japan Airlines kimono and bag from the 1980s. I purchased them from ebay a few years ago. Well made and a use them quite frequently.
@@keithmartin1328 That's awesome!
Not a randoseru? Blasphemy!
Hello, Nancy. My father was a PanAm mechanic for 35 years and my siblings and I had those nifty PanAm shoulder bags as our school bags, too! Strong and practically indestructible. Mine lasted an entire decade of carrying heavy school text books!
I remember my grandparents having the airline bags in the 60s and 70s. I remember when we didnt have jetways in Phoenix and one place you went to get your tickets was the airline's CTO or city ticket office. The airport was the place my family went to stand on the obsevation roof and listen to the tower and pilots while watching the planes arrive.
My love for the airlines put me into a travel school in the late 80s and in an airline career from 87 to 95. It was also the job that allowed me to meet and marry my wife in 1990 and we traveled a lot as a standby non rev passenger. My kids got to see a lot of places. Those were the good old days and fond memories! Thanks for sharing!
A lot of fun stories I could tell about airport life.
Another thing gone are the timetables and the Iata Flight guides we used to look up flights if a computer was down.
Was it Southeastern Academy? I went there!
Interesting that you mentioned Phoenix. I,lived there from 1955 to 2003. One of the favorite and free things to do in the “old” days was to go down to Sky Harbor Terminal #1 (long gone) and go up in the roof to watch planes land and take off. We a,so used to drive down to the end of the runway (off 40th street if I remember) and watch the planes take off, too. My Dad worked for AiResearch which was/is close by (so did I and my husband and close to eventually of about 10 or so relatives!!!! I miss the original terminal in many ways!
My dad used to be an aircraft mechanic for one of the biggest airlines in the 70's. We went on many trips in those standby seats. I remember getting many tours of the cockpit and earning my wings. Nowadays I understand why the pilots were happy to see him once they knew what he did for a living. What better way to say your aircraft is safe than for the mechanic to bring his family onboard.
I also have some of the silverware from those in flight meals. Dad snagged several sets when they stopped that service. They were really nice and I find them a comfortable shape/weight. In fact I stole a couple of sets when I moved out and got married. My oldest says that she wants them when she moves away too.
On the plane, they used to ask you if you wanted a magazine or paper at the beginning of the flight, then the flight attendant would bring them to you. I don't miss the smoking at all, but I do miss the larger seats and the planes not packed to capacity.
When you flew on a wide-body plane, the takeoff was shown on the in-flight movie monitors. The cameras were in the cockpit positioned over the captain's shoulder so you saw the view through the cockpit window. That ended abruptly after American Airlines Flight 191 crashed on takeoff at O'Hare Airport in Chicago on May 25, 1979. An American Airlines spokesperson stated that passengers were likely watching the takeoff during the crash. The takeoff cameras went dark, never to be seen again.
I need to fly on a wide-body plane since I'm large and Jet Blue has the largest seats, other than first-class.
Take-off cameras still exist; on the Airbus A380 for certain. You’ll be watching on personal seat back monitor rather than a big movie monitor, but it’s available.
I remember that camera on AA. I thought that was cool. I also liked listening to air traffic control on channel 9 on the inflight entertainment on United.
@@jacksons1010 I've never flown on an A380, these days most of my flights are on A320s or 737s. I'm not aware of any US airline flying the A380 so you'd have to be on a non-US carrier. Post-1979 I did fly on a lot of wide-bodies including the DC-10 with United and American, they had definitely stopped showing the takeoff camera.
@@Zzyzx-- there are 14 airlines worldwide still operating the A380, all of which conduct operations within the US but none of which are US owned or based carriers. The A380, for obvious reasons, is heavily disfavored for CONUS travel due to its size and inefficient operating expense. It’s also destination restricted with only 16 US airports FAA approved for landing.
The last time I flew was in the 1980s. Not only did I get flight wings, I also got a small United Airline jet toy. It was like a Hot Wheels toy. It's a great memory.
Remember the movie AIRPLANE? Starring Leslie Neilson? 😂
@@glennso47 Have you ever seen a grown man naked??? LoL great Movie Glenn !!
What’s your vector, Victor?
@@susanpage8315 Stewardess I speak Jive, He will have the Steak.
@@Mike-on9bc one of the best movies of all time, IMHO.
Smoking lounges! They used to be quite common in airports. In 2011, I was stunned to still find one in the Salt Lake City International Airport when I had a layover there.
My mom & her twin sister were stewardesses in the 1950s. I've been told, the meals were always overstocked for those passengers that wanted 'seconds'. The crew would bring all of the leftovers home in barf bags... she says, the steaks were ''especially delicious!''
Steaks? How did we go from those days to today, mostly crap like peanuts.
@@stephendacey8761 A bag containing 8 peanuts or 6 pretzels & a 4 oz cup of soda is good as it gets.
In the early 70’s we took a class trip to Newark Airport & they took us down to where all the food & booze was kept. Crazy amounts.
@@stephendacey8761 If you saw the relative cost of airline tickets back in the 1950s, you'd think, "this steak meal is all I get for the huge cost of this flight?"
@@stephendacey8761 It is all about money now. People want cheap fares and airlines want max profit. So pesky little things like "food" are now history.
I remember getting to visit the cockpit on a few occasions as a kid. I did meet this one captain that kept asking me odd questions, such as if I liked movies about gladiators or seen a grown man naked.
As well as Turkish prisons..😏
Nice!
Wow. I think I picked the wrong day to stop sniffing glue.
haha!
The White Zone is for…..!
We used to be able to go down to the gate to greet arriving passengers..
Those were the good old days
It was exciting, and so much fun!
This video brings back so many memories.. thank you so much... one thing that has also gone away is having your bag tags checked at the door of the airport before you leave the baggage claim area... someone would stand there and match your bags tag with the claim ticket you got when you checked in... now people just walk out with their bags (or yours) lol
Most train stations have also replaced their click-clack departure and arrival signs with digital ones. But at least a few train stations I've been in still generate the click-clack sound when those digital signs are updated. Whether they reproduce the sound for nostalgic reasons, or simply to inform people waiting in the waiting room that there is an update, it is a nice familiar sound.
I remember in the 60’s as a kid, there was a vending machine inside that sold Flight Insurance Policies.
What good is that if you crash.
You leave your name and flight number
@@stephendacey8761 I guess they’re hoping you take the policy with you, on your doomed flight. 25¢ for each $7500 of coverage, up to $300,000
@@stephendacey8761 You name someone else as the beneficiary. This was a money maker for the insurance companies, because the planes didn't crash that much.
A side effect of that is that some flights were bombed not out of political anger, but as insurance scams.
In the olden days, You could go to the gate to say goodbye to loved ones or meet them at the gate when they arrived.
Hello, I have only flown twice. My first flight was in 1992. The second flight was in 2009. My flight was so much different in 1992 versus the one seventeen years later. I remember that my dad accompanied me to the gate and the airline employees were in general much nicer. I flew coach and got a full meal. A couple of things that I didn’t hear you mention were the life insurance policies available in airports. Also, my mother said that years ago, people would wear formal clothes to fly. Such as, dresses, hats, and white gloves for women. While men wore suits and ties on the airplane. She told me that people even dressed formally on the Greyhound bus.
I flew back to the USA in the very early Fifties on a Connie. The seats were luxurious, the food very good and the entire experience was one now vanished. The journey took 14 hours to cross the Atlantic and as it was raining when we disembarked, a host of people appeared with large umbrellas to walk us to the terminal. The “air hostesses” were very attractive women, one who told my grandfather who flew with me, that she would be replaced when 28 years old and put on ground duties. Flying today is basic and devoid of the humanity and fun it once had. Cattle trucks with wings.
Part one of those series addresses those things. 🙂
My grandfather used to wear a tie when he flew his own light aircraft! 😂
Thats funny that you said people use to dress formal for Greyhound busses. Today Greyhound is at the bottom of the barrel. I rode Greyhound a couple of times from the Disneyland area to Las Vegas, and I thought I was going to get mugged. Southwest airlines looked a lot better after that!
@Joseph 😂😂😂😂😂
Thanks for another great video!. Small packs of Chiclets chewing gum were given to passengers in unpressurized planes to help alleviate ear pressure problems in flight. Also, free packs containing 5 cigarettes were often handed out. Before seat-back screens were installed, in-flight movies were projected on large pull-down screens and video tape was used. Prior to that, movies were film on a single huge reel and the film travelled in hidden channels around the cabin. With multiple projectors on smaller screens, if you missed a scene, you might catch it again as the film advanced to another projector. Dinnerware was once china plates and metal silverware. Flying PSA on the West coast, one could simply walk on board and purchase a ticket with cash ($28 LAX to SFO.)
Traveling by air as a kid in the 60s and 70s was exciting.
When I flew over Atlantic in 80s, there were stethoscope like headphones that would cost $5 if you wanted to watch in flight moves. There were brochures in the seat pockets showing the name of the movies and the food being served. There was only one big screen per section that everyone could watch the movies. There were rows of payphones (do generation z know this word?) Near the gates. And last one, the stewardess were very good looking and kind. I missed this one the most.
The standard charge for he rental of headphones applied by all airlines in Y class was US$2.50 which was abolished sometime during the 80's, can't recall exactly when. I doubt that these 'brochures' contained details of the food as the menu would differ greatly from flight to flight although the airlines own magazine would normally give details of the movies. I assume you mean you were provided with individual printed menu cards.
Ear buds were available as recently as the 2000s. I had a set on a Delta flight from Ft Lauderdale to Atlanta in 2001.
@@ashleighelizabeth5916 These were not 'ear buds'. They were hollow plastic tubes which looked exactly like stethoscopes.
@@Ben-xe8ps I know what you are referring to. That's why I specifically said that earbuds (and not what you are describing) was still available as late as 2001.
Being met by your family at the gate was so wonderful. My dear husband usually brought flowers. It was fun going to the airport. You could go in without a ticket. We would take the kids in for ‘airport cake’ at the Portland, Oregon airport. And they could watch the planes landing and taking off. Also, fights were not so crowded so you might get an entire row to yourself. You could put up the arm rests and almost sleep comfortably. I loved flying in the 70s-90s.
One thing you definitely won't see. A handwritten airline ticket. When I took a travel tourism class in 1989, we were taught how to fill out paper tickets. This was for just in case the automatic ticket printer was down.
Always being fashionably late, I've received a few of those.
My first airline ticket to the US from Thailand back in 1972 was purchased at airline ticket office with the passenger must be present in front of sale agent with cash based on the price quote in USD. The ticket with all connection flights were all hand written with carbon copy like old coupons and in was loaded in leather bounder with travel documents and cash like a big folder. My mother told me that if the pick pocket cut through the jackets, they can remove the whole package and I will be in trouble.
Or back validating! LOL. How about fare extension ladders? Books to store metal airline validation plates. Calling credit card companies to get a manual approval code. ETAs, RENs, MCOs, Tour Operator coupons, prepaids...oh how things have changed!!!
@@tisenhow I must be older than you. I recall he days before the airline validation plates when travel agents maintained the dedicated ticket stock of different carriers and submitted monthly sales returns individually to each airline that they held ticket stock for. I remember writing manual tickets, using the Air Tariff or APT to make manual fare calculations for complex itinaries with no computer assistance. I recall all the things mentioned but what is a REN?
@@Ben-xe8ps REN is a refund exchange notice so ARC knows how much to have the bank refund a credit card. Yes you're older than me. I do know my travel boss worked for Pan AM and sat at a round table that had file folders on a lazy Susan when she worked in reservations. Lol
I find this channel so calming thank you!
When I was born, there were no metal detectors at airport check-in lines at all. They got added after a spate of hijackings in the 1960s. But as late as the late 1970s, you could get a decent meal on board. I remember flying coast to coast on a TWA L1011. The lunch was all-you-could-eat fried chicken. I went back for seconds.
Metal detectors at check-in lines? Don't you mean at the checkpoint when entering the departures area or at the gate?
Never encountered that 'all you can eat' concept or the idea of 'going back' for seconds. How did that work?
L1011 was the boss!
You didn't mention one thing I do NOT miss: smoking on airplanes.
Pan Am was a great airline. When Business Class was a new idea, the major airlines competed for business with First Class-type perks. They didn't give you a large carry on bag, but a smaller zippered bag filled with Pan Am toiletries, like hair combs, a portable toothbrush with a tiny tube of toothpaste, and other items for women. These were given to you at the beginning of the flight.
Pan Am was also the first airline to order the 747. They used the upstairs compartment in unique ways. The started with putting a piano bar up there, accessible to First Class only. By the time I came along, it was still a lounge upstairs but no more piano. It was accessible to both First and Business Class flyers. It was a pleasant place to talk and share a drink with fellow passengers on the 11 hour overnight to London.
When Boeing delivered the 747-400 with an extended upper compartment, Singapore Airlines used that upper area for Business Class, exclusively. I believe they called it Big Top. When I flew to Singapore in 1984, I traveled in the Big Top, that had 22 rows of double seats with an aisle down the middle that led to the flight deck, 40' above ground. This gave us 88 seats apart from the 300 coach class and 20 First Class seat passengers and both above and forward of the 4 Rolls Royce engines, so it was surprisingly quiet.
I sat a few seats away from the front bulkhead, and with the cabin door open we were all invited to look out the front windscreen and see the pilots' "office." That was until sundown. That was another long flight with three-hour layover in Hong Kong, and 12 hours to San Francisco via the Great Circle over Alaska down the West Coast of Canada. We were served two or three meals on real China plates and cups, using steel knives, forks, and spoons, on linen napkins. There were a choice of meals, of course. Singapore gave you a branded toothbrush and tiny toothpaste, slippers for you to wear in the plane, a branded eye mask for sleeping, and the drinks were always free. Out of all the major airlines I used in my business traveling days, Singapore Airlines was probably the best.
That's what I miss about the airlines -- the service, and that great aircraft, the Boeing 747.
In the airports themselves, I still recall being able to access any part of the airport and terminal without any checkpoints. When the metal detectors were added after Islamic terrorists began hijacking passenger jets in the late 1970s, one could usually pass through without a problem, quickly.
The airport furniture used to be more comfortable. The restaurants were better and fastfood was absent. Getting from the check in desk to the gate was more convenient. Today, everything is plastic, the carpets a filthy, and gate sizes have gotten smaller to accommodate more passengers with less seats. Because everyone wants to pack their wardrobe for an entire week in Vail, huge carry-on suitcases that will never get on the plane are everywhere, always in your way.
People get more rude annually. Once, we were all in it together, whether flight delays, bad weather rerouting, or simply overbooked flights and crowded boarding scenarios.
Today, it's every man for himself, even if he is a she, or none of the above. I travel once a year, and with a cane as I live with advanced spine disease that makes walking a challenge on some days. Still, people try to run me over as I walk up7 the jetway to the plane, and my seat. Sometimes I'll hear a loud comment behind me about them getting a cane too, so they can have preferred boarding. Lovely.
People used to be more kind and helpful to each other. That's what I miss the most.
Very interesting but please permit me to correct some errors. I don't believe that pianos were ever to be found in Pan Am 747 upstairs lounges. The 'piano bar' thing was found on US domestic AA 747's in the rear coach lounge during that short lived period of massive over-capacity on US domestic routes following the introduction of wide body aircraft circa 1970 which allowed US carriers to offer some very comfortable configurations on domestic flights for a few years. .
The bags that you refer to are what today would be called amenity kits and are still given to First and Business class passengers. These are different from the cabin bags mentioned in the video. These bags were given out by travel agents and airline ticket offices. Originally given to all back in the 50's, who was given them was reduced over the years until by the early 80's onwards it was strictly to First class international passengers only. They disappeared during the 80's I think. They became very unfashionable.
747 upstairs lounges were strictly FIRST CLASS ONLY. No carrier, even Pan-Am, allowed access to business class passengers. By the time business class was introduced Pan-Am were using the upstairs lounges for their restaurant style service of meals with tables (not very satisfactory in my opinion as not enough seats for ALL F class passengers) and they were in effect no longer lounges. The F class lounges (there were NEVER any lounges accessible to Business Class passengers until Emirates introduced one in recent times aboard their A380) on all carriers started to disappear circa 1980 when business class was introduced and F class seating was changed from the old approx 40 inch pitch (6 rows in the nose of a 747-100 or 200) to the new approx 60 inch pitch (4 rows in the nose of a 747-100 or 200). The upper deck was then used variously by different carriers. Some added F class seats on the upper deck as well as in the nose to retain the same number of F class seats. Others used the upper deck for business class, less common others moved F class upstairs and put business class in the nose and some even turned the upper deck into an economy cabin.
1984 would not have been a 747-400, most probably it was a 747-300. Also I don't think there were 22 rows up there. The upper deck was not THAT big! Probably around half that number of rows absolute max.
Metal detectors were added after the Palistinian (please don't say 'Islamic' as their motive was very much political not religious) terrorists hijacked some aircraft in 1970.
Wonderful memories! Thanks for sharing this
As a person who was learning to walk on September 11th, 2001. I find this all incredibly fascinating, the stuff that predates it.
Before 9/11, you could rush to the airport at the last minute to catch your flight, but now with all the security, they want you to arrive at least 2 hours before your flight departs.
three for International.
And people still can't get there on time.(?)
Well, at my smaller airport, I never come earlier than 1 hours before the flight
Who remembers the OJ Simpson commercials? Lol!
Flying sure has become different since 9/11. As an older (age 75) person, I now do not have to remove my shoes and can go through a different/regular gate instead if being herded through the X-ray gate! My Mom moved back from AZ to PA about 2-1/2 weeks after 9/11 - was the weirdest f,isn’t I’ve ever been on - no people at all leaving or arriving at gates.
I grew up in those fabulous days in a PanAm family. So sad to see how things have changed. Great video!
The printed timetables (both systemwide & city schedules) that they airlines displayed on the ticket counters for passengers to take have been gone for years now.
I used to travel a lot in the late 1980's and early 1990's. Back then carrying an OAG (Official Airline Guide) which listed all flights and times was an absolute must so that you could change flights quickly - by calling the airline's 800 number!
@@kjquinn7856 I still have quite a few OAGs (both pocket size with the limited amount of flights & the large, full size ones with every flight) with some going back as far as the 1950s. Should sell them on ebay but they are great reference to the way air travel used to be & I hate to give them up!
That is what I miss most from as a kid...going to the airport every few months to collect a new set of schedules for the airlines that served my aiport
My daughter was a flight attendant years ago. It was nice to have family come with you and watch you take off before 911. Now they can only walk you to security and say goodbye there with hugs.
My aunt used to work as a stewardess for TWA back in the early to mid 80s. She brought me back flight wings which I've long since lost. Funnily enough, when I was a teen, my aunt also became a travel agent after leaving TWA.
I was lucky enough to fly from Syracuse to NYC back in the very early 60s, and yes, I got to visit the cockpit and was given a set of "wings" to commemorate my flight. Sure miss those days.
You do amazing videos. Keep up the great work!
I remember that in the sixties one went to the Airline Office, got offered an armchair and purchased one's ticket in comfort and being treated in a friendly manner.
The sound of the flight boards updating - that sound is still so clear ha. 😅
Meals were something to look forward to and the airlines provided popular magazines of the day.
As far back as the 70s airlines started "no frills" flights which almost immediately became the butt of jokes - especially in MAD Magazine! I flew with a more kind airport that allowed me to have my shoes scanned instead of taking them off due to the difficulty of my being disabled!
This needs to be implemented in all airports. Many people do not understand the difficulties of having a disability imposes on disabled people. 😒
I have a "lift" in every left shoe I own ever since they screwed up my hip-replacement surgery leaving one leg 1.5" shorter. *If anyone looks like they are smuggling a shoe-bomb on board it's me!!*
People do not take off shoes in most of the world other than US
@@dmitripogosian5084 The police state US has become paranoid about airport security.
@@Ben-xe8ps Actually, I suspect it is mostly because 'that's the rules and it has been like that as long as I remember' and people having got used to it, rather than real active paranoia
In the 70s, camera stores used to sell lead-lines bags to hold rolls of film for travelers. The bags would prevent the film from being exposed as it went through airport x-ray scanners.
I miss some of the other airlines that are gone, like America West and Northwest. Less competition has led to higher prices and even less service. I can remember not that long ago when you didn't have to pay for checked bags. Now only Southwest does that, and only for for the first 2 bags.
A lot of great memories on America West. Ed and Mike's dream for low cost to compete. Rivalry with Southwest put the cost so more people could fly!
Don't forget Eastern Airlines.
@@stephendacey8761 Eastern was gone shortly after I flew for the first time so I don’t have anything to base an opinion on them
How about Ozark, which was acquired by TWA. Lambert Field in St Louis was their hub.
It's hyper capitalism in it's purest form. Contrary to what many will tell you the marketplace doesn't lower pricing and create a better product, it incentivizes competitors to buy out their competition and eliminate it to create a monopoly where they set pricing instead. Our country learned this during the Gilded Age and took steps to address by breaking up such monopolies and trusts. It's a pity everybody has forgotten that.
Keeping the cockpit door shut & locked happened before 9/11 & was standard procedure with the major carriers. I can remember non-reving on an Air Aruba flight back in 1990 & the crew kept the cockpit door open which the FAA deemed Air Aruba's practice of an open door in flight as unsafe. However, we re-enforced the doors after 9/11.
My first flight was in the early 1970’s when I was about 4 years old. My mother wouldn’t let me go to the cockpit, but I was still given the plastic wings. I think I might have them in a box somewhere. The stewardess also gave me a bag of peanuts and a tiny game that you had to roll a ball through a maze.
I haven’t flown anywhere since 9/11. I’ve been to the airport to drop off and pick up family, but haven’t had the joy of airport security myself.
Thanks!
woo Hoo a dollar, lol!
I remember when I was about 6 flying from Billings, Montana to Albany, New York. This would have been in 1967. I would always be allowed to go into the cockpit and chitchat with the flight crew before we took off and would get a set of Junior Pilot wings. Even in coach you would get a cloth placemat and metal silverware. I distinctly remember the salt and pepper shakers were little plastic cups with removable paper tops. And glass drink ware.
There used to be whole smoking sections on planes too. Never mind that the smoke would circulate throughout the cabin.
Obviously smoking lounges. But does anyone remember those chairs with the tiny coin-operated televisions in the armrest?
Yes! Oh man. I'd forgotten them until just now. Haven't seen one in... 30 years, probably, if not more.
@@varyar77 The last time I saw one of those was in the movie Rain Man.
or massage
You forgot to mention the smoking section on flights. As soon as the plane took off you would hear flick the bic. Also how everyone would have to close their windows for the in flight movie and you’d have to pay for those crappy air headsets to listen to the movie.
Seems everything is changing. The world evolves. Sometimes for the good. Sometimes for the bad. Anyway I like your work on the videos! Keep it up, pls? 😊
Bin Laden made life worse.
Smoking and nonsmoking sections on planes. Smokers were confined to the rear 1/3 of the plane. Usually the no smoking sign went of at wheels up and the lighters started clicking immediately.
I remember that you could just walk out to any gate and sit to watch flights come and go. It was easier to pick folks up that way because you could just meet them as they were getting off the plane. You could also bring drinks and food to consume on the flight, smoking was allowed on the plane. Heck ashtrays were almost every fifty feet inside the terminal.
All the seats had built-in ashtrays.
I don’t miss sitting in the middle seat with a smoker on each side.
Very nice presentation ! Thanks
I miss Braniff airlines, I don't miss the loop recording I heard "This area is for loading and unloading of passengers only, no parking. The violator's car will be towed and impounded at their experience, thank you ". Yes after 50 years I still remember.
Going up to the cockpit to meet the captain and get your wings , great memories !
I am a retired Flight Attendant. I started in the mid 80’s and I can tell you the US has gone so down hill that it’s shameful. The over seas carriers still provide a very nice service. They could not pay me enough to fly for a living today. It really is horrible to travel by air in the US. I would love to see the rail come back.
Live in Europe now: I pay extra to avoid US carriers when I fly. Last time code sharing tricked me into flying a United flight, the worn out seats meant I ached for three days after the flight.
@@shinnam I fully understand. I flew for the then USAir/Piedmont. We were a really a good company until it went to hell. We had hot meal service in economy from PHL to DFW and even served ice cream and provided hot towels before landing. Our First Class was really nice and you always got food no matter how short the flight was and we enjoyed providing it. Emirates and Cathay Pacific to name a few are real classy airlines. Lufthansa provides a nice first class service not to mention Virgin Atlantic. We had virgin America here for a short time until government corruption took hold of them and they were really great in first class service on the West Coast I think Alaska Airlines took them out. Such a shame.
@@InFltSvc You seen the videos on here about the level of service on Lufthansa. Its joining the American carriers in the race to the bottom.
@@shinnam American comes to mind. Old aircraft, poor service and food even on long haul. The USA is the last bastion of the 767 with its drop down screens offering no choice of entertainment. Like going back to the 1980s
@@shinnam there isn‘t that much flying anymore from Frankfurt/Amsterdam for some reason unless you pay 1000€ more to fly with Lufthansa or have enough miles to book a flight.
I just hope, Condor and Eurowings Discover will bring back their service and also, the LH A330 routes will return to Düsseldorf as they are either affordable or somewhat good at least.
Heartwarming! Thank You!
I can remember calling Airlines in the early 90s and provided you booked at least a week or so in advance the air tickets were mailed to your home which was more convenient than going into an agent plus at the WTC in NY the north tower lobby had small airline ticket counters to purchase tickets. One thing I don’t miss is taking a gamble with seat selection before the advent of online seat selection. Back then your seat was allocated at check in so you’d get stuck with middle seats if you checked in not long before the flight closed plus if passengers weren’t nice the agent could slip people a bad seat with a smile 😊
Thanks for reminding me of the bags and the playing cards. I remember having Pan Am ones. I loved and still love flying. It may have lost some of the glamour but it’s still an amazing experience, and quieter and safer than it’s ever been.
I remember upon boarding a particular flight using the jetway there was a large container immediately before the plane's door. We were each instructed to take one as we boarded. Like the other passengers, I grabbed one of the items while continuing to walk past it. The item was a paper bag lunch!
Was that a military flight? 😂😂 That's what we would get fed on MAC flights in the 70's.
Lufthansa's Airbus from Frankfurt to Stuttgart had something similar in the early to mid 80s: In the waiting lounge they had a rack with hooks on it. On the hooks they had a plastic purse where the handles clicked together. When you unlocked them, the purse/bag contained juice that was inside what looked like a yogurt cup with the foil on top, a glass, some cheese, fresh fruit, a roll, butter and a small piece of chocolate. I remember it was apple juice and it was delicious.
3:40 Travel agents give you advantages.
* They’ll get you the most compensation for cancelled or delayed flights, or lost baggage.
* Call them personally to rebook.
* They can suggest itineraries you might not find online.
* They live and breathe travel. Take advantage of their expertise.
good points!
The mention of airport security in this video reminded me of a time when there was no airport security, like metal detectors or scanners. Everyone simply walked to and from the gates. Arrival gates would be crowded with family and friends there to greet an incoming flight. I remember the first time I walked off a plane into the arrival gate area and no one was there. It felt like an empty and sad place that once had been quite exciting.
your recent videos are excellent, and btw thanks for the lower volume background music--nice balance now.
I would love to have one of those bags today
I used to get a stockpile of those bags both handbag and shoulder strap types both real and counterfeit! I also, had china silverware custom made for airlines including water glass with airlines logo.
You can find them on eBay, but often the vinyl is deteriorating. The canvas PanAm bags are nice.
5:43 They had one of these at 30th Street train station in Philadelphia up until just last year when it was replaced with a modern screen.
Wow, those bags, back in the 70's, in the state of Hawaii......(was living there '73-75,), every Elementary school kid,(boy) had one of Pan Am/United/Northwest Orient/TWA /JAL,etc. back then everyone had them to bring your books home to read & study, and then back to school the next day.
When I was a tiger scout. We went to the radar station at the airport. Can’t do that anymore
What about the inflight airline magazine? Printed flight schedules and maps?
Oh the stories I could tell from the 80-2000s with my father working at ORD. I miss these simpler times. 9-11 pooched all the good times. Ty for this. Back in the day I was able to tell you what kind of plane was overhead and what airline as it flew by. Braniff was another airline gone in the ages as well as Condor, Sabena, and air lingus
I'm addicted to my flight aware app. It's amazing how many planes are flying overhead. I'm in between two major cities so lots to watch.
Aer Lingus is still around
We had one of the flight bags like you showed in the first scene, but it was Piedmont Airlines since my dad was an employee. What a great airline. Too bad they sold out to "Useless" Air, lol. You should do a whole episode on now defunct airlines of the past like Piedmont, Eastern, Braniff, etc.
Piedmont was the BEST! I flew with them exclusively during the 80s when I was vacationing with my grandmother. In 92 when I first took a flight from Atlanta to North Carolina I booked with USAir since I knew they bought out Piedmont.... and THAT was the last time I ever set foot on a USAir Flight. It was a Christmas disaster and though I might have given them a second chance it just didn't make sense to book with anybody but Delta back then if you lived in Atlanta and wanted to fly domestically.
@@ashleighelizabeth5916 So true, as Delta's hub was Atlanta and Useless Air was in Pittsburgh.
"You should do a whole episode on now defunct airlines of the past like Piedmont, Eastern, Braniff, etc."
IOW the airline version of railroad "Fallen Flags" like the Pennsylvania RR, the B&O, Southern Pacific, and other railroads large and small that were merged out of existence or went out of business. Yes, Recollection should do a vid on defunct airlines.
I’ll never forget flying “Ambassador Class” on TWA with warm towels and hot food. As a child in the 60’s, I too had the TWA bag, loved it.
Somewhere in the late 90ies I flew from Berlin Tempelhof airport which is no longer in operation. They had a complete computer-less checkin - which was already uncommon back then. The seat assignment was done by taking a sheet of stickers where all the seat numbers were printed on: 1A 1B, 1C, 2A... and they took one sticker off and put it on the boarding pass.
In the mid 90's I flew out of Milan-Linate. One of the most ridiculous things I experienced was the PA system repeating over and over in several languages "In an effort to reduce noise pollution this airport will no longer announce arrivals and departures"
I had a business trip to Berlin in 1996, and the inbound flight went to Tegel, but the return went from Tempelhof - quite confusing. Some post-unification politics to keep the different airports active at the time, I guess
This type of seat assignment actually was pretty common until the mid 2010‘s to before the pandemic, but they later used computers for it.
I think airlines were/are required to seat childs under 12 near their parents and they therefore usually had to assign seats at the airport if the families haven‘t done so online. Actually brought me into business class for free once because they didn‘t have a suitable seat in economy.
I remember at Sea-Tac Airport in Seattle that the seats at the gate used to have TVs built in on the arms
I recall dressing up for a flight, that was like going to a upscale restaurant
Being a frequent flyer nowadays (well 10 or more flights a year) I certainly don't dress up for the occasion. Not too warm works for me. For flights longer than 2.5 hours I bring noise canceling headphones, for shorter ones I don't even bother. I don't expect better service because of the way I'm dressed, I do try to be polite all the time.
@@paulhoogsteder4484 I mean a good suit often costs more than the entire flight.
Sometimes, a Lufthansa long-haul business class flight costs like 20000 miles with their Miles and More program, equal to around 250€.
Therefore, I also don‘t really see a point of being dressed nicely, I just get some expensive shirt (Boss/Lacoste) and perfume and that‘s it.
Airlines used to have TV advertisements with catchy slogans & jingles. I used to collect paper airline flight schedules at their satellite offices in order to plan trips & vacations. It was great to select the types of equipment & times of flights indicating whether or not meals were served for coach passengers from the schedules. The placement of skyways at gates eliminated the need to walk up or down stairs onto tarmacs at terminals which was a big plus. Flight Attendants (aka Stewardesses) were actually RN's through the '70's. Passengers dressed in business attire back then, not sweatpants, flip flops, Tshirts, tank tops. It's essential now that you need to get undressed to get through TSA checkpoints.
I remember being able to arrive at the airport for a domestic flight 15 or 20 minutes before boarding and not be particularly worried about making the flight even with checked luggage. Now a 2 hour flight is really a 4 hour flight since you have to arrive so early.
A business companion and I were late for a flight out of Amarillo and were literally running through the airport. The front desk had alerted security who just waved us through!
Very nice video. Did you mention Airline TimeTables? Love to see them come back from a nostalgic side of flying. Does anyone else feel the same?
Ah, I remember flying in the '70s, back when it was a pleasant experience.
More than one flight, something went wrong on the ground, a small delay, the pilot came on the PA and said "free drinks for everyone."
How many passengers flew on those flights? Not like the packed ones of today I’m sure.
@@thejerk95 I flew Chicago to Los Angeles, mid-day, with my parents in the late 60's. I was a young teen and asked if I could sit by myself in the row before my parents. There were maybe 10 other people on that flight. So no problem at all with me moving up a row! I felt so grownup! But I know what you mean about traveling now, I can't remember the last time I was on a plane that wasn't completely full!
Used to be smoking sections on planes. There is still an abundance of travel agents however most no longer sell airline tickets.
Paying for a ticket using cash may be a thing of the past, like smoking sections. I had a part-time job when I was in high school delivering airline tickets for a travel agency to regular clients they had, mostly businesses. Seeing those lockers made me think of the movie Get Shorty. I remember when meals were a thing no matter where you sat. Things have changed that's for sure.
Now they throw a tiny bag of peanuts at you and tell you it's dinner.
@@incog99skd11 not even peanuts, due to allergies! Some kind of snack cracker chips that most closely resemble toenail clippings!
Smoking sections are gone for good, I have heard many older people complaining about them.
What still should be there, are these smoking lounges at airports and also, these churches in airports. But they don‘t seem to be disappearing in the near future.
This was also when travelling with plane was much more expensive than today as well. So many couldn’t afford it.
This is back in the pre-deregulation airline days when airfares were either the expensive seats or the REALLY expensive seats!
What planet are you living on? If you are a fan of deregulation perhaps you should look up what deregulation did to the financial sector resulting in the 2008 crash.
@@pestemmedico6369 It certainly was great for the U.S. freight railroad industry.