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Hey you young'uns.. wanna see how we used to fly? (Original Post) SoCalDem May 2015 OP
Passenger trains were also a lot nicer... Frustratedlady May 2015 #1
Trains are still great in the UK/Ireland/Germany Divernan May 2015 #18
Interesting post. Frustratedlady May 2015 #20
we are Devo olddots May 2015 #2
It was great, wasn't it? Vinca May 2015 #3
It makes me sad to think that soon there will be no one left who even remembers SoCalDem May 2015 #5
I remember as a teenager I longed to be a stewardess. Vinca May 2015 #7
I also wanted to be a stewardess. cbayer May 2015 #11
Not having seat belts.. PeoViejo May 2015 #4
there were belts..but people used to take them off and mingle SoCalDem May 2015 #12
People got dressed up to spend a day on a plane... immoderate May 2015 #6
Back then people just dressed up to do most things SoCalDem May 2015 #14
goils were goils, and men were men Warren DeMontague May 2015 #25
Ha! wendylaroux May 2015 #32
Yeah, then the meatheads ruined it all. Arugula Latte May 2015 #43
I still do that madokie May 2015 #35
yes. it was socially unacceptable to be in casual clothes around strangers Liberal_in_LA May 2015 #37
There were days when men wore suits, ties and hats to a ball game. A HERETIC I AM May 2015 #44
Back then... awoke_in_2003 May 2015 #26
That depends on your perspective. Drahthaardogs May 2015 #50
We lived on E. 78th Street... meaculpa2011 May 2015 #55
I grew up in Far Rockaway, which though part of NYC... immoderate May 2015 #56
OMG! When I lived on E. 78th Street I worked in... meaculpa2011 May 2015 #58
As I recall, Beach 19th Street was also called Central Avenue. immoderate May 2015 #59
Well, to be fair, that was first class Warpy May 2015 #8
Lots of the perks were in coach SoCalDem May 2015 #21
Maybe on international flights Warpy May 2015 #28
Chicago to Seattle, June 1971 United SoCalDem May 2015 #34
On the very first flight I took, there was a pack of 5 cigarettes on my seat tray when I sat down. cbayer May 2015 #9
I don't miss the cig smoke, but I really really miss the leg room! And the courtesy, and food.... Hekate May 2015 #53
Agree. It was fun. cbayer May 2015 #54
I don't miss wearing makeup, a girdle, stockings & high heels! Divernan May 2015 #10
there were often white gloves involved as well. KittyWampus May 2015 #42
I think I still have some gloves somewhere.. I even had a nice pair of lace ones SoCalDem May 2015 #45
And hats! Dept. stores all had ladies' hats departments. Divernan May 2015 #48
In the last photo at the link it is not an MD-80, pangaia May 2015 #13
This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague May 2015 #17
no. pangaia May 2015 #19
The additional leg room Jamaal510 May 2015 #15
I'm not an aviation expert Warren DeMontague May 2015 #16
Well of course today's health and safety fusspots wouldn't allow that today. Nye Bevan May 2015 #46
My mother was a 'stewardess' on American Airlines. pangaia May 2015 #22
many will still blame low ticket prices--but that disregards the fact that MisterP May 2015 #23
i can't afford to fly anymore fizzgig May 2015 #27
Smaller airports got really screwed by deregulation Recursion May 2015 #39
It also cost a shit-ton more, Codeine May 2015 #24
Today's lower fares are mostly illusory, by the time you add back stuff that used to be..... Hekate May 2015 #57
that carpet is out of control. n/t Calista241 May 2015 #29
I go even farther back Major Nikon May 2015 #30
I remember paying MORE in dollars to go round trip to the Carribbean in the early seventies MADem May 2015 #31
As long as you realize nichomachus May 2015 #33
Ultra Swank is a great site! kentauros May 2015 #36
I spent about 2 hours there.. every link leads to more wonderfulness SoCalDem May 2015 #38
what brand is that odd looking laptop sitting on the desk in the center-right of the photo? Takket May 2015 #40
Looks like a bloated version kentauros May 2015 #41
I recall flying United in 1979 on a 747 where a BUFFET was set up Gloria May 2015 #47
Air China stewardesses Major Nikon May 2015 #49
Yes, but the planes were full of cigarette smoke CanonRay May 2015 #51
All of the photos are PR photos. SheilaT May 2015 #52

Divernan

(15,480 posts)
18. Trains are still great in the UK/Ireland/Germany
Sat May 30, 2015, 06:00 PM
May 2015

My stepfather was Chief Mechanical Officer on the B&O RR - that translates to being in charge of all of the rolling stock and being chief purchasing officer for the RR. And that came with a private railroad car - updated version of the car in Wild, Wild, West. I got to travel with my Mom & him twice - from Baltimore to Chicago. What an experience. The car had a formal dining room - my first experience with finger bowls! When he traveled in the private car, his staff included a valet, a male secretary, and his favorite Pullman chef (the one who could cook my stepdad's favorite central European dishes.)

My stepdad was born in Pilsen, a city in western Bohemia in the Czech Republic. His parents emigrated when he was an infant, to West VA. His Dad worked in the mines and my stepdad played football at & graduated from WVU. Started with an entry level job with B&O & worked his way up. Glory days for him, and glory days for the U.S. when 1st generation immigrants with no connections, could make it to a top job.

Frustratedlady

(16,254 posts)
20. Interesting post.
Sat May 30, 2015, 06:12 PM
May 2015

My first train trip was in the 50s. My friend and I went to the dining car and sat down with an elderly couple. He had ordered a rare steak and I (being a farm girl) thought it was so rare, it still had legs and would walk off his plate. We ordered sandwiches and a drink. The gentleman paid our checks. Neat couple. Fun trip.

SoCalDem

(103,856 posts)
5. It makes me sad to think that soon there will be no one left who even remembers
Sat May 30, 2015, 05:31 PM
May 2015

how much fun it used to be to fly... These days, it's awful ..and is why we now drive ( as long as we do not have to cross an ocean we are fine

Vinca

(50,168 posts)
7. I remember as a teenager I longed to be a stewardess.
Sat May 30, 2015, 05:38 PM
May 2015

I had my heart set on Eastern Airlines, but I can't remember why. It was a huge disappointment when I never met the 5'2" height requirement. I flew quite a lot until they turned into cattle cars with wings. Now I drive, too.

cbayer

(146,218 posts)
11. I also wanted to be a stewardess.
Sat May 30, 2015, 05:46 PM
May 2015

You might have liked Eastern because of their super cool uniforms.

 

PeoViejo

(2,178 posts)
4. Not having seat belts..
Sat May 30, 2015, 05:30 PM
May 2015

..made it a lot easier to find the late passengers after a sudden deceleration.

SoCalDem

(103,856 posts)
12. there were belts..but people used to take them off and mingle
Sat May 30, 2015, 05:47 PM
May 2015

the whole atmosphere was to relax & have fun

SoCalDem

(103,856 posts)
14. Back then people just dressed up to do most things
Sat May 30, 2015, 05:49 PM
May 2015

we were a more formal society then..

People dressed up to go out for dinner, to the movies, to go shopping

madokie

(51,076 posts)
35. I still do that
Sat May 30, 2015, 11:09 PM
May 2015

get dressed up that is.
One of my favorite items in that department is the steam iron and ironing board

A HERETIC I AM

(24,317 posts)
44. There were days when men wore suits, ties and hats to a ball game.
Sun May 31, 2015, 12:09 AM
May 2015

This is 1947, but look at the crowd behind Truman. A sea of Fedora's and overcoats and almost every man has a necktie on..





Now they look like this moron;

Drahthaardogs

(6,843 posts)
50. That depends on your perspective.
Sun May 31, 2015, 10:04 AM
May 2015

Growing up, that was just daily dress. Dressing up, was a suit and a tie, not just a jacket. Sweatpants were for gym class as were t-shirts. I am not that old either. I find the way people dress today borderline gross. I really do not want to see every contour of your butt in your yoga pants nor do I have an interest in seeing your underwear in your saggy jeans. I especially love the stupid kids wearing shorts and sandals with wool socks when there is 18-inches of snow on the ground.

meaculpa2011

(918 posts)
55. We lived on E. 78th Street...
Sun May 31, 2015, 12:31 PM
May 2015

in the early 70s.

No one would ever set foot south of 59th Street in casual clothes.

 

immoderate

(20,885 posts)
56. I grew up in Far Rockaway, which though part of NYC...
Sun May 31, 2015, 12:40 PM
May 2015

was laid out like a small town. I remember my mother, would not wear shorts, or even pants, to "go into town," the commercial area.

--imm

meaculpa2011

(918 posts)
58. OMG! When I lived on E. 78th Street I worked in...
Sun May 31, 2015, 06:49 PM
May 2015

Far Rockaway. A car rental agency in the corner of Mott Avenue and Beach 19th Street.

Worked days and went to Hunter College at night.

One day the sales manager for WNBC TV rented a car from me. He lived in Belle Harbor.

I gave him my resume and got a call about six months later.

I worked at NBC for six years.

I loved Far Rock. Unfortunately, I got held up at gunpoint and had a bad feeling about going back.

My wife taught at P.S. 42 in Arverne. One of her students was killed at Far Rock high School in an altercation over his jacket. She hasn't gotten over it.

 

immoderate

(20,885 posts)
59. As I recall, Beach 19th Street was also called Central Avenue.
Sun May 31, 2015, 07:08 PM
May 2015

That was the heart of town, where the library was. I lived on Beach 13th Street, which started where Mott Avenue ended, and went to the beach.

Before I moved out of Rockaway, I taught in East New York and Brownsville. I'd rather have been in Rockaway.

Far Rockaway High was one of the better schools. But I went to Brooklyn Tech. Lots of train rides through the bird sanctuary.

--imm

Warpy

(110,900 posts)
8. Well, to be fair, that was first class
Sat May 30, 2015, 05:39 PM
May 2015

Cattle class was usually a little tighter than that, but those original tray tables used to fit a full sized tray of real food.

The first airlines were propeller planes, took longer to get there but still beat driving.

Warpy

(110,900 posts)
28. Maybe on international flights
Sat May 30, 2015, 08:33 PM
May 2015

I sure as hell never saw that in the US unless it was in a lounge in the airport.

However, it was nice to eat real food off real plates without having the guy in front of you recline with his head in your lap while he kneecapped you.

Then again, there was the puddlejumper flight I took through the Smokies, my first time flying alone when I was a kid. The flight attendant was a guy who sat in the open door with his legs hanging out between landings. That was special, even in the old days of prop planes.

SoCalDem

(103,856 posts)
34. Chicago to Seattle, June 1971 United
Sat May 30, 2015, 11:03 PM
May 2015

Piano bar in coach lounge...and pong tables..remember those things ..

cbayer

(146,218 posts)
9. On the very first flight I took, there was a pack of 5 cigarettes on my seat tray when I sat down.
Sat May 30, 2015, 05:41 PM
May 2015

And I was 13 years old.

The last time I flew, they charged for water and a seat assignment.

Hekate

(90,189 posts)
53. I don't miss the cig smoke, but I really really miss the leg room! And the courtesy, and food....
Sun May 31, 2015, 12:22 PM
May 2015

....and did I mention the courtesy of fellow passengers? Airlines used to advertise their wonderful leg room in all cabins. First class was super duper special, but the rest was not bad.

cbayer

(146,218 posts)
54. Agree. It was fun.
Sun May 31, 2015, 12:24 PM
May 2015

Now it's close to torture.

And they treat you like dirt. The airlines have some of the worst customer service on the planet.

Divernan

(15,480 posts)
10. I don't miss wearing makeup, a girdle, stockings & high heels!
Sat May 30, 2015, 05:43 PM
May 2015

All while traveling with an infant & toddler across country (LA to Baltimore) to visit Grandma. Changing planes in the Atlanta airport was truly a nightmare! (back in 1965)

But the food was excellent! Grandma sprung for first class seats, and the fare included filet mignon, cooked to the requested degree of doneness, along with champagne. One meal served between LA & Atlanta; the second served between Atlanta & Baltimore.

SoCalDem

(103,856 posts)
45. I think I still have some gloves somewhere.. I even had a nice pair of lace ones
Sun May 31, 2015, 12:15 AM
May 2015

and the matching high heels & purse.. We looked Mahhhhhhvelous

Divernan

(15,480 posts)
48. And hats! Dept. stores all had ladies' hats departments.
Sun May 31, 2015, 03:40 AM
May 2015

I recall having at least three hat boxes. You could stack several hats in one box. And the gloves - white kid, different lengths - for summer, and brown or black leather ones for winter. Unlined or lined with cashmere or silk. Wrist length, 4 button length, above the elbow (opera) length to wear with evening dresses. There was an etiquette involved at formal dinner parties - unbutton the buttons at the wrist area, and fold the lower part of the glove and tuck it in above the wrist. Then one ate with bare hands.

So glad those times are long gone.

pangaia

(24,324 posts)
13. In the last photo at the link it is not an MD-80,
Sat May 30, 2015, 05:48 PM
May 2015

it's a... a... oh darn I forget.....

Somebody help.....

Response to pangaia (Reply #13)

Jamaal510

(10,893 posts)
15. The additional leg room
Sat May 30, 2015, 05:57 PM
May 2015

looked nice. It's kinda cool to also think about how people used to get suited up to go on planes and most other places.

Warren DeMontague

(80,708 posts)
16. I'm not an aviation expert
Sat May 30, 2015, 05:58 PM
May 2015

but I think standing inside the fan intake area of a jet engine isn't particularly safe during flight.

Nye Bevan

(25,406 posts)
46. Well of course today's health and safety fusspots wouldn't allow that today.
Sun May 31, 2015, 12:27 AM
May 2015

But back then things were different.

pangaia

(24,324 posts)
22. My mother was a 'stewardess' on American Airlines.
Sat May 30, 2015, 06:17 PM
May 2015

She flew on DC-2s and DC-3s in the 1930s.
One of the routes she flew was NYC to DC.. I have 2 photos of her.

1- standing on the steps with Will Rogers, Jr. Having done a little research, this photo must be DC-2 as Rogers died in August 1935 and the DC-3 wasn't put into passenger service until June 1936, according to Wiki.

2- A Little Rock, AR news paper clipping and photo of her in the cabin in flight with Eleanor Roosevelt. !!!! Mrs. Roosevelt taught my mother to knit while flying from DC to NY. Cool, eh.

While you are in the mood to be impressed , I know the grandson of the man who built the floats that were on the plane in which Will Rogers and Wiley Post crashed.

PS.. My first ever flight was on a DC-3 from NY to Vergennes, VT in 1961. We went though a storm. I threw up.





Applause and donations accepted.

MisterP

(23,730 posts)
23. many will still blame low ticket prices--but that disregards the fact that
Sat May 30, 2015, 06:37 PM
May 2015

you can get better service for comparable price in other countries (except like Colombia), that service is reduced even when ticket prices increase, that the money's going to profit (rather shaky, I don't know who designed the airlines' business model, if anyone), and there's a deliberate policy to crush people out of steerage and into a rainbow of new "economy plus" fields

all I care about is that there's no gum nearby, since it sounds like a snail caught in a garbage disposal and smells like a fire in a urinal-puck factory

fizzgig

(24,146 posts)
27. i can't afford to fly anymore
Sat May 30, 2015, 08:15 PM
May 2015

the only reason my husband and i got to go out to virginia (from colorado) is because we found a good deal for him and his folks got my ticket.

it costs $450 to fly out to see my mom now, so i just make the 13-hour drive. i'm going to see her later this year and, if i go alone, i'm taking the train. doesn't take much longer and i don't have to deal with the trucks, construction and bullshit on I-80.

Recursion

(56,582 posts)
39. Smaller airports got really screwed by deregulation
Sat May 30, 2015, 11:48 PM
May 2015

The deal with the airlines until Carter was "you fly everywhere around the country, and we'll set fares in a way that makes big markets like New York City subsidize small markets like Muncie and Fargo".

So you had fare floors that airlines couldn't go under by law, and they had to compete on services. Hence, posh accoutrements and stewardesses with "cosmetic weight limits" (yes, really; it was very icky). On the whole, flying was more expensive and more rare than it is now but in smaller regional markets (say, southwest VA) it was cheaper than it is now.

It's currently cheaper to fly from NYC to SFO than from NYC to Jackson, MS. Is that a better or worse situation? I'm not sure. A lot more people want to fly to SFO than to Jackson, but I'm one of the people who wants to fly to Jackson, so I dislike it.

 

Codeine

(25,586 posts)
24. It also cost a shit-ton more,
Sat May 30, 2015, 06:49 PM
May 2015

wasn't nearly as safe, and everyone got to breathe up three packs of Winstons during the flight. It was also quite racially segregated, but hey -- free booze and more legroom.

Hekate

(90,189 posts)
57. Today's lower fares are mostly illusory, by the time you add back stuff that used to be.....
Sun May 31, 2015, 01:18 PM
May 2015

.....part of the fare: two bags plus one carry on, coffee tea or milk, water, a meal, and sufficient personal body space to sustain life. Given time I'll remember the rest. Oh yeah, free booze was not offered in the cheap seats.

I never heard of racial segregation on air transportation, although there no doubt was in hiring. But then, my flying from 1957 to 1979 was always between Hawai'i and California, nuff said. I lived in the Islands during those years, and I was frankly poor. I had to save up, and when I travelled it was always to family. As a college student I took advantage of chartered non-sched flights back to the Mainland at Christmas (my parents moved back in 1965).

Because my family is so spread out, if I want to see them I have to fly. The same year I moved back to California my sister moved to Massachussetts. It is what it is.

But I can say from experience that flying, which used to be an adventure, something to look forward to and even dress up for, is now a flipping nightmare of extreme discomfort and sometimes outright pain. TSA is just the frosting on the crap cake created by the greed of the airline owners.

Major Nikon

(36,814 posts)
30. I go even farther back
Sat May 30, 2015, 08:50 PM
May 2015

Piston aircraft at low altitude, no cabin pressurization, cruising at 155mph, and no security checkpoints. I've tried to get my wife to wear a throwback stewardess outfit, but she won't do it. She does provide food and beverage service.

MADem

(135,425 posts)
31. I remember paying MORE in dollars to go round trip to the Carribbean in the early seventies
Sat May 30, 2015, 09:00 PM
May 2015

than I would pay today, even in high season.

It was absurdly expensive to fly. The reason it was so nice is because people paid out the ass for the "experience" and were less inclined to behave as if they were on a crosstown bus.

Those are lovely memories, if you don't think about the price, and the fact that the women aircrew (flight attendants) were held to standards that the men were not. The women were jettisoned if they got too fat or old, while the pilots could waddle on the plane, old and fat, and never have to fear for their pension. It wasn't a fair system at all.

nichomachus

(12,754 posts)
33. As long as you realize
Sat May 30, 2015, 10:39 PM
May 2015

That the first photo isn't real. It was a concept advertising photo. No one ever flew like that.

Gloria

(17,663 posts)
47. I recall flying United in 1979 on a 747 where a BUFFET was set up
Sun May 31, 2015, 12:54 AM
May 2015

along a dividing wall! CHINA, real forks and knives, etc. I remember wondering how this would work during
Turbulence. It was hard enough holdihg the food, utensils, and drink during this relatively calm flight...no trays!




 

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)
52. All of the photos are PR photos.
Sun May 31, 2015, 12:12 PM
May 2015

The original seating configuration in coach on 747s used by US carriers, was 2-4-3, a total of nine seats across. So the seats themselves were a bit wider than those in the 3-4-3 configuration, and there was more distance (pitch) between rows.

The coach lounges didn't last very long, maybe for the first year the original widebodies were in service. But they were nice, and made it pleasant to get up and walk around the airplane.

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