Retro Travel - Airlines

In the movie Airplane there's a scene when little Billy or Joey (I forgot the kid's name) hung out in the cockpit with the pilots during part of the flight. Can you imagine that happening today? Well, NONE of the things that happened in the movie Airplane would happen in real life. But, passengers did used to get to tour the cockpit. I never did do that as a kid, but now that it's too late I wish I would have. We did get to sit in the driver's car on the Disney monorail though... which was AWESOME.

Back to flying.

It's all about security today. We do need security, so I respect that. But, I remember how it used to be before security and the economy changed things.

As a kid I remember the flight attendants had more time to give out free things like airline wing pins or decks of cards. They had more time to tell jokes or even play games with everybody.

Meals were a part of every flight.

Airline food was always a big joke to everybody and it was criticized for years, but now people complain about getting nothing at all but peanuts or pretzels. Moms all over the world can now say, "I told you so! You should have appreciated what you had because now you don't have it anymore!"

So, now people make a big deal about what drink they are going to get. Those who never drink tomato juice on the ground request it from the flight attendant, and decide to get it mixed with ginger ale, Cranberry juice, no.... make that Cran-Apple, milk, and a slice of lime. Passengers are bored to the point of nuttyness and they have nothing else to do but come up with weird drink orders. Plus, it creates the feeling that we are getting SERVICE. (Even though the real service is already going on - the flight attendants are there for our safety).

I think people miss seeing the cart going up and down the aisle because it gives them the opportunity to wonder what the meal will be, what they will choose if there is a choice, then complain about the food to their seat neighbor. Those opportunities are getting rare these days. Enjoy them now while you still can.

Do you remember when people used to be able to smoke on flights? It's true! That seems like ages ago. Yet, I still see seats with ashtrays on the arms. That means those seats and the airplane were made, like.... HOW many years ago?

Pan Am isn't around anymore. Neither is TWA. Neither are many other airlines. To see the history (with photos) of almost every airline you can think of, Go Here.