...Then vs Now...
You are crammed in row 28 on yet another packed flight. As you eagerly await your mini bag of pretzels, do you ever wonder what flying was like in the good old days? You’ve seen the pics and heard the tales of Pan Am. Maybe you remember earning your wings as a youngster during a visit to the cockpit. (Don’t try that now). Let’s unbuckle our seatbelts, recline all the way back, and evaluate the air travel evolution, then vs now.
The commercial airline industry started taking off after WW2. The 1950s are considered the golden era. Flying was exotic and luxurious. In 1950, a flight to Europe was about like you and I hopping on SpaceX. It was only for the elite and those with means. That brings us to the first measuring stick.
Cost
Affordable air travel is a relatively new concept. In the 50s, a cross country flight in today’s dollars was easily a grand and transatlantic was probably three times that. There were no Spirit or Frontier options. No $39 super savers. You were a baller if you headed to vacay in a plane rather than the family Studebaker.
The world is so much more open now compared to yesteryear because of low cost air fares. Now wins.
Now: 1 Then: 0
Air travel evolution humor
Attire
Considering the target market and the general tastes of the bygone era, it’s no surprise travelers dressed the part. Men in Suits. Ladies in dresses. Seems like an odd and uncomfortable way to go in this day of yoga pants and flip flops.
So who has the advantage. On one hand, yesteryear appeals with the classy atmosphere. Plus the guarantee that you would not see a single butt crack even on a 12 hr flight. On the flip side, who wants to travel in formal attire. A lot to be said for sweats and that salsa stained Senor Frogs tank top you don’t remember buying. Comfort matters.
We will call this a tie for air travel evolution.
Now: 1 Then: 0
Seating
Huge discrepancy here. In prior decades the industry was not operated with the efficiencies of modern times. It was a different business model and they didn’t need to pack a plane to turn a profit on bargain fares. High ticket prices and low demand. As a result, planes were about half full as a rule. Seats were abundant, and there was plenty of room to stretch out and move around. No stress there. Pretty much the opposite of what we experience as we jockey for position on Southwest. The old days win.
Now: 1 Then: 1
Air Travel humor
Bags
In an era where some airlines only allow a personal item as part of the ticket price, its hard to imagine being allowed to check as many bags as you wanted and load up that half empty plane with carry ons . Another win for the days before air travel evolved.
Now: 1 Then: 2
Food
This aspect is drastically different. Granted they paid for it, but your forefathers and mothers enjoyed legit dining. Lobster and steak. We get pretzels. Clear win here for the early days.
Now: 1 Then: 3
Air travel then vs now
Drinks
It was a party in the sky back then. Today you are lucky to be able to purchase an airplane bottle and a substandard mixer. Airplane bottle. Just the term itself indicates something went sideways here in the evolution of air travel. An airplane bottle used to mean a real bottle. Premium spirits. All you want.
Now: 1 Then: 4
air travel evolution and highlights
Smoking
If you could smoke at work, school, and the hospital, you darn sure smoked on the plane. I think it might’ve even been policy that you had to. Now it’s “no smoking” reminders blasting over the intercom every 15 minutes at tarmac decibels. Plus threats of ejection from the aircraft if you tamper with the lavatory smoke detector.
As such, it’s crazy to think you could and would puff the whole way from NY to LA. Surprisingly, smoking on board continued into the 80s. Can you imagine emerging from a 5 hour flight back in the day? When the door opened at the gate, the plane must have looked like Cheech’s van. Clear win modern era.
Now: 2 Then: 4
1950s air travel
Flight Attendants
Err umm, stewardesses. Can’t even say the word now without feeling like some cretin who failed sensitivity training. You might still hear it on occasion from an old timer and they will be looked at with more disdain than if they lit up a Lucky Strike.
In the glory days it was a term that had cache. The stewardess was idealized as a young attractive gal who was handpicked for an exciting job full of adventure. There was glamour. There was intrigue. The hotels that catered to flight crews would have made Hefner blush. Pilots and stewardesses coining the term layover. No lawsuits. Just good times.
Something changed along the path of air travel evolution. Sure we still have some glamour girls. And glamour boys. However it’s more of a grind now for the folks wearing the wings. Let’s face it. Pouring champagne for millionaires is just different than handing out snacks to annoying kids. Or reminding the guy with the butt crack in 22B to buckle his seatbelt for the fifth time. It’s more like work now. As such, there is understandably less service with a smile these days. Advantage old days.
Now: 2 Then: 5
air travel then and now
evolution of air travel
Entertainment
Back then you ate well. You drank well. You smoked em if you had em. Beyond that, you’d have better brought a book. Between tablets, phones and in flight entertainment, we have a massive advantage over those passengers of old. Perhaps drunk, nicotine fueled Biff and Buffy didn’t care, but nonetheless it’s a win for modern times.
Now: 3 Then: 5. Final Tally
Air Travel Evolution: Then vs Now Conclusions
Like many things in life, we can look back and long for the way it used to be. Above score aside, we truthfully have it better in the big picture. Our open access to air travel is a game changer and enhances our lives. Sure there are hassles, but let’s talk halfway through your trip across country on a Greyhound.
Plus if you have the means, you can duplicate some of the aspects of the golden era by upgrading to first class. That’s more of an even comparison, not the super saver fare you scored.
So wear the sweats. Order the meal. Buy the airplane bottle. Watch the movie. Just don’t call her stewardess. Or him. You are seeing the world and that’s something the previous generations longed for.
Next stop outer space. God help ’em in the future if they are looking back at our era thinking we had it so good on board the flight. Either way, count me in. Pretzels and water all the way to the moon.
Airplane travel evolution
