Beginning of jet air travel. 1958.

[trof]

This is how it used to be, kids.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKqQgNZylLw

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear trof!

Was it really like that?

I wasn't flying back then...

No seat belts? Smoking allowed? Actually, I know they did allow smoking...

The fine dining?

Wow...

Thanks for sharing this trip down memory lane!

:hi:

[trof]

10. Yes, it was.

I didn't start with TWA until 10 years later, 1968.
But it was still pretty much like that.
And little complimentary pack of cigarettes came on your meal tray.
OMG!
Them wuz the days.
:-)

[Parche]

2. Hey Trof

PanAm was my first flight as a kid 1975 PDX-SEA-HNL
707 PDX-SEA Clipper Ann McKim
747 SEA-HNL Clipper Rainbow
747 HNL-SEA Clipper Bostonian
707 SEA-PDX Clipper Ann McKim




:woohoo: :woohoo:
:hi:

[trof]

11. You are the most devoted airline buff I've ever known.

Did you keep a log of all your flights?

[CreekDog]

3. The first flight I remember on TWA

they passed out menus --in coach. (mid 70's)

couple times the flight attendants had me pass out the after dinner mints (which were on a tray unwrapped). (late 70's)

Northwest airlines on one flight in 1982 gave us small bottles of red wine to go with our lunch (again, in coach). Yes, Northwest! Yes, really. This was back when they flew to Asia and were a better airline I guess.

[TheMightyFavog]

8. When I flew Swiss International Airlines last summer...

On our O'Hare-Zuerich and Zuerich to O'Hare legs We had an in-seat entertainment system with games, movies, flight info, TV shows and all sorts of music, free headphones, Two decent inflight meals, Swiss chocolate, real cutlery, Free drinks, (including mixed drinks, beer, and a choice of Red, white, or sparkling wine) and hot towels.

BTW, I was in Economy Class.

[trof]

9. I flew for TWA for 30 years.

[BarenakedLady]

4. When did we become cattle?

Wow, what a difference.

[Parche]

5. Its Not How You Live

Its how you MOO ve.....................


:hi:

[pokerfan]

15. We became cattle when the novelty wore off

and people were no longer interested in paying a premium for the experience and started basing their choices primarily on price.

I flew for the first time in 1968 and remembered real flatware and cutlery. And visitng the flight deck and getting my wings (I was eight years old).

[trof]

17. Deregulation did it.

Before that routes and fares were set by the Federal Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).

Prior to that, the only place airlines could compete was on quality of service.
With the emphasis on QUALITY.
They offered all kinds of goodies/services to entice passengers.
The passenger was king.

[Doc_Technical]

6. Actually, the deHavilland Comet was the first jetliner.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Comet

[trof]

13. They just couldn't stay airborn long.

I saw one that Elvis owned for a while.

[av8rdave]

7. Cool!

Hasn't changed much since then, has it? :sarcasm:

"An almost total absence of sound..." :rofl:

[Oeditpus Rex]

12. Jets, bah!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rgzAnrI6Bw

:headbang:

[trof]

14. TWA was still flying a few Connies when I started there.

I was never on one.
Howard Hughes designed it with Lockheed exclusively for TWA.

[Oeditpus Rex]

19. Most beautiful airliner ever to fly

I've been in love with that plane since I was a little kid. Dog, what gorgeous lines!

Here's the L-1049G "Star of America," the only airworthy Super Connie left. :(

[trof]

25. Former TWA employees helped restore it.

A lot of time, money, and expertise went into that.
Never flew the Connies.
In fact, the only recip I ever flew was the Beechcraft Baron.
Did a stint as a civilian contract instrument and multi-engine instructor for the army before I went with TWA.

[Thirtieschild]

24. Is the Connie the TWA Constellation?

Flew on one from National Airport in D.C. to Wichita in 1961, with a stop in Kansas City. I believe the flight continued to Las Vegas. Children were three and 13 months then, the baby never stopped crying. Understand now that the pressure hurt her ears.

[trof]

26. That's the one.

KC was a hub and our corporate HQ back then.
The current remedy for babies ears 'popping' is to nurse them (HORRORS!) or give them something to drink in the descent.

[trof]

16. Thanks for the clip. Brought back some memories.

Reading the checklists, getting clearance, etc.
Interesting.

[Critters2]

18. We used to go meet my dad at the Q-C airport

when he'd get back from a business trip. Going to the airport was a big deal. We'd go early and just watch planes land and takeoff. Once he arrived, we'd eat at the airport restaurants, which was really nice. In fact, some times we'd go for Sunday dinner at the airport restaurant after worship on Sundays, and everyone would be dressed in their best.

This would've been mid-60's to early 70's. Flying had a different feel to it then.

[trof]

20. This will sound 'horribly' elitist, and it is.

Airlines didn't become cattle cars until the cattle came on board.
Airline flying wasn't originally envisioned as travel for everyman.
Like the Zeppelins, it was for the upper-middles class and above.
Folks with the bucks to be able to afford it.
Deregulation did bring lower prices and the Greyhound crowd moved to Boeings.

[Thirtieschild]

21. My first flight was Dallas-to-Cleveland, 1956

Flew out of Love Field on Braniff. No DFW then, no Braniff now. Still remember the steak dinner w/cheese cake dessert.

[Thirtieschild]

22. Southern Airlines celebrated its first jet in 1968

by flying the Atlanta press corps to New Orleans for dinner at Antoinnes, the NOLA press corps to Atlanta for a Braves game. Southern was gone after a crash in ?? don't remember the year.

[trof]

23. Southern Airways merged with Republic which merged with Northwest.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Airways

[Kutjara]

27. It was certainly luxurious, but then it should be...

...when a transatlantic flight cost as much as a new car. The children of the people flying on that PanAm flight are, today, flying in shared-ownership corporate jets. The luxury and privilege still exists, it's just moved to a different medium. For the rest of us, it's steerage.

[trof]

28. And dry $5 sandwiches.

:-(