Now … modern day economy class.
Now … modern day economy class.
Clearly a staged publicity photo. There would not be that large space in front of the first row and they would have SEAT BELTS!
To start with, the first photo was a mock-up, not an actual interior. And a lot of the headroom was at the expense of center overhead bins. And the overhead bins on the sides were much smaller.
The airlines made the money to afford this in two ways. First, with so many passengers on board, the per passenger cost was about halved, as long as jet fuel prices stayed low. The other thing was that 747s could carry a LOT of cargo, which was also big money.
The two things that stopped it dead in its tracks were the OPEC oil embargo, and Jimmy Carter’s double digit inflation. Both of which, truthfully, could be blamed on Carter, because OPEC, and everybody else, saw him as weak and spineless. Which he was.
Carter really derailed America from its course to the future. By the end of his time in office, the country was in spiritual depression. Fortunately, Ronald Reagan did much to bring us back, for which he is beloved.
Carter is just remembered as a pathetic man, a failure as a president and a person.
Why give people these days room when they fly — they all dress like slobs.
Indeed, those were the days. I recall when United or American or whoever was flying 747s from LA to New York and Washington D.C.
Who remembers the BABY GRAND PIANO at the back of the plane? I do. Believe it or Not.
Flying is so miserable these days.
Recently I flew to Florida with my son and we were able to bump up to 1st class - I told my son THIS is what coach used to be like...
About 8 years ago, I flew from Dulles to Frankfurt on a Lufthansa 747. I can tell you for certain, it doesn’t look like that anymore. There was an upside to the close quarters, however. Must have had the gorgeous flight attendant brush my shoulder with her hip a couple dozen times during the flight. Didn’t mind at all.
In 1998, I flew first class aboard a DC-3 airliner. That was a great experience.
People were thinner back then, and they wore more elegant clothing.
I miss the three “C’s” that used to be found in society - civility, class & common sense...
Waaah! Waaah! People don't wear suits and dresses.
Waaah! Waaah! The stewardesses aren't sexy.
Bah!
Get a real airplane:
Ya don’t see ONE fat slob in the old photo.
notice how the people are dressed? I always wear a coat and tie when I fly. I stand out because so many people (particularly fellow Americans) look like winos.
We would start in the first class cabin in the center seats which would rotate around. After we reached cruising altitude, the stewardess would rotate our four seats to face each other in a circle. She would then plop down a white linen covered table in the middle, and place an open bottle of champagne on it. There was no breakfast menu, she would simply ask: "What would you like for breakfast?"
After breakfast, we could either sit in our seats, or go upstairs to the first class open bar. The stewardess to passenger in the cabin was often 1:1. One time I was sitting by the window, and "my" stewardess sat down beside me with a grocery bag full of full wine bottles. She asked: "Would you like to play gin rummy for bottles of wine?" I said: "I don't know how to play, and I have no wine." She said: "That's OK, I'll teach you how to play, and I'll loose the first few hands." I left with the grocery bag full of wine.
One co-op student flying with us had never been on any kind of airplane before in his life. His comment after the flight was: "I never realized flying was this nice."
Also, casual dress back in the 1960s was still associated with hippies and the counterculture. Unless you were on tour with The Rolling Stones, you basically threw on at least a shirt and tie in public.
What a reversal we have seen. People who normally wear suits to work are often seen getting changed into casual clothes at airport restrooms so they can "travel comfortable." You can't blame them too much if they are sitting in coach because you will definitely rumple your suit wedged into that cramped seating area.
I travel mostly for business so I usually have a shirt and tie on and I'm about the only one except the crew that's dressed that way. Sometimes, the other passengers think I'm the pilot and as I walk down the gate, they all move over to the side and let me through.