I'm pretty much with you. Hadn't flown anywhere for 30 years, until recently when we had an important family event. There was no realistic alternative (it would've been even crazier trying to cross the continent by train or car).
All went fine, but I had a few minutes of concern when the plane started its descent. Suddenly it seemed as if all power had been cut to the engines. The plane was totally silent, and (from my point of view) we didn't even seem to be moving. Of course we were moving, but it was eerie. Just as if the plane were floating, 30,000 ft up in the atmosphere.
I don't remember experiencing a descent like that in many previous trips 30+ years ago.
I had a similar experience while parachuting. I got caught in a thermal updraft and literally ‘hung’ in the air for what seemed an eternity. I was the first one out of the plane but the the third or fourth one to land on the ground. One of my fellow jumpers who landed before me was scratching his head in dismay as he knew I’d jumped first. LOL
All went fine, but I had a few minutes of concern when the plane started its descent. Suddenly it seemed as if all power had been cut to the engines. The plane was totally silent, and (from my point of view) we didn’t even seem to be moving. Of course we were moving, but it was eerie. Just as if the plane were floating, 30,000 ft up in the atmosphere
If you hadn’t flown in 30 years. It may have been your first time in an airliner with newer, larger, more fuel efficient engines. They are much quieter than older engines. When it got quiet, it was likely because the pilot pulled the throttles back to idle power for the descent.