I’d never heard of that aircraft before. Looks like the “flying guppy” freighter. I had no idea a second deck was used for a lounge in that era...resurrected in the 747 twenty years later.
A cockpit crew of four for 55 passengers. United started 377 Service to Honolulu in 1950and discontinued it in 1954.
Did they really pressurize the cabin to sea level? If true, that was a big waste. Those are enormous windows, too.
I wonder what a 1950 ticket cost on that United flight in 2018 dollars. UA only ran first class SFO to HNL. For,reference, in 1955 BOAC B377s had 50 First Class seats (fare $400 one way New York to London) or 81 Tourist seats (fare $290). That is $3,700 and $2,700 respectively in 2018 dollars ONE WAY!
Airline deregulation sure made it possible for the masses to travel.
And I have mixed feelings about that as the 1%ers have squeezed what should have been a comfortable middle class existence down the scale.