How air travel has changed in the last 100 years
30 ways life on board has changed
Since the first commercial flight in 1914, air travel has changed a lot. From steak dinners served in the cabin to bars on board, life in the air looked very different in the past. Here are 30 ways air travel has transformed.
More people are flying than ever before
In the so-called golden age of travel, from the 1950s to the 1980s, taking to the air was an experience reserved for the most privileged in society. Seats were routinely empty, in stark contrast to the modern elbow-to-elbow experience. Now, more than eight million people travel by plane every single day.
The 5-star treatment on board is no more
Economy class didn't exist before the 1950s and all passengers were treated to a luxury in-flight experience. Meals, complimentary magazines and drinks were provided, and flight attendants would even recline the seats of dozing travellers. Today, if you want this kind of luxury you need to buy your way into the First Class cabin. Here are a few we'd save up for.
There were no budget airlines
All-out luxury didn't come cheap but over the years, plane tickets have become far more affordable. The average cost of a plane ticket has decreased considerably since the 1950s with the introduction of economy class and the rise of budget carriers.
You could smoke on board
Once upon a time, your entire flight would have passed in haze of smoke. It was perfectly acceptable to smoke cigarettes on planes and cabins were often divided into smoking and non-smoking sections. British Airways began a trial ban on smoking during flights in 1990, with Virgin and United Airlines soon following suit. It wasn’t until the late 1990s that smoking on all flights was banned.
The alcohol was free-flowing
Most airlines offered a near-endless drinks service. Passengers would spend their journey sipping wine, cocktails and champagne throughout the flight. Today it's a criminal offence to be drunk on an aircraft, punishable with up to two years in prison.
Life on board was one big party
It wasn't uncommon for planes to have bars on board, giving travellers a chance to relax with a drink. Some lounges even had pianos. Now, this luxury is reserved for only the swankiest of aircraft.
You could visit the cockpit
In times gone by, passengers could visit the cockpit and sometimes sit up front for take-off or landing. This policy still differs from airline to airline, but cockpit security was seriously notched up following the attacks of 9/11. Today, for the most part, cockpit doors are firmly closed to the public and even cabin crew.
You never went hungry
On most flights, a sit-down dinner was part of the experience. Menus often included extravagant dishes like steak, and it was not uncommon for the meat to carved seat-side. British Airways and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines were just a couple of airlines to offer this personal service.
There's no more fancy cabin interior design
Pictures on the walls. Vases of fresh flowers. White tablecloths. No expense was spared when it came to decorating plane cabins. The finished result was far from the clinical look today and most touches, like flowers, would now constitute a health and safety hazard.
There were more home comforts
In today's economy class, most airlines will provide a scratchy blanket and a thin pillow during long-haul flights. But during the 50s and 60s, passengers would receive all manner of complimentary comforts, from plush cushions and blankets to toys for children.
There was plenty of space
Nowadays, you'll usually be sat elbow-to-elbow with the person next to you. It wasn't always like this. Aisles used to be wider, there was more leg room and no overhead storage meant the ceiling felt higher too. In the 1970s, the Boeing 747 (now out of service) even had two decks.
Flights could be up to 12 days long
Today you can reach Australia from the UK in less than 20 hours (and a non-stop flight from London to Perth is arriving in March 2018). It's a long time to be in the air but a trip to Oz used to take much longer. In 1935, the first Qantas flight from the UK to Australia (known as the Kangaroo Route) lasted 12 days, with multiple stops. Good thing there was that free food and booze to keep passengers entertained...
The whole plane watched a movie together
In 1925, silent movie The Lost World became the one of the first blockbusters to be shown in the air. It involved a whole lot of equipment and passengers had to crane their necks to watch a single screen. In-flight movies weren't commonplace until the 1960s when Trans World Airlines showed drama Love Possessed.
You could sleep in comfort
Spacious sleeper berths used to be commonplace. United's historic Mainliner Sleeper planes, which date back to the 1930s, were a vacation in themselves. They offered 6.5-foot-long twin beds and separate changing rooms for men and women to prepare for a good night's sleep.
You were presented with a postcard after take-off
During the 1950s and 60s, passengers were presented with a postcard once on board. Flying was still a great novelty and the postcards often included a picture of the plane or the food served on board.
There was a dress code
Most of today's plane passengers dress for comfort – think slouchy jumpers and jeans. But people used to dress to impress – men would sport a suit and tie and women their finest frock. It wasn't unheard of for passengers to be turned away if they were deemed under-dressed.
Turbulence could get pretty bad
Before the 1950s, all commercial planes were powered by pistons and weren't able to travel at such high an altitude as today's carriers. It made for a pretty bumpy, noisy and often frightening ride.
Flight safety regulations weren't as strict
Flight safety today is rigorously enforced by cabin crew but this hasn't always been the case. Flight attendants' jobs were more to provide comfort rather than protection. Many things that would be classed as hazardous today (think strewn luggage and children running about) were commonplace before the 1990s.
There used to be "hostesses"
Old adverts for "air hostesses" used to specify that applicants should be women and many included stipulations on height, weight, age and relationship status. The Stewardesses for Women’s Rights group was formed in 1972 to help combat inequality but the gender-neutral term "flight attendant" didn't come into common use until 1988.
Crashes were more frequent
Today, flying is one of the safest ways to travel but it wasn't always so reliable. Through the 1950s and 60s, there was an average of four major crashes every year. In contrast, 2017 has been reported as the safest year for air travel to date.
You didn't have to arrive so early
Most airlines recommend you arrive at least two hours before your flight, allowing enough time for the lengthy security process. It's difficult to imagine that in the US, prior to the 1970s, passenger screening was barely conducted at all. It wasn't until after the September 11th attacks in 2001 that safety checks became truly rigorous, in the USA and beyond.
Baggage claim was a lengthy affair
After disembarking a plane, modern passengers wait patiently by the conveyor belt, hoping their luggage wasn't lost in transit. But it wasn't always such a smooth pick-up. Porters organised all the luggage by hand and travellers would have to request their bags from the pile one after the other, each giving the worker a generous tip.
You could pass through security even if you weren't travelling
Prior to 2001, many airports allowed non-passengers to move through security so they could see their relatives onto the plane, or meet them before baggage claim upon their return. Nowadays, you're no longer permitted to wait for incoming passengers beyond security unless there are special circumstances.
You could take on as many bags as you wanted
Before the 1980s, there was no limit on luggage. A lack of overhead storage in the cabin meant they usually went in the hold. Today, hefty baggage fees mean most savvy travellers pack light.
You could take anything on board
A giant shower gel bottle. A craft knife. A bottle of gin. In the past, you could take pretty much anything on board a plane. It wasn't until 2006 that the regulations surrounding liquids tightened and today, liquid bottles brought on board must be no more than 100ml.
We've moved on from piston to jet planes
A lot has changed since the first commercial flight in 1914 (a domestic jaunt from St Petersburg to Tampa in Florida). One of the biggest shifts in commercial aircraft history was the move from piston to jet engines in the 1950s – also where we get the term 'jet-setter'. Jet planes were bigger, faster and more economical than their piston-powered predecessors, and would shape the next 50 years of air travel.
We can now travel almost anywhere by air
In the past, commercial air carriers ran a handful of routes. For example, Virgin Atlantic offered just one from London to New York. Now it has more than 30. British Airways has increased its offering by 43% since the 1980s. The world is more connected than ever.
You'll meet more computers than people at today's airports
Rewind 50 or 60 years and your airport experience would be very different. There were no automated boards, tickets were written out by hand and you'd be greeted by an actual person at the check-in desk. Today, most people check-in online before they even reach the airport, you may leave your bag at a self-service bag drop, pass through an automated passport-control gate and store your ticket on your smart phone.
Today's in-flight entertainment is all about technology too
In-flight entertainment is a whole different ball game today. Most passengers spend long flights plugged into hi-tech entertainment systems. Movies, games and box sets are at the modern traveller's fingertips and in-flight wi-fi is becoming increasingly common. Norwegian and Emirates are among the airlines that allow you to connect for free.
Airports are destinations in themselves
The airports of yesteryear had one main purpose: to see travellers safely on board their flights. Today airports are filled with shops and restaurants, and a whole host of other activities like yoga classes and ice skating to combat pre-flight boredom. Here are a few of our favourites. Loved this? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more travel inspiration.
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