United Boeing 377 Stratocruiser Hawaii Travelogue - 1950 

A bag of pretzels, 8 oz of water and a crowded middle seat is what the airlines are so proud of selling today.

I just watched this video while sitting in the airport waiting to board a 737 that will have the leg room appropriate for 3 year old.

I was a FE on this airplane, 4000 hrs . Love it

My father was stationed in Germany during the mid fifties and my mother ,sisters and I flew across the Atlantic to be with him . We flew put of NYC on a DC4 and returned a couple of years later on a Lockheed Constellation. As I recall we were dressed in our Sunday best for the flights. What wonderful childhood memories.

I couldn't stop smiling while watching this film. Those were the days, my friends.

According to the Wikipedia page, this flight was totally first class. Until the jet age, the most economical transport to Hawaii was the cruise ship.

I’m glad I grew up in the fifties I had a glimpse of a life never to be seen again

Back when people dressed up for plane or train travel. What a nice historical gem. Why anyone would 'dislike' something like this is beyond me.

The Navigator using 'celestial navigation'!!!! Classic!!!

On one hand, the sardine cans we're flying on these days are an outrageous thing we shouldn't accept. On the other hand, I have a feeling that back in 1950 you'd have had to be quite rich to get yourself an airplane ticket.

I just flew back fron Honolulu. It's just a Greyhound with wings now.

Today as you relax in your seat a stinky bare foot from some goof behind you is thrust between the seats and rests gently on your arm.

I remember flying in the 60's & 70's. You dressed for the occassion. You were polite, people were actually smiling and engaged. Now it's get on board, strap in, ignore the flight crew announcements, don't bother them and get the hell off when we land because once that door is open, you're on their dime.

It's been so long since gracious classy service has been standard in air travel that I nearly completely forgot it ever existed until last year. I was in Rome returning to the US (non-stop Rome to Chicago) after a spectacular cruise. My wife and I had business class accomodations aboard a United 777 Dreamliner. Before takeoff I ordered a soft drink and received a Coke in a leaded crystal glass brimmed with ice. Memories flooded back. I hadn't drunk from a glass glass in over 30 years on an airliner. The stewardesses were gorgeous, immaculately groomed, consumed with our comfort. Two wonderful meals were served with real silverware, cloth napkins, more crystal glasses, fine wine. I had forgotten that all of this used to be standard stuff even on flights only 90 minutes long if they occurred during dinnertime. Our seats converted in seconds into full size beds. Flying was a real pleasure once again.

This remarcable VIDEO brings me back to the beginning of my First Job at Canadian Pacific Airlines from 1959 to 1969 ... BEAUTIFULL ...

I was born in '53, the ol' man flew for UAL and as such, I spend a lot of time in DC-6, 7, 8's, Viscounts, an occasional Caravelle, 727's and lastly DC-10's. We almost always flew in 1st class (if room was available), which was perfect for a kid to walk up and spend a bit of time in the cockpit. Naturally everyone wore their Sunday best back then - a great backdrop for the awesome metal wings (with a 2 inch pin) that kids got from the pretty, shapely Stew's. If you stabbed yourself, one's parents called you a stupid kid vs today - where they call their lawyer and sue the airline. Sure miss those days, it was a wonderful time. A Golden Age. I can't stand flying anywhere now...

I opened this link expecting to see details about a surviving Stratocruiser. Instead I found an actual promo film from back in the day. This was a great surprise! Thanks Classic Airliners!

I worked for United for 17 years. I was a flight line mechanic. I remember having to wear suits to fly standby. I also remember that the passengers were a different breed of humans. Wealth had nothing to do with it. Politeness and education was what I experienced. Flight attendants which were originally nurses when they first started flying, were extremely friendly and well mannered. Today it’s a different world. Airlines try to squeeze everything they can out of a passenger. Then we have the passengers. A special breed themselves. Air travel today is sad. It might be a fuselage with wings but it feels like a pick up truck taking you to fields. I fly because I have no choice and yes I fly in coach. Where even a size zero female has trouble getting in and out of her seat.

Brings back a lot of memories although I never did fly on a Stratocruiser. I was a Boeing flight line mechanic and worked on all of Northwest Airlines's Stratocruisers preparing them for first flights and delivery to the airlines. Much has changed in commercial airplanes.

That was before Airlines started considering us self-loading cargo.

Look how smart and elegant they look today's it's track suit bottoms and hoodies!! What a wonderful era xx

Like something from a alternate universe!

HOW IS THIS SO LUXURIOUS! Man, if only we had this today, even if it is slower and has fewer seats, it would make flying much more enjoyable

I miss those times when to fly it was a pleasure, and there were not exhaustive controls at airports like today. Thanks for these great videos.

I would fly to Hawaii like that in half a heartbeat.

I loved this and the time in our history where one could travel in such great splendor!

I like the clothes and the Hawaian Lounge down below. And the sweets. The early days of commercial flight were really cool!

Flying then was special, and continued to be that way until the early eighties. Couch class was roomy. Children were allowed in the cockpit while the plane was in flight and got their wings pinned right after. Bathrooms were immaculate and flight attendants were friendly.

The livery on that Stratocruiser is striking. I'd like to see United bring that back!

This video transports you to a time when flying was exclusive and glamorous.

Life was once glamerous in the USA flowing with friendly hospitality.

Would love to see the reactions of 1950-era passengers and crew if a modern-day passenger with muffin top in yoga pants were to be teleported into these scenes.

What a great flight down memory lane. I really enjoyed seeing how great air transport must have been before it got common.

I enjoy these classic films. They're asmr.

no wonder its called the "golden age"

What delightful footage of an era long gone

Wow, what a gem! I'm so glad he saved this footage. I had a huge poster of this plane.

Green hills white sand and blue waters... these words made me cry

Wow, the Hawaiian welcome. I never got that. I sure wish travel were that nice today. Also, I noticed passengers weren't always buckled in during the flight. Amazing.

I am lucky to have flown in the late 60's when this type of service was still normal. Today , well it just sucks

I love this music from 40s and 50s. So easy and gentle.

Hawaii used to be an exotic remote and mysterious destination. I remember my parents going there in the early 70s and them telling us about it. I went in 2003 and what did I see when driving to my hotel, Home Depot, Office Max, and Burger King. Very anti climactic.

I love how nice everyone is dressed. Now everyone looks like cattle being herded on to a plane.

Damn, now I want one! The B-29 platform evolved into many amazing variants, but if I were a rich man, and/or James Bond villian it would be hard to imagine a better flying live-aboard luxury yacht.

This is a real gem. So nice it has been preserved on digital format. Thanks for sharing.

Things have changed a bit. I remember back in 1974 when my parents moved us from Miami to Low Angeles we got dressed in our Sunday best. Today...nevermind.

As a kid, my Father piloted the Pan Am Clippers on the same route, I went on many a trip, wow, was that fun ! So many memories of those days. Everytime I think about my childhood, even all the way through college in the wild late 60's early 70's. all I can think about, is, WHAT HAPPENED to our Country ?

It was a grin watching this, as I rode on a Stratocruiser from Travis AFB to Tokyo many years ago, except it wasn't called a Stratocruiser but a C-97 and there was nothing luxurious about it. Must have been a good airplane because we made it over half of the Pacific on three engines.

1:46 Look at the little kids running along behind the fence, following the plane, jumping around, all excited. Wish I could have seen an airplane up close. I was thrilled enough to watch them flying over as a kid. I remember our daycare was by the creamery in Cabot, and whenever one of the (now) old Cabot semi-trucks would head up the hill to the plant, we'd flock the the bottom of the hill, shouting "Cabot Creamery Truck! Cabot Creamery Truck!" One of our biggest thrills was to do the "air brake" gesture to trucks passing on the road, and they'd usually reward us with a toot, which overjoyed us. I bet trucks don't honk for kids anymore. Probably potential legal repercussions, or some stupid bullshit. Any I remember watching the excavator digging around when they expanded the Lower Plant building. I stood on the lower rail of the fence, and watched it digging away for what seems like hours. Fascinated by the arm and the hydraulic pistons (I finally bought myself a toy excavator a few years ago; wish I'd done that years ago. Can slide the pistons in and out all I like now!) But if I could have seen a plane like that in real live motion...man. I could have died a happy kid.

amazing how the mile high club started sooooo long ago :)

Willoughby... next flight departing to Willoughby!

Man.. Back then flying sure seemed like an unforgettable experience that you do only on special occasions. If only it was that way today. Kinda bummed I was born after the fun of flying died off.

My first commercial flight was on an Eastern airline Constellation in 1955 from Chicago to Florida and yes people did dress like that for a flight.

A elegant aircraft from a more civilized age.

First time I flew in US ( I am brazilian), I got surprised about the short leg space because north americans are usually tall. The industry punished all types of passengers regardless of byotype.

I remember when you could relax with a nice drink and a smoke on a flight.

1950 Tru 1970 was the Pinnacle of the American best time ,in the mid 1970s stared going down down down down ,

My wife was stationed at Ft Shafter Hawaii (73) but they flew her over on a transport plane, think jumpseats 😙 decades later she still heard the engine drone in her head.

I’ve only visited older prop airliners in static displays, but I certainly felt as if the experience in taking a cross-Pacific, transcontinental, or transatlantic flight would have been pretty comfortable, so much so you wouldn’t want to leave. The Connie’s, DC-6, DC 7, and other long distance airliners had thick, full sized seats that covered your head, shoulders, and arms unlike the chiseled down skinny seats on Boeing and Airbus models. I doubt the pitch was any less than 34” in coach, 36” in first class. Rows had 4 seats not the 6 in 320, or 737’s or 10 in jumbos. It was darn expensive to fly as it was, despite the children you see playing on their flights, it was pretty much adults only and 80% men at that. And baby did they keep feeding you, on my first business flight in the late 1970’s we had pretzels with two packs of peanuts and a drink before we began our taxi. Before landing in Houston (leaving Phoenix) we had breakfast the airline called it a “Hunt Club Breakfast” and it included a very thick piece of Virginia ham, scrambled eggs, toast and jelly, orange slices, and cookies. My connection was on United to Philadelphia and they were famous from their coconut cake. OverArkansas lunch was served, chicken breast stuffed with ham and cheese or a small sirloin steak with sliced potatoes in cheese sauce, carrots, roll, and coconut cake. You got a few foil wrapped chocolate mints that used to be popular. About an hour out from Philly we got a little lunch ale kind of plastic tray with apple slices breadsticks and cheese dip. You had a movie on each segment, both flights were DC-10’s and very comfortable.

I remember when flying was a civilized thing. People dressed nice, you got a meal, and not just a snack. And if the flight was long enough, even a movie. That Stratocruiser looks like a lovely way to travel in. Those where the Days!

1950: United airlines actually cares for its passengers 2019: drags passenger off plane

When I was 10 years old I flew on a plane like this, and I remember there was much more space than in the current planes. It's just a matter of money, if you can afford a business class seat, the problems disappear.

Incredible, the Boeing 377 was the jumbo airliner of the time. From what I see in the video, these days you can't get that kind of service on any flights, even in first class.

My last flight to Honolulu United must have forgotten to book the Hula dancer. I vaguely remember my 1st trip to Hawaii in 1958 . The airline was Pan Am and on arrival we received a flowered lei and many young pretty ladies in grass skirts were dancing. That was then.......this is now and very different.

Gone are the days! Great film.

Beautiful days and moments of the great Americana!

Glory days...long gone!!😥

They flew in style back in the day. Cool video. 👍👍👍

Thank you so much for sharing this video. I live in Hawaii and to see how things operate and back in the day makes me appreciate my home even more. I also choose united as my frequent flyer.

Where did it all go wrong?

Wow the golden age of air travel I would love to fly in that today and wouldn’t care if its slower.And with the people from then as another commenter so nicely put it socially educated unlike the experiences of todays flights.

Wow. When normal flying was super comfy.

Amazing what Boeing could do, with the bottom half of a B-29 Bomber.

Been an aviation buff since a child. First I've heard of a private stateroom on the Stratocruiser. I've even built a model of Stratocruiser (no interior detail). Learn something every day.

I know this is an extended advert for United, but flying seemed so much less stressful and more pleasant in those days than it does today.

I'm old enough to remember when flying on an airliner was a whole lot more fun than what we got today. If I NEVER have too go through the airport and airline ordeal EVER again it will be greatly appreciated. I'd rather have a root canal.

We don't have planes and service like this today.

Let's go back to these days and build the Stratocruiser again. Welcome back, comfortable air travel:)

Flying as a human, not as a cattle.

Miss the old days of flying, where you were not packed in like sardines and everyone was served a meal.

Good video! It took me back to when I was a child and my dad ,military, took us there to live three years while he was stationed there! Thank you!

Someone please build a time machine. I want out of the now! 😢

Thanks so much for posting this. My family lived in Manila throughout the 1950s, so, as a boy, I had the opportunity (priceless, I now realize) to have flown many times on the Stratocruiser (Pan American, not United or Northwest). It's interesting to see the different configurations used by Pan American as opposed to United: no private compartment (that's where the galley was located): as I recall, more than four berths; and the Pan Am (or to give it its full name, as it was then, Pan American World Airways) Stratos had round windows, not rectangular. And Yes, in those days, flying WAS something special, and you dressed for it. Oh, and there was kind of an unwritten-but-understood rule that children were allowed in the lower lounge during the day, but had to scoot back upstairs, come cocktail time. (I don't know about Northwest or United, but Pan Am had a bar in the lounge, behind which was access to the rear baggage compartment.) I won't depress myself now by comparing service and amenities, then and now; suffice to say, while I still do fly, all I expect is to be transported from Point A to Point B and arrive in one piece: noting else.

When a HNL bound Southwest takes off from Oakland, CA with one way tickets for $35... don't expect this crowd.

B-29 Superfortress civilianized. Outstanding appearance. Looks great. Airplanes look so much alike, now.

Beautiful aircraft.

Oh! just like flying Spirit...

The Boeing 377 was essentially a "passenger edition" of the B-50 bomber, with upgrades, of course. It was pressurized and flew at altitudes above most bad weather/atmospheric problems. The B-29 was the first bomber with pressured crew compartments, almost 10 years before this airliner. The Lockheed "Conni" was designed as a passenger aircraft from the start, and was also pressurized.

Thank you for sharing this. It's wonderful!

I LOVED this video! Thank you for sharing!

1950's America was paradise. 2019 America is like hell.

I’d love a trip back in time on that plane.

Double decker airliner, amazing. The Stratocruiser was built on the frame of the WW2 B29 Bomber, they just added the top deck. At 5.30 the girl is picking up the food from the tray without tongs and these were the high society! Airline fares especially for long flights like this were exorbant. And at 5.45 the angular windows can be seen which were later changed to circular because of structural integrity issues in the British built Comet.

My wife and avoid flying these days. Air travel has continued to get worse and worse. We prefer to get a sleeper compartment on AMTRAK unless we have to cross an ocean.

Man...how traveling has changed. It was more enjoyable back then. If you don't ride in 1st class today, it can be an endurance contest.

I'd guess that flight took around 9-10 hours from the West Coast. The 377 was developed from the B-29 bomber, and morphed into the larger B-50, whose shape made it adaptable for passenger and cargo use. The USAF designated it as the C-97, which carried cargo and troops. They were also used as aerial refuelers.

I just want to go back To a time I didn't get to experience

Interesting travelogue. This was less than 10 years before statehood and is obviously a tourism-promoted movie. But it does give us a glimpse of luxury air travel some 70 years ago!

Great video of a memorable aircraft. I was around 6 and would fly by my self on this and others. NORTH WEST was willing to take care of a child and my parent took advantage of that. At that age i still notice the lounge stewardess was a little upbeat from the upstairs ones.

The whole flying experience has changed during my lifetime. At age 11, I flew out of Los Angeles to Oakland California. People wore dresses and gloves, hats, suits and wing tip shoes. I was given a pin of United STEWARDESS WINGS. People were excited to fly, and dressed for a special occasion. It was all lovely. By the 70’s, flying was “old hat”. People dressed in sloppy attire as if to say, “look I’m flying and it’s no big deal”. Since then, flying has taken a nose dive. Seats are teeny, no food to enjoy, flight crews are stand up comics and often unsightly. Passengers are rude and often obnoxious. The flying experience is more like an inner city bus ride. Blech. But everything has changed. We used to have more “classy behavior”. Now we’re overcrowded, over taxed, and always easily offended daily. We may not utter anything deemed offensive lest we are prepared to suffer the consequences. The Internet spurs radical behaviors like child abuse, and terrorism in those who, 50 years ago, might not have had the nerve. Customer service is a joke. So for me, looking back to a simpler time... things were just a lot better all around. Including flying!