What We Miss About Flying in the 1960s & 70s 

61 for me. I can't believe how many people are dumbfounded when I act courteously whilst driving.

65 for me, unfortunately it was 35 years of a totally different “corporate culture, political lobbying”, and “corporate greed.” Corporate corruption reached an all-time high between 1998 to 2015, which then trickled down to citizens because they thought it was the only way to survive. The only way to control the corporations is through taxation. President Eisenhower was correct…and the Supreme Court made a stupid decision to give corporations citizenship and human rights called “citizens United”…corruption at its finest. The Citizens United decision opened the floodgates to the billions of dollars that have since poured into the election system, and destroyed our culture and hard-working middle class families. It is all about greedy people having more control and influence

It depresses me and the new generations don't seem to get it. They're all about my right to look like a bum. And they see dressing sloppy to work as a perk. The latest craze is bizzare unkempt hairstyles and pants falling down as 'ethnic rights'. good grief.

61 here, and I still dress properly, suit and tie, when traveling on an aircraft. And when did common decent behavior become a thing of that past? People now look like they have just rolled out of bed and stumbled into an airport and have a nasty attitude.

I popped out in 55 imagine how I feel, I live in a cow paddock now

😂About planes being smaller , people bigger & looking like they just rolled out of bed & in pyjamas. Omg, that is just way too hilarious. Tears are literally running down my face & people must think I’m crazy laughing hysterically alone & all the while trying not to be too loud about it.

​@@2501meat least your not doing it on a plane😂

@@2501me 😂😂 glad u enjoyed the humor...The more advanced our evolution is at the more people are acting like cavemen...seems like we can't have both equally at the same level..🤣😂

I completely agree with you. I remember as a teenager (I’m 66) my mom and I flying, we dressed nice, it was special to fly & vacation in other parts of the world. Like you said we were served meals that were really good. If it was a short flight you were still served a sandwich & soup. People would actually go to the gate to see you off. Now you worry about getting through security with out being patted down & your carry on being rifled through by somebody that can’t smile doesn’t even bother grunting and has dirty nasty hands that are touching & feeling your pajamas & your underwear. My husband & I love to cruise & often it is out of Miami, we fly into Miami airport and it is like watching a freak show. One particular guy/?? sticks in my mind we saw recently. He was young early 20’s probably around 6’1” had on a hideous short dress, big clunky high heeled black boots, black nail polish, black lipstick, hair hadn’t been combed in weeks. He was trailing behind a nice dressed older man in a suit (I got the feeling it was his father) the older man had a look of shame on his face and was trying to get through the airport as quickly as possible. If that had been me I don’t care what the young guy would have said or claimed to be or problems he had I would have told him I am not going out in public with you looking like that. So the choice is yours dress decently without black lipstick, or nails, no dresses & no high heeled boots. If not then go on your own, which means he would be paying his own way. Society is demanding we indulge these people in their disgusting behavior and delusional ideas. It’s not bad enough many don’t know what soap & water & deodorant are but now they don’t even know something as simple as the sex they were born. Sorry about the rant I’ll get off my soap box now. I wish as a society people had more pride and respect for themselves & others, but we see they don’t.

Yes, and it's not about vanity but self respect.

You are absolutely correct.

About the only thing I dress up for is church but I'm still couteous to others. By the way I'm 61.

@@traveler320ak7 I do dress up when I fly. Makes me look professional.

My greatest flying fear would be getting put on a Boeing

😂😂😂

@@alipainting Boeing was a great company until McDonnell Douglas merged with Boeing. The military industrial complex is the greediest most corrupt corporation in the world…and we all support them. That is sad.

Then fly with a friend or loved one . Then you know exactly who will be next to you 😊

I have same concern while getting to fly

wear your body armor!

@@CKLee-rs4kl I won't be around then, but I will wear it until.

Well, I'll be dead and gone by then. So it ain't gonna matter to me.

I am glad that in 40 years I will be dead and I have no children.Certainly do not want to see what the world will be then or leave it to my children.

Yeah, I’m 65 and have traveled a lot. I don’t know what happened to the west. I believe it started in the public school system when we did not see anymore male teachers. They left and so did discipline. No discipline and women do not have the personality or physical stature to enforce rules. Quality foreigners do not want to live in the west. A ghetto could be poor but clean and polite. There are some countries where the ghettos are safe, have great food and clean…but they also have men who enforce a high standard.

I was a young teen during this time and flew a few times with my parents. I couldn’t wait to get “all dressed up” for the flight. Oh and the meals were awesome! I wanted to be a stewardess but one thing held me back- fear of flighing😂

oops* flying*

. . 😔 same here, now it’s just too much work and worry . . and people back then smiled to be respectful or courteous . . . not today

Me 2.

Our society has lost all class. The last good flight I took was in 1992 from Toronto to Amsterdam on a 747. I drank and smoked copious amounts of free booze up in the lounge, ate like a king and the Dutch stewardesses were gorgeous and “not over 130 pounds! “

I remember the first time I flew on an airplane, it was 1972 on an Air France to Paris. I remember the stewardesses in these beautiful linen two-piece suits designed by Dior.

I'd love to have experienced that

Remember the little prayer card too? It was such a comfort. And the barf bags in every seat pocket, just in case.

@@camelliainzurich1262 I forgot about the prayer cards. I think they were placed on the food trays?

@@camelliainzurich1262 ohhh, those prayer cards were so sweet!! 🥹 Thank you for reminding me honey♥️

Same here. I did a lot of travelling in the 70s. Both professionally and privately. I am glad I did it THEN.

Maybe, but Pohole Pete Buttigieg isn't helping it at all. He's the worst transportation secretary in American history.

​@@KB-ke3fiOh, I know you could do so much better...pffffttttt!

@@karllieck9064 my golden retriever could. Typically, pole smokers aren't that good at logistics.

​@@atatterson6992And what are you good at, besides making all sorts of moronic comments and showing the world what two-legged garbage really looks like?!

​@@karllieck9064He CAN'T. His "brain" isn't properly connected and powered.... After all, Radio Shack went out of business long ago; he can't locate the parts he needs!

70 here. Been flying since the 1950's. I have nothing but contempt for the whole air travel experience.

I'm 75 and well recall the days when air travel was a pleasant experience. Yes, it was more expensive, but passengers in the coach section were not just cargo and people behaved far better. Happily, I have a vestibular condition that doesn't permit me to fly anymore, so I don't have to deal with the horde of loud, crude, boorish idiots that are crammed into planes these days.

We did.

We looked better too!

We looked better too!

You’re right - there were standards of dress for all sorts of occasions. Today’s generation would roll about laughing to hear that!

@@sheilabloom6735 lol until we got around the corner than we would hike up our tunics to mini tunic

Right, and now everyone thinks they look great in leggings and sweats -- with the personalities to match, unfortunately.

Im the same but once i get to the airport and look around at the trash getting onboard i realise i look decent haha

If I was flying on same flight as you, you would have had at least one person who noticed and appreciated your efforts and appearance.

I agree totally…I only fly Delta or Emirates Airlines because if you look at the way the pilots and flight attendants are dressed, they are always manicured, wear cool hats and always pressed uniforms…classy. . I got on a United flight and I sat next to a smelly young adult with slippers and a bathrobe. Thank god there were extra seats and the flight attendant moved me to a different seat. I was on an American Airlines flight and the pilots uniform looked like it never saw an iron or ironing board. Yes, I agree. The way someone dresses says a lot about the person.

Its getting worse and not just there. I remember going in a Barnes & Noble a few months ago, and was embarassed because I was in t-shirt and shorts. Then I suddenly noticed most people in there looked worse than I did lol. Its funny to see classical music playing and leather chairs, and people wandering around in trailer trash clothes. Wheylp I guess the upscale store may be declared extinct. Some retail stores now too I can't even recognize who the employees are, they look skankier than the customers. I went to a Ross and two employees at the registers were wearing street hoodies... and at Menards a kid was getting carts and he had no belt and pants sagging. I was like seriously? geez lol

@@c.rutherford agreed…how about this one…I was stopped for a seatbelt violation because I clicked my seat on at the traffic light after a left the parking lot. The officer had a neck and face tattoo. I told him I wanted to talk to his supervisor because I truly did not he was a police officer. The supervisor came and said, “yeah, we are hiring from the bottom of the barrel. They look more like criminals than law-biding citizens.” It is out of control. We have no civility standards anymore.

Bless your heart 🥰

?

@@glendabreece9767 Enjoy Spirit airlines.

TAKE THE TRAIN!

@@user-dj7wv5ok2x what train, most of Canada doesn't have passenger service

Yip the terrorists ruined it all with the hijackings.

What is this bs, people with class don't act like that

@@KB-ke3fi no this kind of person ruined it, being high and drunk

And I recall when Greyhound travel was nice.

Excellent comment, Christine. I, too, took Trailways or Greyhound occasionally in the 1950s & 1960s and confirm your observation that my fellow riders were always civil. Didn't make any difference where they got on--big city or a country crossroads.

Preach! Looking at the number of men's style channels on YT I'd say the tide is gradually turning.

And grocery shopping

They were slimmer and better dressed. We dressed up for church and special events, like weddings, graduations. We dressed up to go to the doctor. When my daughter graduated from high school most in the audience were in jeans, or shorts. The man sitting in front of me had a pistol in his back pocket.

discrimination is showing,

@@kathy.7475 where the heck are you?

Its all the fast food and rubbish people eat contributing to their size but they either don't care or are unaware of it.

Only worse. Even Greyhound seats were roomy and comfortable .

True. My Mom took me by CP passenger rail from Vancouver to Toronto Canada. Around 1967 I think. I remember the dining car was white linen tablecloths and the staff were dressed to the nines. Same thing for some car ferries like BC Ferries. Can you tell I grew up in Canada...🇨🇦

we don't have many passenger trains any more.

garbage the behavior starts before they board

@@user-fl1pc7zu7f yes it does, but it truly presents itself in a confined and crowded space, such as an aircraft.

@@user-ij5xw9cg3g no it presents while waiting as well

Quit blaming it on the airlines when one can't go to the toilet because someone has messed all over it or thrown up in their seat or so drunk they are knocking people about why provide anything nice.

True, it feels like we going backward not forward

We were never rich enough to fly. However, when we went to downtown Main Street, our parents made us dress up. It was something that people did back then. People took pride in how they looked and acted. Those days are long gone.

Agree!

Exactly! That's all changed now. Very sad.

Yes! And remember when we tried to use the correct English?

100% agree, the western empire is in full decline, same in high end restaurants, concerts or whatever should be a nice evening out.

It’s the reality television mentality.

My mother in law hated me and did her best to control our marriage. It wasn't her son she wanted happiness for. It was her. She died in 2008. The good old days and kindness for others back then isn't true. They just hid their hate better.

@@danicegewiss862 It’s terrible that you went through that. Family sometimes shows more disdain for their own rather than strangers. I never understood that. Couldn’t have been easy for your partner either.

@dianeellis3925 As long as you were the "right" type of person. I'm sure non WASPs would disagree with your comment.

Everyone? Not sure who you hang out with. That's not my experience.

@@charlesrowlet7830 I mean walking down the street, on vacation, just out and about. Even in restaurants.

@@charlesrowlet7830 its true, flip flops, shorts you can see everything, barely dressed, people use to be dressed when they went out

@@charlesrowlet7830 if that is not your experience it is because you never left the Ritz. Look at people on the streets, take the metro and you will see how the masses dress and behave. I remember a 5* historic hotel in Malta when some savages came down for dinner on the lovely terrace at sunset in shorts and flip flops…

I use to enjoy the 'girl-watching' at the airports. Now? Nah.

Geeze, did we have fun! Im old too, loved the dress up, respect, natural calm. My memories are wonderful.

And the food!!!

people are rude but i also suspect it's because we're now squashed in like sardines so it tests everyone's patience.

Being rude has nothing to do with how much money is in your pocket! There are plenty of arrogant, rude people with large bank accounts! Some of the kindest people I’ve met didn’t have two cents !

50 years ago there was an airlines called, “People’s Express”. It was a very basic flight with great rates. Round trip from Syracuse to New Jersey was less than $100.00. People behaved . Behavior has nothing to do with your bank account. If you believe that it does then your a snob. I was raised in the city, poor but we were polite and respectful. Many hardworking immigrants from the old country.

Rode many Greyhounds and city busses. People were quiet and respectful. People don’t know how to behave as a member of a community. Everything is about self entitlement.

And now there’s really not much of a middle class…😔

@@abbysbud1 By design

The food industry was not yet poisoning Americans for a quick buck with processed foods.

@@daysjours The modern malaise with obesity is much deeper than that.

@@drew6194 Not really. Obesity is a world-wide phenomenon -- everywhere the introductcion of processed foods occurs obesity explodes. We were sedentary for decades and no obesity. People did not all of a sudden change their character -- it is the food supply that changed. Study the issue!

​@@daysjoursPeople are much more sedentary now (from young children up) than in the past. The obesity issue is a combination of lack of movement plus lack of nutritional food choices.

@@mregister3945 Lack of movement is bad. But it does not create metabolic syndrome and the liver damage that is the engine of the obesity crisis caused by processed foods/junk food

The minimum would be that flight attendants stop people from removing their shoes or inflicting other passengers the smell of their bare armpits. Yes, there should be a dress code.

Funny, eh? Those are he people who raised the slovenly savages populating our cities and airplanes today. Irony?

And thanks largely to the "Counter Culture" we live in a post Christian culture, and that translates to a "me, me, me culture", souless sociopaths and narcissists.

Seconds before ground contact: Everthing has been fine so far

True, except they were rich, not empolyed, especially true for Europe.

Phillip, your comments are all spot on except that it wasn't all that expensive to fly coach back then. As always, if you needed to get somewhere quickly, especially cross country or if you couldn't trust your car to get you there...

Unless you were black, native American, gay or had left wing views.

@@heronimousbrapson863……always enjoyed looking out over the port wing………

@@heronimousbrapson863 left wing views were anti-American (and still are), so yes. No commies back then, at least not in public. They knew better than to make themselves known.

Well said.

Nice memory.

Wonderful description of better days. Thank you for sharing your memories.

Class.

The future we got, wasnt the one we were promised.

@@newdefsys neither was ours…we had turmoil. The Cold War and 3 assassins caused a lot of disagreement BUT people did not only interact with computer screens. We met people face-to-face and actually talked, enjoyed a meal, a beer, and maintained polite relationships. We had fun. We all looked healthy, well dressed, and stylish - no crazy tattoos, piercing, or foul language. Family, friends, and community were important. We didn’t claim to always be victims.

@@pilotrserra So true! too many people who take their freedom for granted.

Yes, but that's not only on airplanes, that is EVERYWHERE these days.

Personal Pride!

Have you seen how they now dress in church???

Have you seen how they now dress in church???

Have you seen how they now dress in church???

Have you seen how they now dress in church???

Have you seen how they now dress in church???

An important thing to teach in schools from childhood is Etiquette. My parents taught me how to behave and to be humble, and giving in manner. A society of well mannered and respectful people makes for a better world.

Casual elegant is fine. No need of a tie. But no yoga pants, no flip flops and the like, please !

I worked for Continental in the eighties, yes my family flew for free but we were required to wear slacks and ties including my young children. Life is much cruder now.

It those days flight attendants looked like fashion models. Now they look like cleaning women.

Yes, I can. I was raised by parents like that and it has served me all my life.

Parents today want to be their kids’ friend, not really a parent.

Parents today don't think it thtough if they want to be parents, they just bre ed because society tells them to

I had forgotten the make up thing... thank you!

As recently as the mid to late '80's, I used to request a seat in the smoking area, even though I didn't smoke. People were relaxed and far less judgmental in the smoking area.

I love smoking, it's a wonderful thing about life only a human can do.

​@@worldisillusion11I agree completely!

@@susannebrunberg4174I love smoking, weed and cigarettes, it's a unique thing God does in the experience as a Human while the Human is experiencing life in the 3D.